The Origin of Shukla-tirtha: Shiva's Teaching to Markandeya

Verse 1 (padma.3.19.1)

नारद उवाच । भार्गवेशं ततो गच्छेद्भक्त्या यत्र च विष्णुना । हुंकारितास्तु देवेन दानवाः प्रलयं गताः

nārada uvāca bhārgaveśaṁ tato gacchedbhaktyā yatra ca viṣṇunā huṁkāritāstu devena dānavāḥ pralayaṁ gatāḥ

Narada said: Then one should go to Bhargavesha, where, called forth by Vishnu with devotion, the demons went to their destruction.

Verse 2 (padma.3.19.2)

तत्र स्नात्वा तु राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । शुक्लतीर्थस्य चोत्पत्तिं शृणु त्वं पांडुनंदन

tatra snātvā tu rājeṁdra sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate śuklatīrthasya cotpattiṁ śṛṇu tvaṁ pāṁḍunaṁdana

Having bathed there, O lord of kings, a man is freed from all sins. Now, O joy of the Pandus, hear the origin of Shukla-tirtha.

Verse 3 (padma.3.19.3)

हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये नानाधातुविचित्रिते । तरुणादित्यसंकाशे तप्तकांचनसंनिभे

himavacchikhare ramye nānādhātuvicitrite taruṇādityasaṁkāśe taptakāṁcanasaṁnibhe

On a delightful peak of the Himalayas, adorned with various minerals, resembling the rising sun, like molten gold,

Verse 4 (padma.3.19.4)

वज्रस्फटिकसोपाने चित्रपट्टशिलातले । जांबूनदमये दिव्ये नाना पद्मोपशोभिते

vajrasphaṭikasopāne citrapaṭṭaśilātale jāṁbūnadamaye divye nānā padmopaśobhite

with steps of diamond and crystal, upon a floor of many-colored slabs of stone, made of jambunada gold, divine, adorned with many lotuses,

Verse 5 (padma.3.19.5)

तत्रासीनं महादेवं सर्वज्ञं प्रभुमव्ययम् । लोकानुग्राहकं शांतं गणवृंदैः समावृतम्

tatrāsīnaṁ mahādevaṁ sarvajñaṁ prabhumavyayam lokānugrāhakaṁ śāṁtaṁ gaṇavṛṁdaiḥ samāvṛtam

there sat Mahadeva, all-knowing, the imperishable Lord, gracious to the worlds, tranquil, surrounded by troops of his attendants,

Verse 6 (padma.3.19.6)

स्कंदनंदिमहाकालैर्वीरभद्र गणादिभिः । उमया सहितं देवं मार्कंडः परिपृच्छति

skaṁdanaṁdimahākālairvīrabhadra gaṇādibhiḥ umayā sahitaṁ devaṁ mārkaṁḍaḥ paripṛcchati

with Skanda, Nandi, Mahakala, Virabhadra, and the other ganas — that god, together with Uma, was questioned by Markandeya:

Verse 7 (padma.3.19.7)

देवदेव महादेव इन्द्र कामादि संस्तुत । संसारभवभीतोहं सुखोपायं ब्रवीहि मे

devadeva mahādeva indra kāmādi saṁstuta saṁsārabhavabhītohaṁ sukhopāyaṁ bravīhi me

'O God of gods, Mahadeva, praised by Indra, Kama, and the others! I am fearful of the cycle of existence — tell me the means to happiness.'

Verse 8 (padma.3.19.8)

भगवन्भूतभव्येश सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं तद्वदस्व महेश्वर

bhagavanbhūtabhavyeśa sarvapāpapraṇāśanam tīrthānāṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ tadvadasva maheśvara

'O Lord, Master of what has been and what shall be! Tell me that supreme tirtha among tirthas, destroyer of all sin, O Maheshvara!'

