The Glory of Koti-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.1.87.1)

॥अर्जुन उवाच॥ कोटितीर्थं कथं जातं केन वा निर्मितं मुने॥ कस्माद्वा कोटितीर्थानां फलमत्रोच्यते मुने

arjuna uvāca koṭitīrthaṁ kathaṁ jātaṁ kena vā nirmitaṁ mune kasmādvā koṭitīrthānāṁ phalamatrocyate mune

Arjuna said: "How did Koti-tirtha come into being, O sage, and by whom was it made? And why, O sage, is the merit of a crore of tirthas said to be found here?"

Verse 2 (skanda.1.87.2)

॥नारद उवाच॥ यदा मे स्थापितं स्थानं प्रसाद्याथ मया प्रभुः॥ ब्रह्मलोकात्समानीतः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मा पितामहः

nārada uvāca yadā me sthāpitaṁ sthānaṁ prasādyātha mayā prabhuḥ brahmalokātsamānītaḥ sākṣādbrahmā pitāmahaḥ

Narada said: "When, having propitiated the Lord, I had established this place, I brought the grandsire Brahma himself, in person, here from Brahmaloka."

Verse 3 (skanda.1.87.3)

ततो मध्याह्नसमये स्नानार्थे भगवान्विधिः॥ सस्मार कोटितीर्थानां स्मृतान्यत्रागतानि च

tato madhyāhnasamaye snānārthe bhagavānvidhiḥ sasmāra koṭitīrthānāṁ smṛtānyatrāgatāni ca

"Then, at midday, the lord Vidhi (Brahma), wishing to bathe, called to mind the crores of tirthas; and, remembered thus, they came there at once."

Verse 4 (skanda.1.87.4)

स्वर्गात्त्रिदशलक्षाणि सप्ततिश्च महीतलात्॥ पातालाद्विंशलक्षाणि स्मृतान्यभ्यागतानि च

svargāttridaśalakṣāṇi saptatiśca mahītalāt pātālādviṁśalakṣāṇi smṛtānyabhyāgatāni ca

"Thirty lakh and seventy came from heaven, as many from the surface of the earth, and twenty lakh from Patala — all these, once called to mind, arrived there."

Verse 5 (skanda.1.87.5)

अनेन प्रविभागेन लिंगान्यपि कुरूद्वह॥ आयातानि यथा पूजां विदधाति पितामहः

anena pravibhāgena liṁgānyapi kurūdvaha āyātāni yathā pūjāṁ vidadhāti pitāmahaḥ

"In this same way, O scion of the Kurus, the lingas too came there, so that the grandsire might perform his worship of them."

Verse 6 (skanda.1.87.6)

ततोऽभिषेचनं कृत्वा लिंगान्यभ्यर्च्य पद्मभूः॥ मध्याह्नकृत्यं संसाध्य मम प्रेम्णा वरं ददौ

tato'bhiṣecanaṁ kṛtvā liṁgānyabhyarcya padmabhūḥ madhyāhnakṛtyaṁ saṁsādhya mama premṇā varaṁ dadau

"Then, having performed the ablution and worshipped the lingas, the Lotus-born, his midday rites completed, gave me a boon out of his love for me."

Verse 7 (skanda.1.87.7)

ततो भगवता ह्यत्र मनसा निर्मितं सरः॥ भगवानर्चितस्तीर्थैरिदमूचे प्रजापतिः

tato bhagavatā hyatra manasā nirmitaṁ saraḥ bhagavānarcitastīrthairidamūce prajāpatiḥ

"Then the lord created a lake here by the power of his mind alone; and the lord Prajapati, worshipped there by all the tirthas, spoke these words:"

Verse 8 (skanda.1.87.8)

किं कुर्म भगवन्धातरादेशं देहि नः प्रभो॥ तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा प्राह प्रजापतिः

kiṁ kurma bhagavandhātarādeśaṁ dehi naḥ prabho teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā brahmā prāha prajāpatiḥ

(The tirthas asked:) "'What shall we do, O lord Dhatr, creator of all? Give us your command, O master.' Hearing these words of theirs, Brahma Prajapati replied:"

Verse 9 (skanda.1.87.9)

एतस्मिन्सरसि स्थेयं तीर्थैः सर्वैरथात्र च॥ एकस्मिंश्च तथा लिंगे सर्वलिंगैर्ममार्चनात्

etasminsarasi stheyaṁ tīrthaiḥ sarvairathātra ca ekasmiṁśca tathā liṁge sarvaliṁgairmamārcanāt

"'All you tirthas shall abide together in this one lake; and, through my worship of it, all the lingas shall likewise abide together in this one linga.'"

