The Glory of Haridwar

Verse 1 (padma.6.217.1)

राजोवाच- वर्णितं मे त्वया साधो माहात्म्यं बदरीभवम् । यं निशम्य मनो याति मम निर्मलतां मुने

rājovāca- varṇitaṁ me tvayā sādho māhātmyaṁ badarībhavam yaṁ niśamya mano yāti mama nirmalatāṁ mune

The king said: 'O virtuous one, you have told me the glory born at Badari, hearing which, O sage, my mind is attaining purity.'

Verse 2 (padma.6.217.2)

एतदद्भुतमाहात्म्यं शक्रप्रस्थाख्यमुत्तमम् । सकलं मुनिशार्दूलचतुवर्गप्रदायकम्

etadadbhutamāhātmyaṁ śakraprasthākhyamuttamam sakalaṁ muniśārdūlacatuvargapradāyakam

'This wondrous glory of the excellent place named Shakraprastha, O tiger among sages, grants all four aims of life in full.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.217.3)

भुवि नातः परं तीर्थं वतिरश्चातमपि मुक्तिदम् । श्रेष्ठं सकलपापघ्नं दर्शनादेव नारद

bhuvi nātaḥ paraṁ tīrthaṁ vatiraścātamapi muktidam śreṣṭhaṁ sakalapāpaghnaṁ darśanādeva nārada

'There is no tirtha on earth beyond this, which grants liberation even to beasts and birds; O Narada, it is supreme, destroying every sin by mere sight of it.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.217.4)

एतदंतर्गतस्यास्य हरिद्वारस्य नारद । माहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तः संतोषकारकात्

etadaṁtargatasyāsya haridvārasya nārada māhātmyaṁ śrotumicchāmi tvattaḥ saṁtoṣakārakāt

'O Narada, the glory of this Haridvara too, which lies within it, I wish to hear from you, O bringer of contentment.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.217.5)

मामुद्धर मुने दीनमविद्याकामकर्म्मभिः । वर्णनेनास्य तीर्थस्य शक्रप्रस्थगतस्य वै

māmuddhara mune dīnamavidyākāmakarmmabhiḥ varṇanenāsya tīrthasya śakraprasthagatasya vai

'O sage, deliver me, wretched with ignorance and the deeds of desire, through the description of this tirtha situated at Shakraprastha.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.217.6)

नारद उवाच- आकर्णय महाभाग वर्णयामि तवाग्रतः । हरिद्वारस्य माहात्म्यमश्वमेधफलप्रदम्

nārada uvāca- ākarṇaya mahābhāga varṇayāmi tavāgrataḥ haridvārasya māhātmyamaśvamedhaphalapradam

Narada said: 'Hear, O most fortunate one; I shall describe before you the glory of Haridvara, which grants the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.217.7)

अत्रैकः श्वपचः पापः यथास्वर्गतिमाप्तवान् । तत्तेऽहं कथयाम्यद्य शृणुष्वैकमनाः प्रभो

atraikaḥ śvapacaḥ pāpaḥ yathāsvargatimāptavān tatte'haṁ kathayāmyadya śṛṇuṣvaikamanāḥ prabho

'How a sinful outcaste here obtained the path to heaven — that I shall tell you today; hear it, O lord, with a single-pointed mind.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.217.8)

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे कालिग इति विश्रुतः । श्वपचः पापकर्म्मा वै वसति स्म पुराद्बहिः

dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre kāliga iti viśrutaḥ śvapacaḥ pāpakarmmā vai vasati sma purādbahiḥ

'In the field of dharma, Kurukshetra, there dwelt, outside the city, a sinful-deeded outcaste, known by the name Kaliga.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.217.9)

पंचषड्वर्षदेशीयान्बालान्नगरवासिनाम् । प्रसह्य वंचयित्वा च वने नीत्वा जघान सः

paṁcaṣaḍvarṣadeśīyānbālānnagaravāsinām prasahya vaṁcayitvā ca vane nītvā jaghāna saḥ

'He would forcibly deceive children of five or six years, born of the townspeople, lead them into the forest, and kill them there.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.217.10)

तेषामलंकारमयं रजतं हेमवन्नृपः । रत्नादिकं च कायस्थं हत्वा तान्जगृहेऽधमः

teṣāmalaṁkāramayaṁ rajataṁ hemavannṛpaḥ ratnādikaṁ ca kāyasthaṁ hatvā tānjagṛhe'dhamaḥ

'That vile wretch, killing them, would seize their silver and gold ornaments and their gems.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.217.11)