Verse 9 (padma.3.19.9)

ईश्वर उवाच । शृणुविप्र महाभाग सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । स्नानादि कुरु गच्छ त्वं ऋषिसंघैस्समावृतः

īśvara uvāca śṛṇuvipra mahābhāga sarvaśāstraviśārada snānādi kuru gaccha tvaṁ ṛṣisaṁghaissamāvṛtaḥ

Ishvara said: Listen, O brahmin, greatly fortunate one, skilled in all the shastras: go, perform the ritual bath and the rest, surrounded by assemblies of sages —

Verse 10 (padma.3.19.10)

मन्वत्रि याज्ञवल्क्याश्च काश्यपश्चैव अंगिराः । यमापस्तंब संवर्ताः कात्यायनबृहस्पती

manvatri yājñavalkyāśca kāśyapaścaiva aṁgirāḥ yamāpastaṁba saṁvartāḥ kātyāyanabṛhaspatī

Manu, Atri, and Yajnavalkya, and Kashyapa and Angiras, Yama, Apastamba, and Samvarta, Katyayana and Brihaspati,

Verse 11 (padma.3.19.11)

नारदो गौतमश्चैव पृच्छंति धर्मकांक्षिणः । गंगाकनखले पुण्या प्रयागं पुष्करं गया

nārado gautamaścaiva pṛcchaṁti dharmakāṁkṣiṇaḥ gaṁgākanakhale puṇyā prayāgaṁ puṣkaraṁ gayā

and Narada and Gautama too, seeking after dharma, question [me]: the Ganga is sacred at Kanakhala, and so are Prayaga, Pushkara, Gaya,

Verse 12 (padma.3.19.12)

कुरुक्षेत्रं तु पुण्यं च राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ शुक्लतीर्थं महाफलम्

kurukṣetraṁ tu puṇyaṁ ca rāhugraste divākare divā vā yadi vā rātrau śuklatīrthaṁ mahāphalam

and sacred Kurukshetra as well; but when the sun is seized by Rahu, whether by day or by night, Shukla-tirtha bears the greatest fruit.

Verse 13 (padma.3.19.13)

दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाच्चैव स्नानाद्ध्यानात्तपोर्जनात् । होमाच्चैवोपवासाच्च शुक्लतीर्थफलं महत्

darśanātsparśanāccaiva snānāddhyānāttaporjanāt homāccaivopavāsācca śuklatīrthaphalaṁ mahat

By sight, by touch, by bathing, by meditation, by austerity, by fire-offering, and by fasting — the fruit of Shukla-tirtha is great.

Verse 14 (padma.3.19.14)

शुक्लतीर्थं महापुण्यं नद्यां तु संव्यवस्थितम् । चाणिक्योनाम राजर्षिः सिद्धिं तत्र समागतः

śuklatīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ nadyāṁ tu saṁvyavasthitam cāṇikyonāma rājarṣiḥ siddhiṁ tatra samāgataḥ

Greatly sacred Shukla-tirtha is situated upon a river; a royal sage named Chanikya attained accomplishment there.

Verse 15 (padma.3.19.15)

एतत्क्षेत्रं समुत्पन्नं योजनावृत्तिसंस्थितम् । शुक्लतीर्थं महापुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

etatkṣetraṁ samutpannaṁ yojanāvṛttisaṁsthitam śuklatīrthaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

This sacred field arose, extending a yojana in every direction; greatly sacred Shukla-tirtha destroys all sin.

Verse 16 (padma.3.19.16)

पादपाग्रेण दृष्टेन ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । अहमत्र ऋषिश्रेष्ठ तिष्ठामि ह्युमया सह

pādapāgreṇa dṛṣṭena brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati ahamatra ṛṣiśreṣṭha tiṣṭhāmi hyumayā saha

Merely by the sight of the tips of its trees, one is freed from the sin of killing a brahmin. O best of sages, I myself abide there together with Uma.

Verse 17 (padma.3.19.17)

वैशाखे विमले मासि कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी । कैलासाच्चापि निर्गत्य तत्र संनिहितो ह्यहम्

vaiśākhe vimale māsi kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī kailāsāccāpi nirgatya tatra saṁnihito hyaham

In the pure month of Vaishakha, on the fourteenth of the dark fortnight, having come forth even from Kailasa, I am present there.

