The Sacred Fields of Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.1)

सूत उवाच । शृणुध्वमृषयः प्राज्ञाः शिवक्षेत्रं विमुक्तिदम् । तदागमांस्ततो वक्ष्ये लोकरक्षार्थमेव हि

sūta uvāca śṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ prājñāḥ śivakṣetraṁ vimuktidam tadāgamāṁstato vakṣye lokarakṣārthameva hi

Suta said: Listen, O wise sages, to an account of the Shiva-kshetra that bestows liberation. I shall then relate its scriptural traditions, for the protection of the world.

Verse 2 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.2)

पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तीर्णा सशैलवनकानना । शिवाज्ञया हि पृथिवी लोकं धृत्वा च तिष्ठति

pañcāśatkoṭivistīrṇā saśailavanakānanā śivājñayā hi pṛthivī lokaṁ dhṛtvā ca tiṣṭhati

By Shiva's command, the earth — vast, spanning five hundred million yojanas, with its mountains, forests and woodlands — stands sustaining the world.

Verse 3 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.3)

तत्र तत्र शिवक्षेत्रं तत्र तत्र निवासिनाम् । मोक्षार्थं कृपया देवः क्षेत्रं कल्पितवान्प्रभुः

tatra tatra śivakṣetraṁ tatra tatra nivāsinām mokṣārthaṁ kṛpayā devaḥ kṣetraṁ kalpitavānprabhuḥ

Here and there upon it are Shiva-kshetras. Out of compassion, for the liberation of those who dwell there, Lord Shiva Himself has fashioned these sacred fields.

Verse 4 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.4)

परिग्रहाद् ॠषीणां च देवानां च परिग्रहात् । स्वयम्भूतान्यथान्यानि लोकरक्षार्थमेव हि

parigrahād ṝṣīṇāṁ ca devānāṁ ca parigrahāt svayambhūtānyathānyāni lokarakṣārthameva hi

Some arose through the sages who took them up, some through the gods who did the same, and others are self-manifested — all this for the sake of the world's protection.

Verse 5 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.5)

तीर्थे क्षेत्रे सदा कार्यं स्नानदानजपादिकम् । अन्यथा रोगदारिद्र्यमूकत्वाद्याप्नुयान्नरः

tīrthe kṣetre sadā kāryaṁ snānadānajapādikam anyathā rogadāridryamūkatvādyāpnuyānnaraḥ

At a tirtha or a sacred field, one should always perform bathing, charity, recitation and the like; otherwise a person incurs disease, poverty, dumbness and similar afflictions.

Verse 6 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.6)

अथास्मिन्भारते वर्षे प्राप्नोति मरणं नरः । स्वयम्भूस्थानवासेन पुनर्मानुष्यमाप्नुयात्

athāsminbhārate varṣe prāpnoti maraṇaṁ naraḥ svayambhūsthānavāsena punarmānuṣyamāpnuyāt

If a person meets death in this land of Bharata, then by having dwelt in the abode of a self-manifested linga, he attains human birth once again.

Verse 7 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.7)

क्षेत्रे पापस्य करणं दृढं भवति भूसुराः । पुण्यक्षेत्रे निवासे हि पापमण्वपि नाचरेत्

kṣetre pāpasya karaṇaṁ dṛḍhaṁ bhavati bhūsurāḥ puṇyakṣetre nivāse hi pāpamaṇvapi nācaret

O brahmanas, committing sin in such a sacred field becomes firmly binding; therefore, while dwelling in a sacred field, one should not commit even the slightest sin.

Verse 8 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.8)

येन केनाप्युपायेन पुण्यक्षेत्रे वसेन्नरः । सिन्धोः शतनदीतीरे सन्ति क्षेत्राण्यनेकशः

yena kenāpyupāyena puṇyakṣetre vasennaraḥ sindhoḥ śatanadītīre santi kṣetrāṇyanekaśaḥ

By whatever means possible, a person should dwell in a sacred field. Along the banks of the Sindhu and its hundred tributary rivers, there are numerous sacred fields.

Verse 9 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.9)

सरस्वती नदी पुण्या प्रोक्ता षष्टिमुखा तथा । तत्तत्तीरे वसेत्प्राज्ञः क्रमाद् ब्रह्मपदं लभेत्

sarasvatī nadī puṇyā proktā ṣaṣṭimukhā tathā tattattīre vasetprājñaḥ kramād brahmapadaṁ labhet

The river Sarasvati is declared sacred, said to have sixty mouths. The wise, dwelling along its various banks, attain, in due course, the state of Brahma.

