The Glory of the Vetravati River

Verse 1 (padma.6.134.1)

महादेव उवाच। वेत्रवत्यास्तु माहात्म्यं वक्ष्यामि शृणु सुंदरि । यत्र स्नात्वा विमुच्यंते यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

mahādeva uvāca vetravatyāstu māhātmyaṁ vakṣyāmi śṛṇu suṁdari yatra snātvā vimucyaṁte yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

Mahadeva said: 'O lovely one, I shall now recount the glory of the Vetravati — listen. Bathing there, people are liberated until the very dissolution of the universe.'

Verse 2 (padma.6.134.2)

वृत्रेण च कृतः कूपो महागंभीरसंज्ञकः । कूपात्सा निःसृता देवी महापापौघनाशिनी

vṛtreṇa ca kṛtaḥ kūpo mahāgaṁbhīrasaṁjñakaḥ kūpātsā niḥsṛtā devī mahāpāpaughanāśinī

'By Vritra was dug a well of immense depth, called Mahagambhira. From that well emerged this goddess, destroyer of great masses of sin.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.134.3)

यथा गंगा तथेयं च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सुरोत्तमे । अस्या दर्शनमात्रेण पापौघाः शमयंति च

yathā gaṁgā tatheyaṁ ca saricchreṣṭhā surottame asyā darśanamātreṇa pāpaughāḥ śamayaṁti ca

'O foremost of the gods, this river is like the Ganga itself, chief among rivers. By the mere sight of it, masses of sin are quelled.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.134.4)

शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा पापिनो दोषैर्विमुक्ताः कर्मबंधनात्

śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi itihāsaṁ purātanam yacchrutvā pāpino doṣairvimuktāḥ karmabaṁdhanāt

'Listen, O goddess, I shall tell an ancient history, hearing which even sinners are freed from their faults and from the bondage of their deeds.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.134.5)

चंपके नगरे चैव राजा राज्यं करोति सः । सदा दुष्टो दुष्टरूपो जनानां स प्रपीडकः

caṁpake nagare caiva rājā rājyaṁ karoti saḥ sadā duṣṭo duṣṭarūpo janānāṁ sa prapīḍakaḥ

'In the city of Champaka there ruled a king, ever wicked, hideous of nature, and a tormentor of his own people.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.134.6)

अधर्मो धर्मरूपश्च विष्णुनिंदापरायणः । देव द्विज निहंता च आश्रमाणां विदूषकः

adharmo dharmarūpaśca viṣṇuniṁdāparāyaṇaḥ deva dvija nihaṁtā ca āśramāṇāṁ vidūṣakaḥ

'Unrighteous, yet wearing the guise of righteousness, he was devoted to reviling Vishnu, a slayer of gods and brahmins, and a defiler of hermitages.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.134.7)

वेदनिंदापरः श्रीमान्मूर्खो वा निर्घृणः शठः । असच्छास्त्रेषु निरतः परदाराभिमर्शकः

vedaniṁdāparaḥ śrīmānmūrkho vā nirghṛṇaḥ śaṭhaḥ asacchāstreṣu nirataḥ paradārābhimarśakaḥ

'He was devoted to reviling the Vedas, wealthy yet foolish, merciless and cunning; absorbed in false scriptures, and a molester of other men's wives.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.134.8)

विदारुणेति नामा च संजातो मूर्ख एव च । कदाचिद्दैवयोगेन आगतस्तां नदीं प्रति

vidāruṇeti nāmā ca saṁjāto mūrkha eva ca kadāciddaivayogena āgatastāṁ nadīṁ prati

'His name was Vidaruna, and he had been a fool from birth. Once, by fate's own working, he happened to come to that river.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.134.9)

आखेटकसमायुक्तः स्वयं कुष्ठी सुरेश्वरि । महापापादयं जातो ब्राह्मणानां च निंदनात्

ākheṭakasamāyuktaḥ svayaṁ kuṣṭhī sureśvari mahāpāpādayaṁ jāto brāhmaṇānāṁ ca niṁdanāt

'O queen of gods, he had gone out on a hunt, and was himself afflicted with leprosy — this had befallen him because of his great sin, because of his reviling of brahmins.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.134.10)

वृथावादी दुरात्मा च शठो वै निर्घृणः पशुः । वेदनिंदारतो नित्यं गोशास्त्राणां प्रदूषकः

vṛthāvādī durātmā ca śaṭho vai nirghṛṇaḥ paśuḥ vedaniṁdārato nityaṁ gośāstrāṇāṁ pradūṣakaḥ

'A speaker of vain words, wicked of soul, cunning, merciless, and beastlike, he was forever absorbed in reviling the Vedas, and a defiler of cows and of the scriptures.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.134.11)

एवंविधो वने भ्राम्यंस्तृषार्तः स सुहृद्वृतः । अश्वादुत्तीर्य राजाऽसौ जलं पीत्वा गृहं गतः

evaṁvidho vane bhrāmyaṁstṛṣārtaḥ sa suhṛdvṛtaḥ aśvāduttīrya rājā'sau jalaṁ pītvā gṛhaṁ gataḥ