Verse 10 (skanda.1.87.10)

कोटीनामेव तीर्थानां लिंगानां स्नानपूजया॥ दानेन च फलं त्वत्र यदि सत्यं वचो मम

koṭīnāmeva tīrthānāṁ liṁgānāṁ snānapūjayā dānena ca phalaṁ tvatra yadi satyaṁ vaco mama

"'If my word is true, then here, through bathing, worship, and giving gifts, one shall obtain the fruit of crores of tirthas and lingas together.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.1.87.11)

यः श्राद्धं कुरुते चात्र पिंडदानं यथाविधि॥ पितॄणामक्षया तृप्तिर्जायते नात्र संशयः

yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute cātra piṁḍadānaṁ yathāvidhi pitṝṇāmakṣayā tṛptirjāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"'Whoever performs the shraddha and offers the pinda here, according to proper rite, secures for his ancestors imperishable satisfaction — of this there is no doubt.'"

Verse 12 (skanda.1.87.12)

स्नात्वा योऽभ्यर्चयेद्देवं कोटीश्वरमनन्यधीः॥ कोटिलिंगार्चनफलं व्यक्तं तस्योपजायते

snātvā yo'bhyarcayeddevaṁ koṭīśvaramananyadhīḥ koṭiliṁgārcanaphalaṁ vyaktaṁ tasyopajāyate

"'Whoever, having bathed, worships the god Koteshvara with an undivided mind, for him plainly arises the fruit of worshipping a crore of lingas.'"

Verse 13 (skanda.1.87.13)

त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा॥ तेषां स फलमाप्नोति कोटितीर्थावगाहनात्

trailokye yāni tīrthāni gaṁgādyāḥ saritastathā teṣāṁ sa phalamāpnoti koṭitīrthāvagāhanāt

"'Whatever tirthas exist in the three worlds, and whatever rivers there are, beginning with the Ganga — their fruit, all of it, is obtained by bathing in Koti-tirtha.'"

Verse 14 (skanda.1.87.14)

एवं दत्त्वा वरं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोकं ययौ प्रभुः॥ कोटितीर्थं च संजातं ततः प्रभृति विश्रुतम्

evaṁ dattvā varaṁ brahmā brahmalokaṁ yayau prabhuḥ koṭitīrthaṁ ca saṁjātaṁ tataḥ prabhṛti viśrutam

"Having granted this boon, the lord Brahma returned to Brahmaloka; and from that time onward, Koti-tirtha, thus come into being, became renowned throughout the world."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.87.15)

अस्य तीरे पुरा पार्थ ब्रह्माद्यैर्देवसत्तमैः॥ यज्ञान्बहुविधान्कृत्वा ततः सिद्धिं परां ययुः

asya tīre purā pārtha brahmādyairdevasattamaiḥ yajñānbahuvidhānkṛtvā tataḥ siddhiṁ parāṁ yayuḥ

"On its bank, O Partha, in ancient times, Brahma and the other great gods performed sacrifices of many kinds, and thereby attained supreme perfection."

Verse 16 (skanda.1.87.16)

वसिष्ठाद्यैर्मुनिवरैस्तपश्चीर्णं पुरानघ॥ मनसोऽभीप्सितान्कामान्प्रापुरन्ये तपोधनाः

vasiṣṭhādyairmunivaraistapaścīrṇaṁ purānagha manaso'bhīpsitānkāmānprāpuranye tapodhanāḥ

"O sinless one, in ancient times austerities were performed here by Vasishtha and other excellent sages, and other men rich in penance obtained the desires their hearts wished for."

