The Glory of the Yamuna

Verse 1 (padma.3.29.1)

नारदउवाच । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र कालिंदीतीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्न दुर्गतिमवाप्नुयात्

nāradauvāca tato gaccheta rājeṁdra kāliṁdītīrthamuttamam tatra snātvā naro rājanna durgatimavāpnuyāt

Narada said: Then, O lord of kings, one should go to the excellent tirtha of the Kalindi; having bathed there, O king, a man does not attain an evil state.

Verse 2 (padma.3.29.2)

पुष्करे तु कुरुक्षेत्रे ब्रह्मावर्त्ते पृथूदके । अविमुक्ते सुवर्णाख्ये यत्फलं लभते नरः

puṣkare tu kurukṣetre brahmāvartte pṛthūdake avimukte suvarṇākhye yatphalaṁ labhate naraḥ

Whatever fruit a man obtains at Pushkara, at Kurukshetra, at Brahmavarta, at Prithudaka, at Avimukta, and at Suvarnakhya,

Verse 3 (padma.3.29.3)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति यमुनायां नरोत्तम । स्वर्गभोगेतिरागो वै येषां मनसि वर्तते

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti yamunāyāṁ narottama svargabhogetirāgo vai yeṣāṁ manasi vartate

O best of men, that same fruit is obtained at the Yamuna. Those in whose minds abides an inclination toward the pleasures of heaven,

Verse 4 (padma.3.29.4)

यमुनायां विशेषेण स्नानदानेन सत्तम । आयुरारोग्यसंपत्तौ रूपयौवनता गुणे

yamunāyāṁ viśeṣeṇa snānadānena sattama āyurārogyasaṁpattau rūpayauvanatā guṇe

O excellent one, they obtain it especially through bathing and giving in charity at the Yamuna. In lifespan, health, prosperity, beauty, youth, and virtue,

Verse 5 (padma.3.29.5)

येषां मनोरथस्तैस्तु न त्याज्यं यमुनाजलम् । ये बिभ्यति नरकादेर्दारिद्र्योऽत्र संति च

yeṣāṁ manorathastaistu na tyājyaṁ yamunājalam ye bibhyati narakāderdāridryo'tra saṁti ca

for whoever has such a desire, the water of the Yamuna should never be forsaken. Those who fear hell and the like, and those who are impoverished here,

Verse 6 (padma.3.29.6)

सर्वथा तैः प्रयत्नेन तत्र कार्यं निमज्जनम् । दारिद्र्य पाप दौर्भाग्य पंक प्रक्षालनाय वै

sarvathā taiḥ prayatnena tatra kāryaṁ nimajjanam dāridrya pāpa daurbhāgya paṁka prakṣālanāya vai

by them, in every way, with effort, immersion should be performed there — for the washing away of the mire of poverty, sin, and misfortune.

Verse 7 (padma.3.29.7)

ऋते वै यामुनं तोयं न चान्योस्ति युधिष्ठिर । श्रद्धाहीनानि कर्माणि मतान्यर्धफलानि वै । फलं ददाति संपूर्णं यामुनं स्नानमात्रतः

ṛte vai yāmunaṁ toyaṁ na cānyosti yudhiṣṭhira śraddhāhīnāni karmāṇi matānyardhaphalāni vai phalaṁ dadāti saṁpūrṇaṁ yāmunaṁ snānamātrataḥ

O Yudhishthira, apart from the water of the Yamuna, there is nothing else like it; deeds done without faith are held to yield only half their fruit, but the Yamuna's bath gives its full fruit merely by bathing.

Verse 8 (padma.3.29.8)

अकामो वा सकामो वा यामुने सलिले नृप । इहामुत्र च दुःखानि मज्जनान्नैव पश्यति

akāmo vā sakāmo vā yāmune salile nṛpa ihāmutra ca duḥkhāni majjanānnaiva paśyati

O king, whether desiring some end or free from desire, one who immerses himself in the water of the Yamuna sees no sorrows, here or hereafter.