विवेश साधुनिलये रात्रौ धनजिहीर्षया । पथिकान्धनमालक्ष्य स जघ्ने निर्जनं वने

viveśa sādhunilaye rātrau dhanajihīrṣayā pathikāndhanamālakṣya sa jaghne nirjanaṁ vane

'Out of desire for wealth, he would even break into the dwellings of the virtuous at night; in the lonely forest, seeing travelers with wealth, he would kill them.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.217.12)

कुरुक्षेत्रे समायाता एकदा रविपर्वणि । नानादिग्भ्यो जना राजन्नानादान जिहीर्षया

kurukṣetre samāyātā ekadā raviparvaṇi nānādigbhyo janā rājannānādāna jihīrṣayā

'O king, once, on the occasion of the solar festival, many people came to Kurukshetra from various directions, wishing to receive many gifts.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.217.13)

तस्मिन्यथाविधि स्नात्वा रविपर्वणि भूपते । दानं दत्त्वा यथावच्च लोकाः स्वान्स्वान्गृहान्ययुः

tasminyathāvidhi snātvā raviparvaṇi bhūpate dānaṁ dattvā yathāvacca lokāḥ svānsvāngṛhānyayuḥ

'O king, having duly bathed at that solar festival, and having duly given gifts, those people went each to his own home.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.217.14)

एकः कश्चिद्विशां श्रेष्ठो धनेन महता यतः । पश्चात्सर्वजनेभ्यस्तु चचाल स्वगृहंप्रति

ekaḥ kaścidviśāṁ śreṣṭho dhanena mahatā yataḥ paścātsarvajanebhyastu cacāla svagṛhaṁprati

'One who was foremost among the merchants, on account of his great wealth, set out toward his own home last of all the people.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.217.15)

अश्ववारः पदातीनां विंशतिं पुरतो दधत् । कालिगः स महापापस्तमनुप्रस्थितः श्रियै

aśvavāraḥ padātīnāṁ viṁśatiṁ purato dadhat kāligaḥ sa mahāpāpastamanuprasthitaḥ śriyai

'With twenty foot-soldiers before him, riding as an escort, that great sinner Kaliga, out of greed for wealth, followed after him.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.217.16)

कतिचिद्वसतीर्गत्वा सह तेन विशाधमः । सॐऽत्यजस्तद्धनं हर्तुं न लेभे समयं नृप

katicidvasatīrgatvā saha tena viśādhamaḥ saoṁ'tyajastaddhanaṁ hartuṁ na lebhe samayaṁ nṛpa

'O king, that vile outcaste, though traveling with him through some encampments, could find no opportunity to steal his wealth.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.217.17)

बलेनापि गृहीतुं न क्षमोऽभूत्तस्य सश्रियम् । वैश्यस्तु जनविंशत्या संयुक्तस्तु स एकलः

balenāpi gṛhītuṁ na kṣamo'bhūttasya saśriyam vaiśyastu janaviṁśatyā saṁyuktastu sa ekalaḥ

'Alone, he was unable even by force to seize that prosperous merchant, since that merchant was accompanied by twenty soldiers.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.217.18)

अत्रागतः स पापात्मा वैश्यस्यार्थेन पार्थिव । निशीथे शिबिरं तस्य धनं हर्त्तुं समाविशत्

atrāgataḥ sa pāpātmā vaiśyasyārthena pārthiva niśīthe śibiraṁ tasya dhanaṁ harttuṁ samāviśat

'O king, that sinful-souled man, out of greed for that merchant's wealth, came here, and at midnight entered his camp, to steal his wealth.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.217.19)

एकेन तस्य वैश्यस्य जनेन स तु लक्षितः । प्रविशन्नेव पापात्मा ददता प्रहरं स्वकम्

ekena tasya vaiśyasya janena sa tu lakṣitaḥ praviśanneva pāpātmā dadatā praharaṁ svakam

'One of that merchant's men noticed him; and that sinner, even as he was entering, struck a blow against him.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.217.20)

तमालक्ष्य समीपस्थं स जनः प्रहरप्रदः । उभयोः पादयोराजन्स्वपन्नेव गृहीतवान्

tamālakṣya samīpasthaṁ sa janaḥ praharapradaḥ ubhayoḥ pādayorājansvapanneva gṛhītavān

'O king, that man who had struck the blow, seeming to lie sleeping nearby, seeing him, seized him by both feet.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.217.21)