'Such a king, wandering through the forest surrounded by his companions, grew tormented with thirst. Dismounting from his horse, he drank that water, and then returned home.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.134.12)

तेनैवोदकपानेन गतं कुष्ठं न संशयः । बुद्धिस्तु निर्मला जाता तस्य राज्ञो विशेषतः

tenaivodakapānena gataṁ kuṣṭhaṁ na saṁśayaḥ buddhistu nirmalā jātā tasya rājño viśeṣataḥ

'By that very drink of water, his leprosy was cured, beyond any doubt. And the king's understanding, too, became especially pure and clear.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.134.13)

विष्णौ भक्तिः समुत्पन्ना तदा तस्य सुरेश्वरि । ततः प्रभृति कालेन स्नानं वै कृतवान्सदा

viṣṇau bhaktiḥ samutpannā tadā tasya sureśvari tataḥ prabhṛti kālena snānaṁ vai kṛtavānsadā

'O queen of gods, devotion to Vishnu then arose within him; and from that time on, he ever after made it a practice to bathe there.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.134.14)

निर्मलो बहुरूपाढ्यो जातस्तत्र सुरेश्वरि । इहलोके सुखं भुक्त्वा कृत्वा यज्ञाननेकशः

nirmalo bahurūpāḍhyo jātastatra sureśvari ihaloke sukhaṁ bhuktvā kṛtvā yajñānanekaśaḥ

'O queen of gods, he became there pure and richly endowed with a splendid form. Having enjoyed happiness in this world, having performed many sacrifices,'

Verse 15 (padma.6.134.15)

विप्रेभ्यो दक्षिणां दत्वा स गतो वैष्णवं पदम् । इति ज्ञात्वा तु भो देवि वेत्रवत्यां विशेषतः

viprebhyo dakṣiṇāṁ datvā sa gato vaiṣṇavaṁ padam iti jñātvā tu bho devi vetravatyāṁ viśeṣataḥ

'and having given sacrificial fees to the brahmins, he attained the state of Vishnu. Knowing this, O goddess, especially at the Vetravati —'

Verse 16 (padma.6.134.16)

स्नानं कुर्वंति ये विप्रास्ते मुक्ता नगनंदिनि । राजन्यो वाथ वैश्यो वा शूद्रो वा सुरसत्तमे

snānaṁ kurvaṁti ye viprāste muktā naganaṁdini rājanyo vātha vaiśyo vā śūdro vā surasattame

'O daughter of the mountain, those brahmins who bathe there are liberated. O foremost of gods, whether kshatriya, vaishya, or shudra —'

Verse 17 (padma.6.134.17)

यत्र स्नानं प्रकुर्वंति ते मुक्ताः पापबंधनात् । कार्तिके वाऽथ माघे वा बाह्यो वा वेदनिंदकः

yatra snānaṁ prakurvaṁti te muktāḥ pāpabaṁdhanāt kārtike vā'tha māghe vā bāhyo vā vedaniṁdakaḥ

'whoever bathes there is freed from the bondage of sin — whether in Kartika or in Magha, whether an outsider or even one who reviles the Veda.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.134.18)

सरितां संगमे स्नात्वा मुच्यते देवि किल्बिषात् । साभ्रमत्याः समं यत्र तस्याः संगः प्रदृश्यते

saritāṁ saṁgame snātvā mucyate devi kilbiṣāt sābhramatyāḥ samaṁ yatra tasyāḥ saṁgaḥ pradṛśyate

'Bathing at the confluence of rivers, O goddess, a man is freed from sin — and where its confluence with the Sabarmati is seen,'

Verse 19 (padma.6.134.19)

तत्र स्नात्वा विशेषेण मुच्यते ब्रह्महा सदा । खेटकं नगरं दिव्यं स्वर्गरूपं तु वाऽनघे

tatra snātvā viśeṣeṇa mucyate brahmahā sadā kheṭakaṁ nagaraṁ divyaṁ svargarūpaṁ tu vā'naghe

'bathing there, even a brahmin-slayer is freed forever, especially so. O sinless one, the city of Khetaka itself is divine, in the very form of heaven.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.134.20)

ब्रह्मणा तत्र वै देवि योगाश्च बहवः कृताः । तत्र स्नात्वा च भुक्त्वा च पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

brahmaṇā tatra vai devi yogāśca bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ tatra snātvā ca bhuktvā ca punarjanma na vidyate

'O goddess, there Brahma himself performed many acts of yogic discipline. Bathing there and enjoying its fruits, one is never born again.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.134.21)

सा द्वितीया स्मृता गंगा कलौ देवि विशेषतः । ये नराः सुखमिच्छंति धनमिच्छंति ये नराः

sā dvitīyā smṛtā gaṁgā kalau devi viśeṣataḥ ye narāḥ sukhamicchaṁti dhanamicchaṁti ye narāḥ