Verse 9 (padma.3.29.9)

पक्षद्वये यथा चंद्र क्षीःयते वर्द्धते तथा । पातकं नश्यते तत्र स्नानात्पुण्यं विवर्द्धते

pakṣadvaye yathā caṁdra kṣīḥyate varddhate tathā pātakaṁ naśyate tatra snānātpuṇyaṁ vivarddhate

Just as the moon wanes and waxes across its two fortnights, so sin is destroyed there through bathing, and merit increases.

Verse 10 (padma.3.29.10)

यथाब्धौ सुखमायांति रत्नानि विविधानि च । आयुर्वित्तं कलत्राणि संपदः संभवंति च

yathābdhau sukhamāyāṁti ratnāni vividhāni ca āyurvittaṁ kalatrāṇi saṁpadaḥ saṁbhavaṁti ca

Just as various jewels come easily from the ocean, so lifespan, wealth, spouses, and fortunes come to be.

Verse 11 (padma.3.29.11)

कामधेनुर्यथा कामं चिंतामणिर्विचिंतितम् । ददाति यमुनास्नानं तद्वत्सर्वं मनोरथम्

kāmadhenuryathā kāmaṁ ciṁtāmaṇirviciṁtitam dadāti yamunāsnānaṁ tadvatsarvaṁ manoratham

Just as the wish-cow grants what one desires, and the wish-jewel grants what one thinks of, so the bath in the Yamuna likewise grants every wish.

Verse 12 (padma.3.29.12)

कृते तपः परं ज्ञानं त्रेतायां यजनं तथा । द्वापरे च कलौ दानं कालिंदी सर्वदा शुभा

kṛte tapaḥ paraṁ jñānaṁ tretāyāṁ yajanaṁ tathā dvāpare ca kalau dānaṁ kāliṁdī sarvadā śubhā

In the Krita age, austerity is supreme; in Treta, sacrifice likewise; in Dvapara and Kali, charity — but the Kalindi is ever auspicious.

Verse 13 (padma.3.29.13)

सर्वेषां सर्ववर्णानामाश्रमाणां च भूपते । यामुने मज्जनं धर्मं धाराभिः खलु वर्षति

sarveṣāṁ sarvavarṇānāmāśramāṇāṁ ca bhūpate yāmune majjanaṁ dharmaṁ dhārābhiḥ khalu varṣati

O lord of the earth, for all the varnas and stages of life, immersion in the Yamuna rains down dharma in torrents.

Verse 14 (padma.3.29.14)

अस्मिन्वै भारते वर्षे कर्मभूमौ विशेषतः । कालिंद्यस्नायिनां नॄणां निष्फलं जन्मकीर्त्तितम्

asminvai bhārate varṣe karmabhūmau viśeṣataḥ kāliṁdyasnāyināṁ nṝṇāṁ niṣphalaṁ janmakīrttitam

In this land of Bharata, especially in this land of action, the birth of men who do not bathe in the Kalindi is declared fruitless.

Verse 15 (padma.3.29.15)

नैश्वर्यं गगने यद्वच्चांद्रे ऽमायां तु मंडले । तद्वन्न भाति सत्कर्म यमुनामज्जनं विना

naiśvaryaṁ gagane yadvaccāṁdre 'māyāṁ tu maṁḍale tadvanna bhāti satkarma yamunāmajjanaṁ vinā

Just as sovereignty in the sky does not shine in the disc of the moon on the new-moon day, so a good deed does not shine without the Yamuna's bath.

Verse 16 (padma.3.29.16)

व्रतैर्दानैस्तपोभिश्च न तथा प्रीयते हरिः । तत्र मज्जनमात्रेण यथा प्रीणाति केशवः

vratairdānaistapobhiśca na tathā prīyate hariḥ tatra majjanamātreṇa yathā prīṇāti keśavaḥ

Hari is not pleased so much by vows, gifts, and austerities, as Keshava is pleased by the mere act of immersion there.

Verse 17 (padma.3.29.17)

न समं विद्यते किंचित्तेजः सौरेण तेजसा । तद्वन्न यमुनास्नानं समानाः क्रतुजाः क्रियाः

na samaṁ vidyate kiṁcittejaḥ saureṇa tejasā tadvanna yamunāsnānaṁ samānāḥ kratujāḥ kriyāḥ

There exists no radiance equal to the sun's radiance; likewise, rites born of sacrifice are not equal to bathing in the Yamuna.