तौ गृहीत्वा जनानन्यान्बोधयन्प्रहरप्रदः । हस्तेनैव तु पापेन चौरेणाघातितो हि सः

tau gṛhītvā janānanyānbodhayanpraharapradaḥ hastenaiva tu pāpena caureṇāghātito hi saḥ

'That striker, having seized him, began to rouse other people; but that sinful thief slew him with his own hand.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.217.22)

श्रुत्वा पलायमानस्तु गृहीतोऽन्यैर्जनैस्तदा । गृहीतारं पुनर्हत्वा सहसा स पलायितः

śrutvā palāyamānastu gṛhīto'nyairjanaistadā gṛhītāraṁ punarhatvā sahasā sa palāyitaḥ

'Hearing this, he fled, but was then seized by other people; slaying that captor too, he swiftly fled again.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.217.23)

एकेन केनचिद्राजन्सेवकेन धनुर्भृता । दूरादेव शरेणाशु धावन्स निहतोऽधमः

ekena kenacidrājansevakena dhanurbhṛtā dūrādeva śareṇāśu dhāvansa nihato'dhamaḥ

'O king, then a certain servant, bow in hand, from a distance, swiftly struck down that vile man with an arrow as he fled.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.217.24)

हतमात्रः शरेणाशु तत्याज स च जीवितम् । चौरेण निहतौ राजन्वैश्यस्यानुचरावुभौ

hatamātraḥ śareṇāśu tatyāja sa ca jīvitam caureṇa nihatau rājanvaiśyasyānucarāvubhau

'The moment he was struck by the arrow, he at once gave up his life. O king, that thief had also slain both of the merchant's own attendants.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.217.25)

ते त्रयो वरयानानि गणानीतानि भूपते । समारुह्य दिविस्थित्वा वैश्यमेतद्बभाषिरे

te trayo varayānāni gaṇānītāni bhūpate samāruhya divisthitvā vaiśyametadbabhāṣire

'O king, those three, mounted upon fine celestial chariots brought by the divine attendants, standing in the sky, spoke this to the merchant.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.217.26)

कालिगवैश्यानुचरा ऊचुः । भो भो वैश्यपते साधो तीर्थमेतदनुत्तमम् । इंद्रप्रस्थे हरिद्वारं शिवकृत्पापिनामपि

kāligavaiśyānucarā ūcuḥ bho bho vaiśyapate sādho tīrthametadanuttamam iṁdraprasthe haridvāraṁ śivakṛtpāpināmapi

Kaliga and the merchant's attendants said: 'O good lord of merchants, this Haridvara, situated at Indraprastha, is an incomparable tirtha, granting well-being even to sinners.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.217.27)

वयं त्रयः सुतीर्थेऽस्मिन्नपमृत्युगता अपि । गच्छामस्त्रिदिवं वैश्य सांप्रतं शिवमस्तु ते

vayaṁ trayaḥ sutīrthe'sminnapamṛtyugatā api gacchāmastridivaṁ vaiśya sāṁprataṁ śivamastu te

'We three, though we have met untimely deaths here at this excellent tirtha, are going now to heaven, O merchant; may well-being be yours now.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.217.28)

श्रीनारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा ते ययुः स्वर्गं शिवे शिवकृतां पदम् । यत्रेच्छया हि लभ्यंते भोग्यवस्तून्यनेकशः

śrīnārada uvāca- ityuktvā te yayuḥ svargaṁ śive śivakṛtāṁ padam yatrecchayā hi labhyaṁte bhogyavastūnyanekaśaḥ

Shri Narada said: 'Having said this, O Shiva, they went to heaven, to the state fashioned by the auspicious, where, by mere wish, manifold objects of enjoyment are obtained.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.217.29)

अथ रात्रौ व्यतीतायां प्रातरत्र विशांवरः । स्वभृत्यदेहयोः कृत्वा दाहमस्थीन्यपातयत्

atha rātrau vyatītāyāṁ prātaratra viśāṁvaraḥ svabhṛtyadehayoḥ kṛtvā dāhamasthīnyapātayat

'Then, when the night had passed, at dawn, that lord of the people had the bodies of his two servants cremated, and cast their bones into the tirtha.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.217.30)

तीर्थेऽत्र पात्यमानेषु भृत्यौ तावस्थिषु प्रभो । स्वर्गात्पुनरिहायातौ तं वैश्यमिदमूचतुः

tīrthe'tra pātyamāneṣu bhṛtyau tāvasthiṣu prabho svargātpunarihāyātau taṁ vaiśyamidamūcatuḥ

'O lord, as the bones of those two servants were being cast into this tirtha, the two of them, coming again from heaven, spoke this to the merchant.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.217.31)