'O goddess, in the Kali age this is held to be, in particular, a second Ganga. Men who desire happiness, men who desire wealth,'

Verse 22 (padma.6.134.22)

स्वर्गमिच्छंति ये लोकास्ते वै स्नात्वा पुनःपुनः । इहलोके सुखं भुक्त्वा यांति विष्णोः सनातनम्

svargamicchaṁti ye lokāste vai snātvā punaḥpunaḥ ihaloke sukhaṁ bhuktvā yāṁti viṣṇoḥ sanātanam

'and those who desire heaven — bathing there again and again, having enjoyed happiness in this world, they go to the eternal abode of Vishnu.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.134.23)

सूर्यवंशे च ये जाताः सोमवंशे तथैव च । आगता वेत्रवत्यां तु स्नात्वा निर्वृतिमागताः

sūryavaṁśe ca ye jātāḥ somavaṁśe tathaiva ca āgatā vetravatyāṁ tu snātvā nirvṛtimāgatāḥ

'Those born in the solar dynasty, and likewise those born in the lunar dynasty, having come and bathed at the Vetravati, have attained supreme peace.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.134.24)

दर्शनाद्धरते दुःखं स्पर्शनान्मानसं ह्यघम् । स्नात्वा भुक्त्वा तथा देवि मुक्तिभागी न संशयः

darśanāddharate duḥkhaṁ sparśanānmānasaṁ hyagham snātvā bhuktvā tathā devi muktibhāgī na saṁśayaḥ

'By the sight of it, sorrow is removed, and by its touch, even mental sin. O goddess, having bathed there and enjoyed its fruits, one becomes a sharer of liberation, without doubt.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.134.25)

स्नानाज्जपात्तथाहोमादनंतं फलमश्नुते । गत्वा वाराणसीतीर्थं भक्त्या चांद्रायणं चरेत्

snānājjapāttathāhomādanaṁtaṁ phalamaśnute gatvā vārāṇasītīrthaṁ bhaktyā cāṁdrāyaṇaṁ caret

'Through bathing, through japa, and through fire-offerings, one obtains boundless fruit. Should one go to the sacred ford of Varanasi and, with devotion, undertake the Chandrayana vow,'

Verse 26 (padma.6.134.26)

तत्र गत्वा महत्पुण्यं तत्पुण्यं सुरसत्तमे । वेत्रवत्यां विशेषेण पंचत्वं यदि गच्छति

tatra gatvā mahatpuṇyaṁ tatpuṇyaṁ surasattame vetravatyāṁ viśeṣeṇa paṁcatvaṁ yadi gacchati

'the great merit obtained there — O foremost of gods, that same merit is obtained especially, and more readily, at the Vetravati. And if one should meet his death right there,'

Verse 27 (padma.6.134.27)

स वै चतुर्भुजो भूत्वा याति विष्णोः परं पदम् । पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि ये देवाः पितरस्तथा

sa vai caturbhujo bhūtvā yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni ye devāḥ pitarastathā

'he, taking on a four-armed form, attains the supreme abode of Vishnu. Whatever sacred fords exist upon this earth, whatever gods and ancestors there are —'

Verse 28 (padma.6.134.28)

ते सर्वे च वसंतीह वेत्रवत्यां सुरेश्वरि । किमन्यद्बहुनोक्तेन भूयो भूयो वरानने

te sarve ca vasaṁtīha vetravatyāṁ sureśvari kimanyadbahunoktena bhūyo bhūyo varānane

'all of them dwell here too, at the Vetravati, O queen of gods. O fair-faced one, what more use is there in saying so much, again and again?'

Verse 29 (padma.6.134.29)

वेत्रवत्याः समं तीर्थं पृथिव्यां न सनातनि । अहं विष्णुस्तथा ब्रह्मा देवाश्च परमर्षयः

vetravatyāḥ samaṁ tīrthaṁ pṛthivyāṁ na sanātani ahaṁ viṣṇustathā brahmā devāśca paramarṣayaḥ

'There is no eternal sacred ford upon this earth equal to the Vetravati. I myself, Vishnu, Brahma, the gods, and the great sages —'

Verse 30 (padma.6.134.30)

तिष्ठंति देवताः सर्वे वेत्रवत्यां महेश्वरि । एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं च विशेषतः

tiṣṭhaṁti devatāḥ sarve vetravatyāṁ maheśvari ekakālaṁ dvikālaṁ vā trikālaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

'O great goddess, all the deities dwell at the Vetravati. Those who, once, twice, or especially three times —'

Verse 31 (padma.6.134.31)

स्नानं कुर्वंति ये तत्र ते वै मुक्ता न संशयः

snānaṁ kurvaṁti ye tatra te vai muktā na saṁśayaḥ

'bathe there — they, without doubt, are surely liberated.'