Verse 10 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.10)

हिमवद्गिरिजा गङ्गा पुण्या शतमुखा नदी । तत्तीरे चैव काश्यादिपुण्यक्षेत्राण्यनेकशः

himavadgirijā gaṅgā puṇyā śatamukhā nadī tattīre caiva kāśyādipuṇyakṣetrāṇyanekaśaḥ

The Ganga, born of the Himalaya, is a sacred river with a hundred mouths; along its banks lie numerous sacred fields, beginning with Kashi.

Verse 11 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.11)

तत्र तीरं प्रशस्तं हि मृगे मृगबृहस्पतौ । शोणभद्रो दशमुखः पुण्योऽभीष्टफलप्रदः

tatra tīraṁ praśastaṁ hi mṛge mṛgabṛhaspatau śoṇabhadro daśamukhaḥ puṇyo ’bhīṣṭaphalapradaḥ

There, its bank is especially praised when both the sun and Jupiter stand in the sign of the Archer. The Shonabhadra, with ten mouths, is sacred and grants the fruit one desires.

Verse 12 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.12)

तत्र स्नानोपवासेन पदं वैनायकं लभेत् । चतुर्वींशमुखा पुण्या नर्मदा च महानदी

tatra snānopavāsena padaṁ vaināyakaṁ labhet caturvīṁśamukhā puṇyā narmadā ca mahānadī

By bathing and fasting there, one attains the rank of Vinayaka, Lord Ganesha. The great river Narmada, sacred, has twenty-four mouths.

Verse 13 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.13)

तस्यां स्नानेन वासेन पदं वैष्णवमाप्नुयात् । तमसा द्वादशमुखा रेवा दशमुखा नदी

tasyāṁ snānena vāsena padaṁ vaiṣṇavamāpnuyāt tamasā dvādaśamukhā revā daśamukhā nadī

By bathing and dwelling there, one attains the state of Vishnu. The Tamasa has twelve mouths, and the river Reva has ten mouths.

Verse 14 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.14)

गोदावरी महापुण्या ब्रह्मगोवधनाशिनी । एकविंशमुखा प्रोक्ता रुद्रलोकप्रदायिनी

godāvarī mahāpuṇyā brahmagovadhanāśinī ekaviṁśamukhā proktā rudralokapradāyinī

The Godavari is greatly sacred, destroying the sin of killing a brahmana or a cow. It is declared to have twenty-one mouths and bestows the world of Rudra.

Verse 15 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.15)

कृष्ण वेणी पुण्यनदी सर्वपापक्षयावहा । साष्टादशमुखा प्रोक्ता विष्णुलोकप्रदायिनी

kṛṣṇa veṇī puṇyanadī sarvapāpakṣayāvahā sāṣṭādaśamukhā proktā viṣṇulokapradāyinī

The Krishna-Veni is a sacred river, bringing about the destruction of all sins. It is declared to have eighteen mouths and bestows the world of Vishnu.

Verse 16 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.16)

तुङ्गभद्रा दशमुखा ब्रह्मलोकप्रदायिनी । सुवर्णमुखरी पुण्या प्रोक्ता नवमुखा तथा

tuṅgabhadrā daśamukhā brahmalokapradāyinī suvarṇamukharī puṇyā proktā navamukhā tathā

The Tungabhadra, with ten mouths, bestows the world of Brahma. The sacred Suvarnamukhari is likewise declared to have nine mouths.

Verse 17 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.17)

तत्रैव सुप्रजायन्ते ब्रह्मलोकच्युतास्तथा । सरस्वती च पम्पा च कन्या श्वेतनदी शुभा

tatraiva suprajāyante brahmalokacyutāstathā sarasvatī ca pampā ca kanyā śvetanadī śubhā

There, indeed, souls fallen from the world of Brahma find good rebirth. There too are the Sarasvati, the Pampa, the Kanya, and the auspicious river Shveta.

Verse 18 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.18)

एतासां तीरवासेन इन्द्रलोकमवाप्नुयात् । सह्याद्रिजा महापुण्या कावेरीति महानदी

etāsāṁ tīravāsena indralokamavāpnuyāt sahyādrijā mahāpuṇyā kāverīti mahānadī

By dwelling on the banks of these rivers, one attains the world of Indra. The great and sacred river Kaveri is born of the Sahyadri mountains.