Verse 18 (padma.3.29.18)

प्रीतये वासुदेवस्य सर्वपापापनुत्तये । कालिंद्या मज्जनं कुर्य्यात्स्वर्गलाभाय मानवः

prītaye vāsudevasya sarvapāpāpanuttaye kāliṁdyā majjanaṁ kuryyātsvargalābhāya mānavaḥ

For the pleasure of Vasudeva, and for the removal of all sin, a man should perform the immersion in the Kalindi, for the attainment of heaven.

Verse 19 (padma.3.29.19)

किं रक्षितेन देहेन सुपुष्टेन बलीयसा । अध्रुवेण सुदेहेन यमुना मज्जनं विना

kiṁ rakṣitena dehena supuṣṭena balīyasā adhruveṇa sudehena yamunā majjanaṁ vinā

What use is a well-protected, well-nourished, mighty, yet impermanent, fine body, without immersion in the Yamuna?

Verse 20 (padma.3.29.20)

अस्थिस्तंभं स्नायुबंधं मांसक्षतज लेपनम् । चर्मावनद्ध दुर्गंधं पूर्णं मूत्रपुरीषयोः

asthistaṁbhaṁ snāyubaṁdhaṁ māṁsakṣataja lepanam carmāvanaddha durgaṁdhaṁ pūrṇaṁ mūtrapurīṣayoḥ

It is a pillar of bones, bound by sinews, smeared with flesh and blood, wrapped in foul-smelling skin, full of urine and feces,

Verse 21 (padma.3.29.21)

जराशोक विपद्व्याप्तं रोगमंदिरमातुरम् । रागमूलमनित्यं च सर्वदोषसमाश्रयम्

jarāśoka vipadvyāptaṁ rogamaṁdiramāturam rāgamūlamanityaṁ ca sarvadoṣasamāśrayam

pervaded by old age, grief, and calamity, an abode of disease, afflicted, rooted in passion and impermanent, the resort of every fault,

Verse 22 (padma.3.29.22)

परोपकारपापार्ति परद्रोहपरेर्षिकम् । लोलुपं पिशुनं क्रूरं कृतघ्नं क्षणिकं तथा

paropakārapāpārti paradrohaparerṣikam lolupaṁ piśunaṁ krūraṁ kṛtaghnaṁ kṣaṇikaṁ tathā

harmful to others' welfare, sinful, given to injuring others, envious of others, greedy, malicious, cruel, ungrateful, and momentary likewise,

Verse 23 (padma.3.29.23)

निष्ठुरं दुर्धरं दुष्टं दोषत्रयविदूषितम् । अशुचितापि दुर्गंधि तापत्रयविमोहितम्

niṣṭhuraṁ durdharaṁ duṣṭaṁ doṣatrayavidūṣitam aśucitāpi durgaṁdhi tāpatrayavimohitam

harsh, hard to restrain, wicked, corrupted by the three faults, impure, foul-smelling, and bewildered by the three afflictions,

Verse 24 (padma.3.29.24)

निसर्गतो ऽधर्मरतं तृष्णाशतसमाकुलम् । कामक्रोधमहालोभ नरकद्वारसंस्थितम्

nisargato 'dharmarataṁ tṛṣṇāśatasamākulam kāmakrodhamahālobha narakadvārasaṁsthitam

by nature devoted to unrighteousness, filled with a hundred cravings, situated at the very gate of hell through lust, anger, and great greed,

Verse 25 (padma.3.29.25)

कृमिवर्चस्तु भस्मादि परिणामगुणावहम् । ईदृक्शरीरं व्यर्थं हि यमुनामज्जनं विना

kṛmivarcastu bhasmādi pariṇāmaguṇāvaham īdṛkśarīraṁ vyarthaṁ hi yamunāmajjanaṁ vinā

bearing, as its outcome, worms and excrement and finally ashes — such a body, without immersion in the Yamuna, is truly useless.