Verse 17 (skanda.1.87.17)

अत्र तीर्थे पुरा पार्थ अत्रिणा विहितं तपः॥ कोटितीर्थाद्दक्षिणतः स्थापितं लिंगमुत्तमम्

atra tīrthe purā pārtha atriṇā vihitaṁ tapaḥ koṭitīrthāddakṣiṇataḥ sthāpitaṁ liṁgamuttamam

"At this tirtha, O Partha, austerity was performed in ancient days by the sage Atri; to the south of Koti-tirtha, an excellent linga was established there by him."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.87.18)

अत्रीश्वराभिसंज्ञं तु महापापहरं परम्॥ स्थापयित्वा च तल्लिंगमग्रे चक्रे सरोवरम्

atrīśvarābhisaṁjñaṁ tu mahāpāpaharaṁ param sthāpayitvā ca talliṁgamagre cakre sarovaram

"Known by the name Atrishvara, it is supreme in destroying even the gravest sins; and having established that linga, he then made a lake before it."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.87.19)

तत्र स्नात्वा च यो मर्त्यः श्राद्धं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः॥ अत्रीश्वरं समभ्यर्च्य रुद्रलोके वसेच्चिरम्

tatra snātvā ca yo martyaḥ śrāddhaṁ kuryātprayatnataḥ atrīśvaraṁ samabhyarcya rudraloke vasecciram

"Whatever mortal bathes there and diligently performs the shraddha, and duly worships Atrishvara, dwells for a long time in the world of Rudra."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.87.20)

भरद्वाजेन मुनिना कोटितीर्थे सरोवरे॥ तपश्चीर्णं महाबाहो यज्ञाश्च विहिताः किल

bharadvājena muninā koṭitīrthe sarovare tapaścīrṇaṁ mahābāho yajñāśca vihitāḥ kila

"By the sage Bharadvaja, O mighty-armed one, austerity was performed at the lake of Koti-tirtha, and sacrifices too were duly performed there."

Verse 21 (skanda.1.87.21)

भरद्वाजेश्वरं लिंगं स्थापितं सुमनोहरम्॥ तत्र कृत्वा सरो रम्यं परां मुदमवाप्तवान्

bharadvājeśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ sthāpitaṁ sumanoharam tatra kṛtvā saro ramyaṁ parāṁ mudamavāptavān

"There a most enchanting linga, called Bharadvajeshvara, was established; and having there made a lovely lake, he attained supreme joy."

Verse 22 (skanda.1.87.22)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याद्विधानतः॥ भरद्वाजेश्वरं पूज्य शिवलोके महीयते

tatra snātvā naro bhaktyā śrāddhaṁ kuryādvidhānataḥ bharadvājeśvaraṁ pūjya śivaloke mahīyate

"A man who bathes there with devotion and duly performs the shraddha, and worships Bharadvajeshvara, is glorified and exalted in the world of Shiva."

Verse 23 (skanda.1.87.23)

ततश्च कोटितीर्थेऽस्मिन्गौतमो भगवानृषिः॥ अतप्यत तपो घोरमहल्यासंगमाशया

tataśca koṭitīrthe'smingautamo bhagavānṛṣiḥ atapyata tapo ghoramahalyāsaṁgamāśayā

"And then, at this very Koti-tirtha, the blessed sage Gautama performed fierce austerity, in hope of union with Ahalya."

Verse 24 (skanda.1.87.24)

तं कामं प्राप्तवान्धीमान्परां मुदमुपागतः॥ अहल्यया समायोगमेतत्तीर्थप्रभावतः

taṁ kāmaṁ prāptavāndhīmānparāṁ mudamupāgataḥ ahalyayā samāyogametattīrthaprabhāvataḥ

"That wise sage obtained his heart's desire and attained supreme joy — union with Ahalya, brought about through the power of this tirtha."

Verse 25 (skanda.1.87.25)

अस्मिन्क्षेत्रे महालिंगं गौतमेश्वरसंज्ञितम्॥ स्थापयामास भगवानहल्यासरसस्तटे

asminkṣetre mahāliṁgaṁ gautameśvarasaṁjñitam sthāpayāmāsa bhagavānahalyāsarasastaṭe

"In this sacred field, the blessed sage established a great linga called Gautameshvara, on the bank of the lake of Ahalya."

Verse 26 (skanda.1.87.26)

॥अर्जुन उवाच॥ अहल्यया कदा ब्रह्मन्खानितं वै महत्सरः॥ तन्मम ब्रूहि सकलमहल्यासरःकारणम्

arjuna uvāca ahalyayā kadā brahmankhānitaṁ vai mahatsaraḥ tanmama brūhi sakalamahalyāsaraḥkāraṇam

Arjuna said: "When, O brahmin, did Ahalya dig this great lake? Tell me the whole story behind the naming of this Lake of Ahalya."