Verse 19 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.19)

सप्तविंशमुखा प्रोक्ता सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायिनी । तत्तीराः स्वर्गदाश्चैव ब्रह्मविष्णुपदप्रदाः

saptaviṁśamukhā proktā sarvābhīṣṭapradāyinī tattīrāḥ svargadāścaiva brahmaviṣṇupadapradāḥ

It is declared to have twenty-seven mouths and to grant every desire; its banks bestow heaven and confer the states of Brahma and Vishnu.

Verse 20 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.20)

शिवलोकप्रदाः शैवास्तथाभीष्टफलप्रदाः । नैमिषे बदरे स्नायान्मेषगे च गुरौ रवौ

śivalokapradāḥ śaivāstathābhīṣṭaphalapradāḥ naimiṣe badare snāyānmeṣage ca gurau ravau

Its Shaiva sites bestow the world of Shiva and likewise grant the fruit one desires. One should bathe at Naimisha and at Badari when both Jupiter and the sun stand in the sign of the Ram,

Verse 21 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.21)

ब्रह्मलोकप्रदं विद्यात्ततः पूजादिकं तथा । सिन्धुनद्यां तथा स्नानं सिंहे कर्कटगे रवौ

brahmalokapradaṁ vidyāttataḥ pūjādikaṁ tathā sindhunadyāṁ tathā snānaṁ siṁhe karkaṭage ravau

and this should be known to bestow the world of Brahma, along with the worship performed there. Bathing in the river Sindhu, when the sun stands in Cancer and Jupiter in Leo,

Verse 22 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.22)

केदारोदकपानं च स्नानं च ज्ञानदं विदुः । गोदावर्यां सिंहमासे स्नायात्सिंहबृहस्पतौ

kedārodakapānaṁ ca snānaṁ ca jñānadaṁ viduḥ godāvaryāṁ siṁhamāse snāyātsiṁhabṛhaspatau

and drinking the water of Kedara along with bathing, are known to bestow knowledge. One should bathe in the Godavari during the month of Leo, when Jupiter too stands in Leo,

Verse 23 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.23)

शिवलोकप्रदमिति शिवेनोक्तं तथा पुरा । यमुनाशोणयोः स्नायाद् गुरौ कन्यागते रवौ

śivalokapradamiti śivenoktaṁ tathā purā yamunāśoṇayoḥ snāyād gurau kanyāgate ravau

for this, as Shiva Himself declared of old, bestows the world of Shiva. One should bathe in the Yamuna and the Shona when the sun has entered Virgo and Jupiter stands favorably,

Verse 24 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.24)

धर्मलोके दन्तिलोके महाभोगप्रदं विदुः । कावेर्यां च तथा स्नायात्तुलागे तु रवौ गुरौ

dharmaloke dantiloke mahābhogapradaṁ viduḥ kāveryāṁ ca tathā snāyāttulāge tu ravau gurau

for this is known to grant great enjoyment in the world of Dharma and the world of Ganesha. Likewise, one should bathe in the Kaveri when the sun and Jupiter stand in Libra,

Verse 25 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.25)

विष्णोर्वचनमाहात्म्यात्सर्वाभीष्टप्रदं विदुः । वृश्चिके मासि सम्प्राप्ते तथार्के गुरुवृश्चिके

viṣṇorvacanamāhātmyātsarvābhīṣṭapradaṁ viduḥ vṛścike māsi samprāpte tathārke guruvṛścike

for this, by the greatness of Vishnu's own word, is known to grant every desire. When the month of Scorpio arrives, with both the sun and Jupiter in Scorpio,

Verse 26 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.26)

नर्मदायां नदीस्नानाद्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानां चापगे च गुरौ रवौ

narmadāyāṁ nadīsnānādviṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt suvarṇamukharīsnānāṁ cāpage ca gurau ravau

by bathing in the river Narmada, one attains the world of Vishnu. Bathing in the Suvarnamukhari, when both Jupiter and the sun stand in Sagittarius,

Verse 27 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.27)