Verse 26 (padma.3.29.26)

बुद्बुदा इव तोयेषु प्रत्यंडा इव पक्षिषु । जायंते मरणायैव यमुनास्नान वर्जिताः

budbudā iva toyeṣu pratyaṁḍā iva pakṣiṣu jāyaṁte maraṇāyaiva yamunāsnāna varjitāḥ

Like bubbles in water, like embryos within the eggs of birds, those devoid of the Yamuna's bath are born only to die.

Verse 27 (padma.3.29.27)

अवैष्णवो हतो विप्रो हतं श्राद्धमपिंडकम् । अब्रह्मण्यं हतं क्षत्रमनाचार हतं कुलम्

avaiṣṇavo hato vipro hataṁ śrāddhamapiṁḍakam abrahmaṇyaṁ hataṁ kṣatramanācāra hataṁ kulam

A brahmin without devotion to Vishnu is as good as dead; a shraddha without the rice-ball offering is dead; a kshatriya-power without brahminical guidance is dead; a lineage without proper conduct is dead;

Verse 28 (padma.3.29.28)

सदंभश्च हतो धर्म्मः क्रोधेनैव हतं तपः । अदृढं च हतं ज्ञानं प्रमादेन हतं श्रुतम्

sadaṁbhaśca hato dharmmaḥ krodhenaiva hataṁ tapaḥ adṛḍhaṁ ca hataṁ jñānaṁ pramādena hataṁ śrutam

dharma accompanied by hypocrisy is dead; austerity is killed by anger alone; unsteady knowledge is dead; learning destroyed by negligence is dead;

Verse 29 (padma.3.29.29)

परभक्त्या हता नारी ब्रह्मचारी स्त्रिया हतः । अदीप्तेऽग्नौ हतो होमो हता भक्तिः समायिका

parabhaktyā hatā nārī brahmacārī striyā hataḥ adīpte'gnau hato homo hatā bhaktiḥ samāyikā

a woman attached to another man is dead; a celibate student overcome by a woman is dead; an oblation into an unlit fire is dead; devotion performed merely as a duty is dead;

Verse 30 (padma.3.29.30)

उपजीव्या हता कन्या स्वार्थे पाकक्रिया हता । शूद्र भक्षो हतो योगः कृपणस्य हतं धनम्

upajīvyā hatā kanyā svārthe pākakriyā hatā śūdra bhakṣo hato yogaḥ kṛpaṇasya hataṁ dhanam

a daughter kept only for livelihood is dead; cooking done for selfish gain is dead; yoga practiced while eating shudra-food is dead; a miser's wealth is dead;

Verse 31 (padma.3.29.31)

अनभ्यासहता विद्या हतो बोधो विरोधकृत् । जीवितार्थं हतं तीर्थं जीवनार्थं हतं व्रतम्

anabhyāsahatā vidyā hato bodho virodhakṛt jīvitārthaṁ hataṁ tīrthaṁ jīvanārthaṁ hataṁ vratam

learning without practice is dead; understanding that breeds contention is dead; a tirtha visited for the sake of livelihood is dead; a vow undertaken for the sake of living is dead;

Verse 32 (padma.3.29.32)

असत्या च हता वाणी तथा पैशुन्यवादिनी । षट्कर्णगो हतो मंत्रो व्यग्रचित्तो हतो जपः

asatyā ca hatā vāṇī tathā paiśunyavādinī ṣaṭkarṇago hato maṁtro vyagracitto hato japaḥ

untruthful speech, and likewise malicious gossip, is dead; a mantra that has gone beyond six ears is dead; japa done with a distracted mind is dead;

Verse 33 (padma.3.29.33)

हतमश्रोत्रिये दानं हतो लोकश्च नास्तिकः । अश्रद्धया हतं सर्वं यत्कृतं पारलौकिकम्

hatamaśrotriye dānaṁ hato lokaśca nāstikaḥ aśraddhayā hataṁ sarvaṁ yatkṛtaṁ pāralaukikam

a gift given to one unversed in the Veda is dead; an atheistic world is dead; everything done for the sake of the world to come, without faith, is dead;

Verse 34 (padma.3.29.34)

इह लोको हतो नॄणां दरिद्राणां यथा नृप । मनुष्याणां हतं जन्म कालिदीमज्जनं विना

iha loko hato nṝṇāṁ daridrāṇāṁ yathā nṛpa manuṣyāṇāṁ hataṁ janma kālidīmajjanaṁ vinā

O king, this world is dead for men, as it is for the poor; the birth of men, without immersion in the Kalindi, is dead.