Verse 18 (padma.3.19.18)

देवकिन्नरगंधर्वाः सिद्धविद्याधरास्तथा । गणाश्चाप्सरसो नागाः सर्वे देवाः समागताः

devakinnaragaṁdharvāḥ siddhavidyādharāstathā gaṇāścāpsaraso nāgāḥ sarve devāḥ samāgatāḥ

Gods, kinnaras, gandharvas, Siddhas and Vidyadharas too, ganas, apsarases, and nagas — all the gods gather there,

Verse 19 (padma.3.19.19)

गगनस्थास्तु तिष्ठंति विमानैः सर्वकामकैः । शुक्लतीर्थे तु राजेंद्र आगता धर्मकांक्षिणः

gaganasthāstu tiṣṭhaṁti vimānaiḥ sarvakāmakaiḥ śuklatīrthe tu rājeṁdra āgatā dharmakāṁkṣiṇaḥ

and stand in the sky in celestial chariots granting every desire. O lord of kings, those seeking dharma come to Shukla-tirtha —

Verse 20 (padma.3.19.20)

रजकेन यथा वस्त्रं शुक्लं भवति वारिणा । आजन्मसंचितं पापं शुक्लतीर्थे व्यपोहति

rajakena yathā vastraṁ śuklaṁ bhavati vāriṇā ājanmasaṁcitaṁ pāpaṁ śuklatīrthe vyapohati

just as cloth becomes white through water at the hands of a washerman, so sin accumulated from birth is dispelled at Shukla-tirtha.

Verse 21 (padma.3.19.21)

स्नानं दानं महापुण्यं मार्कंड ऋषिसत्तम । शुक्लतीर्थात्परं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति

snānaṁ dānaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ mārkaṁḍa ṛṣisattama śuklatīrthātparaṁ tīrthaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

O Markandeya, best of sages, the ritual bath and charity there are greatly sacred; there is no tirtha superior to Shukla-tirtha, neither in the past nor in the future.

Verse 22 (padma.3.19.22)

पूर्वे वयसि कर्माणि कृत्वा पापानि मानवः । अहोरात्रोपवासेन शुक्लतीर्थे व्यपोहति

pūrve vayasi karmāṇi kṛtvā pāpāni mānavaḥ ahorātropavāsena śuklatīrthe vyapohati

A man who has committed sinful deeds in an earlier phase of life dispels them at Shukla-tirtha by a fast of a day and a night.

Verse 23 (padma.3.19.23)

तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञैर्दानेन वा पुनः । देवदानेन या पुष्टिर्न सा क्रतुशतैरपि

tapasā brahmacaryeṇa yajñairdānena vā punaḥ devadānena yā puṣṭirna sā kratuśatairapi

That satisfaction which comes from offering to the gods is not obtained even by a hundred sacrifices — not through austerity, celibacy, sacrifices, or charity alone.

Verse 24 (padma.3.19.24)

कार्तिकस्य च मासस्य कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी । घृतेन स्नापयेद्देवमुपोष्य परमेश्वरम्

kārtikasya ca māsasya kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī ghṛtena snāpayeddevamupoṣya parameśvaram

On the fourteenth of the dark fortnight of Kartika, having fasted, one should bathe the Supreme Lord with ghee.

Verse 25 (padma.3.19.25)

एकविंशत्कुलोपेतो न च्यवेच्चैश्वरात्पदात् । शुक्लतीर्थं परं तीर्थमृषिसिद्धनिषेवितम्

ekaviṁśatkulopeto na cyaveccaiśvarātpadāt śuklatīrthaṁ paraṁ tīrthamṛṣisiddhaniṣevitam

Even together with twenty-one generations of his family, he does not fall from that exalted state. Shukla-tirtha is a supreme tirtha, frequented by sages and Siddhas.

Verse 26 (padma.3.19.26)

तत्र स्नात्वा ततो राजन्पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । स्नात्वा वै शुक्लतीर्थेपि अर्चयेद्वृषभध्वजम्

tatra snātvā tato rājanpunarjanma na vidyate snātvā vai śuklatīrthepi arcayedvṛṣabhadhvajam

Having bathed there, O king, thereafter there is no rebirth for him. Having bathed at Shukla-tirtha, one should also worship the bull-bannered Shiva.