शिवलोकप्रदमिति ब्राह्मणो वचनं यथा । मृगमासि तथा स्नायाज्जाह्नव्यां मृगगे गुरौ

śivalokapradamiti brāhmaṇo vacanaṁ yathā mṛgamāsi tathā snāyājjāhnavyāṁ mṛgage gurau

bestows the world of Shiva, as declared by the word of Brahma himself. Likewise, one should bathe in the Ganga during the month of Capricorn, when Jupiter stands in Capricorn,

Verse 28 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.28)

शिवलोकप्रदमिति ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा । ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः पदे भुक्त्वा तदन्ते ज्ञानमाप्नुयात्

śivalokapradamiti brahmaṇo vacanaṁ yathā brahmaviṣṇvoḥ pade bhuktvā tadante jñānamāpnuyāt

for this, as declared by the word of Brahma, bestows the world of Shiva. Having enjoyed the states of Brahma and Vishnu, at their end one attains supreme knowledge.

Verse 29 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.29)

गङ्गायां माघमासे तु तथा कुम्भगते रवौ । श्राद्धं वा पिण्डदानं वा तिलोदकमथापि वा

gaṅgāyāṁ māghamāse tu tathā kumbhagate ravau śrāddhaṁ vā piṇḍadānaṁ vā tilodakamathāpi vā

In the Ganga, during the month of Magha, when the sun stands in Aquarius — the performance of shraddha, the offering of the pinda, or the offering of sesame-water,

Verse 30 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.30)

वंशद्वयपितॄणां च कुलकोट्युद्धरं विदुः । कृष्णवेण्यां प्रशंसन्ति मीनगे च गुरौ रवौ

vaṁśadvayapitṝṇāṁ ca kulakoṭyuddharaṁ viduḥ kṛṣṇaveṇyāṁ praśaṁsanti mīnage ca gurau ravau

when made for the ancestors of both lineages, is known to redeem ten million generations of one's family. Bathing in the Krishna-Veni is praised when the sun and Jupiter stand in Pisces.

Verse 31 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.31)

तत्तत्तीर्थे च तन्मासि स्नानमिन्द्रपदप्रदम् । गङ्गां वा सह्यजां वापि समाश्रित्य वसेद् बुधः

tattattīrthe ca tanmāsi snānamindrapadapradam gaṅgāṁ vā sahyajāṁ vāpi samāśritya vased budhaḥ

Bathing at each respective tirtha in its respective month bestows the state of Indra. The wise should take refuge in either the Ganga or the Sahya-born Kaveri and dwell there.

Verse 32 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.32)

तत्कालकृतपापस्य क्षयो भवति निश्चितम् । रुद्रलोकप्रदान्येव सन्ति क्षेत्राण्यनेकशः

tatkālakṛtapāpasya kṣayo bhavati niścitam rudralokapradānyeva santi kṣetrāṇyanekaśaḥ

Whatever sin was committed up to that time is certainly destroyed. There are, besides these, numerous other sacred fields that bestow the world of Rudra.

Verse 33 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.33)

ताम्रपर्णी वेगवती ब्रह्मलोकफलप्रदे । तयोस्तीरे हि सन्त्येव क्षेत्राणि स्वर्गदानि च

tāmraparṇī vegavatī brahmalokaphalaprade tayostīre hi santyeva kṣetrāṇi svargadāni ca

The Tamraparni and the Vegavati grant, as their fruit, the world of Brahma; along their banks too lie sacred fields that bestow heaven.

Verse 34 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.34)

सन्ति क्षेत्राणि तन्मध्ये पुण्यदानि च भूरिशः । तत्र तत्र वसन्प्राज्ञस्तादृशं च फलं लभेत्

santi kṣetrāṇi tanmadhye puṇyadāni ca bhūriśaḥ tatra tatra vasanprājñastādṛśaṁ ca phalaṁ labhet

Among these lie very many other sacred fields that confer merit. The wise, dwelling here and there among them, obtain the fruit appropriate to each.

Verse 35 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.35)

सदाचारेण सद्वृत्त्या सदा भावनयापि च । वसेद्दयालुः प्राज्ञो वै नान्यथा तत्फलं लभेत्

sadācāreṇa sadvṛttyā sadā bhāvanayāpi ca vaseddayāluḥ prājño vai nānyathā tatphalaṁ labhet

One should dwell there with good conduct, right behavior, and constant good feeling, with a compassionate and wise heart; otherwise that fruit is not obtained.