भृत्या ऊचतुः । भो भो वैश्यपते साधो तीर्थेऽत्र मरणाद्भुवि । पापानामपि जंतूनां स्वर्गप्राप्तिर्न संशयः

bhṛtyā ūcatuḥ bho bho vaiśyapate sādho tīrthe'tra maraṇādbhuvi pāpānāmapi jaṁtūnāṁ svargaprāptirna saṁśayaḥ

The servants said: 'O good lord of merchants, even by dying on land at this tirtha, sinful beings, without doubt, attain heaven.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.217.32)

स्थले मृतस्य जंतोश्चेत्पतंत्यस्थीनि वारिणि । तीर्थस्यास्य तदा वैश्य सत्यलोके स्थितिर्भवेत्

sthale mṛtasya jaṁtoścetpataṁtyasthīni vāriṇi tīrthasyāsya tadā vaiśya satyaloke sthitirbhavet

'If the bones of a being who died on land should fall into the water, then, O merchant, by the power of this tirtha, he attains a place in Satyaloka.'

Verse 33 (padma.6.217.33)

स्थले मृताभ्यामावाभ्यामस्थिपातेन वारिणि । संप्राप्ता ब्रह्मणो लोके स्थितिराब्रह्मसंस्थिते

sthale mṛtābhyāmāvābhyāmasthipātena vāriṇi saṁprāptā brahmaṇo loke sthitirābrahmasaṁsthite

'By the falling of our own bones — we who died on land — into the water, we have attained a place in Brahmaloka, up to Brahmaloka's own state.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.217.34)

स्थले मृतस्य चौरस्यापेतुरस्थीनिनांबुनि । यतोऽत स विशांनाथ तस्थौ वृंदारकालये

sthale mṛtasya caurasyāpeturasthīnināṁbuni yato'ta sa viśāṁnātha tasthau vṛṁdārakālaye

'That thief who died on land — his bones did not fall into the water; therefore, O lord of the people, he still remains only in the abode of the gods.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.217.35)

तस्यापि देहमन्विष्य तीर्थेस्मिन्नाशु पातय । यथासोऽपि सुरश्रेष्ठ प्राप्नुयान्नौ गतिं पराम्

tasyāpi dehamanviṣya tīrthesminnāśu pātaya yathāso'pi suraśreṣṭha prāpnuyānnau gatiṁ parām

'Seek out his body too, and cast it swiftly into this tirtha, so that he too, O foremost of gods, may attain the supreme destiny along with us.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.217.36)

उपकारः सदाकार्यः परेषामपि साधुभिः । अपकारो न मंतव्यः कृतो भृशमसज्जनैः

upakāraḥ sadākāryaḥ pareṣāmapi sādhubhiḥ apakāro na maṁtavyaḥ kṛto bhṛśamasajjanaiḥ

'The virtuous should always do good even to others; the grievous harm done by the wicked should never be repaid in kind.'

Verse 37 (padma.6.217.37)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा तौ महाभागौ गतौ हरिपुरं प्रति । हरिद्वारस्य तीर्थस्य सलिलेनास्थिपातनात्

nārada uvāca- ityuktvā tau mahābhāgau gatau haripuraṁ prati haridvārasya tīrthasya salilenāsthipātanāt

Narada said: 'Having said this, those two most fortunate ones went on to the city of Hari, through the power of casting their bones into the water of the Haridvara tirtha.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.217.38)

स वैश्यस्तु महाभागस्तस्य चौरस्य विग्रहम् । दग्धुमन्वेषयामास न लब्धं तत्तु भूपते

sa vaiśyastu mahābhāgastasya caurasya vigraham dagdhumanveṣayāmāsa na labdhaṁ tattu bhūpate

'O king, that most fortunate merchant sought out that thief's body, to burn it, but it was not found.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.217.39)

पुनरावृत्य तत्रैव सर्वतीर्थशिरोमणौ । हरिद्वारे महाराज स सस्नाविति वांच्छया

punarāvṛtya tatraiva sarvatīrthaśiromaṇau haridvāre mahārāja sa sasnāviti vāṁcchayā

'O great king, returning there again, to that crest-jewel of all tirthas, that same Haridvara, he then bathed there, with this wish—'

Verse 40 (padma.6.217.40)

अहमुत्पाद्य सत्पुत्रान्धर्म्मार्जितधनेन च । संतोष्य विप्रान्बंधूंश्च विष्णुमाराध्य सेवया

ahamutpādya satputrāndharmmārjitadhanena ca saṁtoṣya viprānbaṁdhūṁśca viṣṇumārādhya sevayā