Verse 35 (padma.3.29.35)

उपपातक सर्वाणि पातकानि महांति च । भस्मी भवंति सर्वाणि यमुनामज्जनान्नृप

upapātaka sarvāṇi pātakāni mahāṁti ca bhasmī bhavaṁti sarvāṇi yamunāmajjanānnṛpa

All the lesser sins and all the great sins, O king, are reduced to ashes by immersion in the Yamuna.

Verse 36 (padma.3.29.36)

वेपंते सर्वपापानि यमुनायां गते नरे । नाशके सर्वपापानां यदि स्नास्यति वारिणि

vepaṁte sarvapāpāni yamunāyāṁ gate nare nāśake sarvapāpānāṁ yadi snāsyati vāriṇi

All sins tremble when a man goes to the Yamuna; if he shall bathe in that water, the destruction of all sins is certain.

Verse 37 (padma.3.29.37)

पावका इव दीप्यंते यमुनायां नरोत्तमाः । विमुक्ताः सर्वपापेभ्यो मेघेभ्य इव चंद्रमाः

pāvakā iva dīpyaṁte yamunāyāṁ narottamāḥ vimuktāḥ sarvapāpebhyo meghebhya iva caṁdramāḥ

The finest of men blaze like fire in the Yamuna, freed from all sins, like the moon freed from clouds.

Verse 38 (padma.3.29.38)

आर्द्र शुष्कलघुस्थूलं वाङ्मनः कर्मभिः कृतम् । तत्र स्नानं दहेत्पापं पावकः समिधो यथा

ārdra śuṣkalaghusthūlaṁ vāṅmanaḥ karmabhiḥ kṛtam tatra snānaṁ dahetpāpaṁ pāvakaḥ samidho yathā

Whatever sin, moist or dry, light or heavy, is done through speech, mind, or deed — bathing there burns it away, as fire consumes kindling.

Verse 39 (padma.3.29.39)

प्रामादिकं च यत्पापं ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं च यत् । स्नानमात्रेण नश्येत यमुनायां नृपोत्तम

prāmādikaṁ ca yatpāpaṁ jñānājñānakṛtaṁ ca yat snānamātreṇa naśyeta yamunāyāṁ nṛpottama

O best of kings, sin committed through carelessness, and whatever done knowingly or unknowingly, is destroyed merely by bathing in the Yamuna.

Verse 40 (padma.3.29.40)

निष्पापास्त्रिदिवं यांति पापिष्ठा यांति शुद्धताम् । संदेहो नात्र कर्तव्यः स्नाने वै यमुनाजले

niṣpāpāstridivaṁ yāṁti pāpiṣṭhā yāṁti śuddhatām saṁdeho nātra kartavyaḥ snāne vai yamunājale

The sinless go to heaven, and the sinful too attain purity; no doubt should be entertained regarding the bath in the water of the Yamuna.

Verse 41 (padma.3.29.41)

सर्वेऽधिकारिणो ह्यत्र विष्णुभक्तौ तथा नृप । सर्वेषां सर्वदा देवी यमुना पापनाशिका

sarve'dhikāriṇo hyatra viṣṇubhaktau tathā nṛpa sarveṣāṁ sarvadā devī yamunā pāpanāśikā

O king, here everyone has entitlement to devotion to Vishnu likewise; for all people, always, the goddess Yamuna is the destroyer of sin.

Verse 42 (padma.3.29.42)

एष एव परो मंत्र एतच्च परमं तपः । प्रायश्चित्तं परं चैव यमुनास्नानमुत्तमम्

eṣa eva paro maṁtra etacca paramaṁ tapaḥ prāyaścittaṁ paraṁ caiva yamunāsnānamuttamam

This alone is the supreme mantra, and this the supreme austerity, and this the supreme atonement — the excellent bath in the Yamuna.