Verse 27 (skanda.1.87.27)

॥नारद उवाच॥ अहल्या शापमापन्ना गौतमात्किल फाल्गुन॥ पुरा चेंद्रसमायोगे परं दुःखमुपागता

nārada uvāca ahalyā śāpamāpannā gautamātkila phālguna purā ceṁdrasamāyoge paraṁ duḥkhamupāgatā

Narada said: "O Phalguna, Ahalya, having incurred a curse from Gautama because of her union with Indra long ago, fell into the deepest sorrow."

Verse 28 (skanda.1.87.28)

ततो दुःखार्तः स मुनिः कोटितीर्थेऽकरोत्तपः॥ तपसा तेन वै पार्थाहल्यया सह संगतः

tato duḥkhārtaḥ sa muniḥ koṭitīrthe'karottapaḥ tapasā tena vai pārthāhalyayā saha saṁgataḥ

"Then that sage, tormented by sorrow, performed austerity at Koti-tirtha; and by that very austerity, O Partha, he was reunited with Ahalya."

Verse 29 (skanda.1.87.29)

ततः साध्वी परं हृष्टा अत्र क्षेत्रे सरोवरम्॥ चकार सुमहत्पुण्यं तीर्थोदैः परिपूरितम्

tataḥ sādhvī paraṁ hṛṣṭā atra kṣetre sarovaram cakāra sumahatpuṇyaṁ tīrthodaiḥ paripūritam

"Then that virtuous woman, filled with joy, made in this sacred field a most meritorious lake, filled with waters gathered from all the tirthas."

Verse 30 (skanda.1.87.30)

अहल्यासरसि स्नानं पिंडदानं समाचरेत्॥ गौतमेशं च संपूज्य ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति

ahalyāsarasi snānaṁ piṁḍadānaṁ samācaret gautameśaṁ ca saṁpūjya brahmalokaṁ sa gacchati

"Whoever bathes in the Lake of Ahalya, performs the pinda-offering, and duly worships Gautamesha, goes to the world of Brahma."

Verse 31 (skanda.1.87.31)

कोटितीर्थे नरश्रेष्ठ अनेके मुनयोऽमलाः॥ तपस्तप्त्वा सुघोरं च परां सिद्धिमपागताः

koṭitīrthe naraśreṣṭha aneke munayo'malāḥ tapastaptvā sughoraṁ ca parāṁ siddhimapāgatāḥ

"O best of men, many pure sages, having performed the most fierce austerities at Koti-tirtha, attained supreme perfection there."

Verse 32 (skanda.1.87.32)

राजभिर्बहुभिः पूर्वं तपो दानं तथाध्वराः॥ अस्मिंस्तीर्थे सुविहिताः परां सिद्धिमुपागताः

rājabhirbahubhiḥ pūrvaṁ tapo dānaṁ tathādhvarāḥ asmiṁstīrthe suvihitāḥ parāṁ siddhimupāgatāḥ

"By many kings in former times, austerity, giving, and sacrifice were duly performed at this tirtha, and they too attained supreme perfection."

Verse 33 (skanda.1.87.33)

अस्य तीरे द्विजं चैकं मृष्टान्नैर्यश्च तर्पयेत्॥ तेन श्रद्धासहायेन कोटिर्भवति तर्पिता

asya tīre dvijaṁ caikaṁ mṛṣṭānnairyaśca tarpayet tena śraddhāsahāyena koṭirbhavati tarpitā

"Whoever, on this bank, satisfies even a single brahmin with fine food, by that act, aided by his faith, is as if he has satisfied a crore of brahmins."

Verse 34 (skanda.1.87.34)

अस्य तीरे नरः पार्थ रत्नानि विविधानि च॥ गोभूमितिलधान्यानि वासांसि विविधानि च

asya tīre naraḥ pārtha ratnāni vividhāni ca gobhūmitiladhānyāni vāsāṁsi vividhāni ca

"O Partha, a man who, on this bank, gives various jewels, cows, land, sesame, grain, and various garments—"

Verse 35 (skanda.1.87.35)

श्रद्धया परया पार्थ द्विजेभ्यः संप्रयच्छति॥ शतकोटिगुणं पुण्यं कोटितीर्थप्रभावतः॥ कोटितीर्थे प्रतिश्रुत्य द्विजेभ्यो न प्रयच्छति

śraddhayā parayā pārtha dvijebhyaḥ saṁprayacchati śatakoṭiguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ koṭitīrthaprabhāvataḥ koṭitīrthe pratiśrutya dvijebhyo na prayacchati