Verse 27 (padma.3.19.27)

जागरं कारयेत्तत्र नृत्यगीतादिमंगलैः । प्रभाते शुक्लतीर्थे तु स्नानं वै देवतार्चनम्

jāgaraṁ kārayettatra nṛtyagītādimaṁgalaiḥ prabhāte śuklatīrthe tu snānaṁ vai devatārcanam

One should hold a night-vigil there with dance, song, and other auspicious things. At dawn, at Shukla-tirtha, one should bathe and worship the deity;

Verse 28 (padma.3.19.28)

आचार्यं भोजयेत्पश्चाच्छिवव्रतपरः शुचिः । भोजनं च यथाशक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यं न कारयेत्

ācāryaṁ bhojayetpaścācchivavrataparaḥ śuciḥ bhojanaṁ ca yathāśaktyā vittaśāṭhyaṁ na kārayet

afterward, devoted to Shiva's vow and pure, one should feed the teacher, and give food according to one's means, without miserliness about wealth.

Verse 29 (padma.3.19.29)

प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा शनैर्देवांतिकं व्रजेत् । एवं वै कुरुते यस्तु तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

pradakṣiṇaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā śanairdevāṁtikaṁ vrajet evaṁ vai kurute yastu tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

Then, having performed circumambulation, one should approach the god's presence slowly. Hear now the fruit of merit for whoever does this —

Verse 30 (padma.3.19.30)

दिव्ययानसमारूढस्तूयमानोऽप्सरोगणैः । शिवतुल्यबलोपेतस्तिष्ठत्याभूतसंप्लवम्

divyayānasamārūḍhastūyamāno'psarogaṇaiḥ śivatulyabalopetastiṣṭhatyābhūtasaṁplavam

mounted upon a celestial vehicle, praised by troops of apsarases, endowed with strength equal to Shiva's, he remains established there until the great dissolution.

Verse 31 (padma.3.19.31)

शुक्लतीर्थे तु या नारी ददाति कनकं शुभम् । घृतेन स्नापयेद्देवं कुमारं चाभिपूजयेत्

śuklatīrthe tu yā nārī dadāti kanakaṁ śubham ghṛtena snāpayeddevaṁ kumāraṁ cābhipūjayet

Whatever woman gives auspicious gold at Shukla-tirtha, bathes the god with ghee, and worships Kumara,

Verse 32 (padma.3.19.32)

एवं या कुरुते भक्त्या तस्याः पुण्यफलं शृणु । मोदते देवलोकस्था यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश

evaṁ yā kurute bhaktyā tasyāḥ puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu modate devalokasthā yāvadiṁdrāścaturdaśa

whoever does this with devotion — hear the fruit of merit for her: she rejoices, dwelling in the world of the gods, for as long as fourteen Indras reign in succession.

Verse 33 (padma.3.19.33)

अयने वा चतुर्दश्यां संक्रांतौ विषुवे तथा । स्नात्वा तु सोपवासः स निर्जितात्मा समाहितः

ayane vā caturdaśyāṁ saṁkrāṁtau viṣuve tathā snātvā tu sopavāsaḥ sa nirjitātmā samāhitaḥ

At the solstice, or on the fourteenth, at the solar transit, or at the equinox — having bathed and fasted, self-controlled and composed,

Verse 34 (padma.3.19.34)

दानं दद्याद्यथाशक्त्या प्रीयेतां हरिशंकरौ । शुक्लतीर्थप्रभावेण सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम्

dānaṁ dadyādyathāśaktyā prīyetāṁ hariśaṁkarau śuklatīrthaprabhāveṇa sarvaṁ bhavati cākṣayam

one should give a gift according to one's means, that Hari and Shankara may be pleased; by the power of Shukla-tirtha, everything becomes imperishable.

Verse 35 (padma.3.19.35)

अनाथं दुर्गतं विप्रं नाथवंतमथापि वा । उद्वाहयति यस्तीर्थे तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

anāthaṁ durgataṁ vipraṁ nāthavaṁtamathāpi vā udvāhayati yastīrthe tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

Whoever, at this tirtha, arranges the marriage of a helpless, destitute brahmin, or even one who has a protector, hear the fruit of merit for him —

Verse 36 (padma.3.19.36)

यावत्तद्रोमसंख्या तु तत्प्रसूतिकुलेषु च । तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते

yāvattadromasaṁkhyā tu tatprasūtikuleṣu ca tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi śivaloke mahīyate

for as many hairs as there are, and on those born of their lineage, for that many thousand years he is honored in the world of Shiva.