'—"Having begotten virtuous sons through righteously earned wealth, having satisfied brahmins and kinsmen, having worshipped Vishnu through service—"'

Verse 41 (padma.6.217.41)

त्वय्येव मरणं प्राप्य गच्छामि हरिमंदिरम् । तीर्थराज नमस्तुभ्यमेतत्कर्तव्यमस्ति ते

tvayyeva maraṇaṁ prāpya gacchāmi harimaṁdiram tīrtharāja namastubhyametatkartavyamasti te

'"—may I meet my death right within you, and go on to Hari's own abode. O king of tirthas, salutations to you; this you must grant me."'

Verse 42 (padma.6.217.42)

इति कामनया राजन्स वैश्यस्तत्र कामदे । तीर्थे स्नात्वा गतः सर्वैर्भृत्य्स्वं समगाद्गृहम्

iti kāmanayā rājansa vaiśyastatra kāmade tīrthe snātvā gataḥ sarvairbhṛtysvaṁ samagādgṛham

'O king, with this desire, that merchant, having bathed at that wish-granting tirtha, set out for home, together with all his servants.'

Verse 43 (padma.6.217.43)

तत्र गत्वा सपत्न्यां तु पुत्रानुत्पाद्य बुद्धिमान् । धर्मोपार्जितवित्तेन तोषयामास बांधवान्

tatra gatvā sapatnyāṁ tu putrānutpādya buddhimān dharmopārjitavittena toṣayāmāsa bāṁdhavān

'Going there, and with his own wife begetting sons, that wise man, with righteously earned wealth, began to satisfy his kinsmen.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.217.44)

भक्त्या परमया राजन्नाराध्य कमलापतिम् । तीर्थेऽस्मिन्मरणं प्राप्तो यतो वैकुंठमाप्नुयात्

bhaktyā paramayā rājannārādhya kamalāpatim tīrthe'sminmaraṇaṁ prāpto yato vaikuṁṭhamāpnuyāt

'O king, worshipping the Lord of Lakshmi with supreme devotion, he met his death at this very tirtha, by which he attained Vaikuntha.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.217.45)

इति वै वर्णितो राजंस्तीर्थस्य महिमा तव । हरिद्वारस्य पुण्यस्य श्रवणेऽस्य फलं शृणु

iti vai varṇito rājaṁstīrthasya mahimā tava haridvārasya puṇyasya śravaṇe'sya phalaṁ śṛṇu

'O king, thus has the glory of this tirtha been told to you; now hear the fruit of merely hearing of this sacred Haridvara.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.217.46)

तिलद्रोणस्य दानेन माघे यत्फलमाप्नुयात् । जनस्तत्फलमाप्नोति शृण्वन्माहात्म्यमस्य तु

tiladroṇasya dānena māghe yatphalamāpnuyāt janastatphalamāpnoti śṛṇvanmāhātmyamasya tu

'Whatever fruit is obtained from the gift of a drona-measure of sesame in the month of Magha, that same fruit a person obtains merely by hearing this glory.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.217.47)

गोपीचंदन दानेन ब्रह्मपत्रेषु भोजनात् । यत्फलं तन्महिम्नोऽस्य श्रवणादेव कार्तिके

gopīcaṁdana dānena brahmapatreṣu bhojanāt yatphalaṁ tanmahimno'sya śravaṇādeva kārtike

'Whatever fruit comes from the gift of gopichandana, and from feeding brahmins on leaf-plates in the month of Kartika, that same fruit comes merely from hearing this glory.'

Verse 48 (padma.6.217.48)

जागरे च प्रबोधिन्यां प्रहरे पश्चिमे नृप । यत्फलंन्तन्महिम्नोऽस्य तीर्थस्याकर्णनाद्भवेत्

jāgare ca prabodhinyāṁ prahare paścime nṛpa yatphalaṁntanmahimno'sya tīrthasyākarṇanādbhavet

'O king, whatever fruit comes from keeping vigil in the last watch of the night of Prabodhini, that same fruit comes merely from hearing of this tirtha.'

Verse 49 (padma.6.217.49)

हरिद्वारस्य सदृशं शक्रप्रस्थगतस्य वै । न तीर्थं पृथिवीलोके चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्

haridvārasya sadṛśaṁ śakraprasthagatasya vai na tīrthaṁ pṛthivīloke caturvargaphalapradam

'There is no other tirtha on earth, equal to this Haridvara situated at Shakraprastha, granting the fruit of all four aims of life.'