Verse 43 (padma.3.29.43)

नृणां जन्मांतराभ्यासात्कालिंदी मज्जने मतिः । अध्यात्मज्ञानकौशल्यं जन्माभ्यासाद्यथा नृप

nṛṇāṁ janmāṁtarābhyāsātkāliṁdī majjane matiḥ adhyātmajñānakauśalyaṁ janmābhyāsādyathā nṛpa

O king, just as skill in spiritual knowledge comes through the practice of many births, so through the practice of many births men's minds turn toward immersion in the Kalindi.

Verse 44 (padma.3.29.44)

संसारकर्दमालेप प्रक्षालन विशारदम् । पावनं पावनानां च यमुनास्नानमुत्तमम्

saṁsārakardamālepa prakṣālana viśāradam pāvanaṁ pāvanānāṁ ca yamunāsnānamuttamam

Skilled in washing away the smearing mud of worldly existence, the excellent bath in the Yamuna is the purifier of purifiers.

Verse 45 (padma.3.29.45)

स्नातास्तत्र च ये राजन्सर्वकामफलप्रदे । शुभांश्च भुंजते भोगांश्चंद्र सूर्यग्रहोपमान्

snātāstatra ca ye rājansarvakāmaphalaprade śubhāṁśca bhuṁjate bhogāṁścaṁdra sūryagrahopamān

O king, those who bathe there, in that river giving every desired fruit, enjoy auspicious pleasures as rare as eclipses of the moon and sun.

Verse 46 (padma.3.29.46)

यमुना मोक्षदा प्रोक्ता मथुरासंगता यदि । मथुरायां च कालिंदी पुण्याधिकविवर्द्धिनी

yamunā mokṣadā proktā mathurāsaṁgatā yadi mathurāyāṁ ca kāliṁdī puṇyādhikavivarddhinī

The Yamuna is declared to give liberation, if joined with Mathura; and at Mathura, the Kalindi increases in supreme sanctity.

Verse 47 (padma.3.29.47)

अन्यत्र यमुना पुण्या महापातकहारिणी । विष्णुभक्तिप्रदा देवी मथुरा संगता भवेत्

anyatra yamunā puṇyā mahāpātakahāriṇī viṣṇubhaktipradā devī mathurā saṁgatā bhavet

Elsewhere too the Yamuna is sacred, the remover of great sins, the goddess granting devotion to Vishnu — especially when joined with Mathura.

Verse 48 (padma.3.29.48)

भक्तिभावेन संयुक्ता कालिंद्यां यदि मज्जयेत् । कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि वसते सन्निधौ हरेः

bhaktibhāvena saṁyuktā kāliṁdyāṁ yadi majjayet kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi vasate sannidhau hareḥ

If, filled with the disposition of devotion, one immerses oneself in the Kalindi, one dwells for thousands of crores of kalpas in the presence of Hari.

Verse 49 (padma.3.29.49)

मुक्तिं प्रयांति मनुजाः नूनं सांख्येन वर्जिताः । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति तृप्ताः कल्पशतैर्दिवि

muktiṁ prayāṁti manujāḥ nūnaṁ sāṁkhyena varjitāḥ pitarastasya tṛpyaṁti tṛptāḥ kalpaśatairdivi

Men surely attain liberation, even without the discipline of Sankhya; his ancestors, satisfied, remain satisfied in heaven for hundreds of kalpas.

Verse 50 (padma.3.29.50)

ये पिबंति नरा राजन्यमुनासलिलं शुभम् । पंचगव्यसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम्

ye pibaṁti narā rājanyamunāsalilaṁ śubham paṁcagavyasahasraistu sevitaiḥ kiṁ prayojanam

O king, those men who drink the auspicious water of the Yamuna — what need have they of a thousand offerings of the five products of the cow?

Verse 51 (padma.3.29.51)

कोटितीर्थसहस्रैस्तु सेवितैः किं प्रयोजनम् । तत्र दानं च होमश्च सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्

koṭitīrthasahasraistu sevitaiḥ kiṁ prayojanam tatra dānaṁ ca homaśca sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet

What need have they of thousands of crores of tirthas visited? There, whatever gift and fire-offering is made becomes multiplied a crore-fold.