Verse 36 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.36)

पुण्यक्षेत्रे कृतं पुण्यं बहुधा ऋद्धिमृच्छति । पुण्यक्षेत्रे कृतं पापं महदण्वापि जायते

puṇyakṣetre kṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ bahudhā ṛddhimṛcchati puṇyakṣetre kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ mahadaṇvāpi jāyate

Merit performed in a sacred field grows manifold in its abundance. But sin committed in a sacred field, whether great or small, likewise becomes magnified.

Verse 37 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.37)

तत्कालं जीवनार्थश्चेत्पुण्येन क्षयमेष्यति । पुण्यमैश्वर्यदं प्राहुः कायिकं वाचिकं तथा

tatkālaṁ jīvanārthaścetpuṇyena kṣayameṣyati puṇyamaiśvaryadaṁ prāhuḥ kāyikaṁ vācikaṁ tathā

If it was committed there merely for the sake of livelihood at that time, it will be dissolved by later merit. Merit is said to bestow prosperity — that arising from body, from speech,

Verse 38 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.38)

मानसं च तथा पापं तादृशं नाशयेद् द्विजाः । मानसं वज्रलेपं तु कल्पकल्पानुगं तथा

mānasaṁ ca tathā pāpaṁ tādṛśaṁ nāśayed dvijāḥ mānasaṁ vajralepaṁ tu kalpakalpānugaṁ tathā

and from mind; and, O brahmanas, sin of these same three kinds may likewise be destroyed by the corresponding remedy. Mental sin, however, clings like a diamond-hard coating, persisting age after age;

Verse 39 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.39)

ध्यानादेव हि तन्नश्येन्नान्यथा नाशमृच्छति । वाचिकं जपजालेन कायिकं कायशोषणात्

dhyānādeva hi tannaśyennānyathā nāśamṛcchati vācikaṁ japajālena kāyikaṁ kāyaśoṣaṇāt

it is destroyed only through meditation, by no other means. Verbal sin is destroyed through the practice of recitation, and bodily sin through austerities that discipline the body;

Verse 40 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.40)

दानाद्धनकृतं नश्येन्नान्यथा कल्पकोटिभिः । क्वचित्पापेन पुण्यं च वृद्धिपूर्वेण नश्यति

dānāddhanakṛtaṁ naśyennānyathā kalpakoṭibhiḥ kvacitpāpena puṇyaṁ ca vṛddhipūrveṇa naśyati

sin arising from wealth is destroyed only through charity, and by no other means, not even over tens of millions of ages. Sometimes merit is destroyed by sin, and sometimes sin by prior accumulated sin.

Verse 41 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.41)

बीजांशश्चैव वृद्ध्यंशो भोगांशः पुण्यपापयोः । ज्ञाननाश्यो हि बीजांशो वृद्धिरुक्तप्रकारतः

bījāṁśaścaiva vṛddhyaṁśo bhogāṁśaḥ puṇyapāpayoḥ jñānanāśyo hi bījāṁśo vṛddhiruktaprakārataḥ

Both merit and sin have three portions — a seed-portion, a growth-portion, and an experience-portion. The seed-portion is destroyed only by knowledge; the growth-portion by the means already described;

Verse 42 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.42)

भोगांशो भोगनाश्यस्तु नान्यथा पुण्यकोटिभिः । बीजप्ररोहे नष्टे तु शेषो भोगाय कल्पते

bhogāṁśo bhoganāśyastu nānyathā puṇyakoṭibhiḥ bījaprarohe naṣṭe tu śeṣo bhogāya kalpate

and the experience-portion is destroyed only by being experienced, not even by tens of millions of merits otherwise. But once the sprouting of the seed is destroyed, what remains serves only to be experienced.

Verse 43 (shiva.vidyeshvara.12.43)

देवानां पूजया चैव ब्रह्मणानां च दानतः । तपोधिक्याच्च कालेन भोगः सह्यो भवेन्नृणाम् । तस्मात्पापमकृत्वैव वस्तव्यं सुखमिच्छता

devānāṁ pūjayā caiva brahmaṇānāṁ ca dānataḥ tapodhikyācca kālena bhogaḥ sahyo bhavennṛṇām tasmātpāpamakṛtvaiva vastavyaṁ sukhamicchatā

Through worship of the gods, through charity to brahmanas, and through abundant austerity, that experience, in time, becomes bearable for men. Therefore, one who desires happiness should live without ever committing sin.