"—gives with supreme faith to the brahmins obtains merit multiplied a hundred-crore-fold, through the power of Koti-tirtha. But one who, having made a promise at Koti-tirtha, fails to give to the brahmins—"

Verse 36 (skanda.1.87.36)

नरके पातयित्वा च कुलमेकोत्तरं शतम्॥ आत्मानं पातयेत्पश्चाद्दारुणं रौरवं महत्

narake pātayitvā ca kulamekottaraṁ śatam ātmānaṁ pātayetpaścāddāruṇaṁ rauravaṁ mahat

"—casts a hundred and one generations of his own family into hell, and thereafter falls himself into the terrible, vast hell of Raurava."

Verse 37 (skanda.1.87.37)

माघमासे तु संप्राप्ते प्रातःकाले तथाऽमले॥ यः स्नाति मकरादित्ये तस्य पुण्यं शृणुष्व मे

māghamāse tu saṁprāpte prātaḥkāle tathā'male yaḥ snāti makarāditye tasya puṇyaṁ śṛṇuṣva me

"When the month of Magha has come, whoever bathes in the pure early morning, while the sun stands in Makara — hear from me the merit that man gains."

Verse 38 (skanda.1.87.38)

सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वयज्ञेषु यत्फलम्॥ सर्वदानव्रतैर्यच्च कोटि तीर्थे दिनेदिने

sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṁ sarvayajñeṣu yatphalam sarvadānavratairyacca koṭi tīrthe dinedine

"Whatever merit exists in all the tirthas together, whatever fruit exists in all sacrifices, and whatever comes from every act of giving and every vow — all of it, day after day, at Koti-tirtha—"

Verse 39 (skanda.1.87.39)

तत्पुण्यं लभते मर्त्यो नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥ कन्यागते सवितरि यः श्राद्धं कुरुते नरः

tatpuṇyaṁ labhate martyo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā kanyāgate savitari yaḥ śrāddhaṁ kurute naraḥ

"—a mortal obtains all of it; there is no need for doubt about this. A man who performs the shraddha when the sun stands in Kanya, Virgo—"

Verse 40 (skanda.1.87.40)

पितरस्तस्य तुष्यंति गयाश्राद्धशतैर्न तु॥ कार्तिके मासि संप्राप्ते स्नानादि कुरुते यदि

pitarastasya tuṣyaṁti gayāśrāddhaśatairna tu kārtike māsi saṁprāpte snānādi kurute yadi

"—for him the ancestors are satisfied even more than by a hundred shraddhas performed at Gaya. And if, when the month of Kartika arrives, he performs the rites of bathing and the like—"

Verse 41 (skanda.1.87.41)

तदक्षयफलं सर्वं ब्रह्मणो वचनं यथा॥ इष्ट्वात्र यज्ञमेकं तु कोटियज्ञफलं लभेत्

tadakṣayaphalaṁ sarvaṁ brahmaṇo vacanaṁ yathā iṣṭvātra yajñamekaṁ tu koṭiyajñaphalaṁ labhet

"—all that merit becomes imperishable, according to Brahma's own word. By performing even a single sacrifice here, one obtains the fruit of a crore of sacrifices."

Verse 42 (skanda.1.87.42)

कन्यां ब्राह्मेण विधिना दत्त्वा कोटिगुणं फलम्॥ सर्वदानं कोटिगुणं कोटितीर्थे भवेद्यतः

kanyāṁ brāhmeṇa vidhinā dattvā koṭiguṇaṁ phalam sarvadānaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ koṭitīrthe bhavedyataḥ

"By giving a daughter in marriage according to the Brahma rite, one obtains a fruit multiplied a crore-fold; and every gift too becomes multiplied a crore-fold, since it is offered here at Koti-tirtha."

Verse 43 (skanda.1.87.43)

कोटि तीर्थे त्यजेत्प्राणान्हृदि कृत्वा तु माधवम्॥ तस्य पार्थ चिरं स्वर्गे ह्यक्षया शाश्वती गतिः

koṭi tīrthe tyajetprāṇānhṛdi kṛtvā tu mādhavam tasya pārtha ciraṁ svarge hyakṣayā śāśvatī gatiḥ

"Whoever gives up his life at Koti-tirtha, holding Madhava in his heart, for him, O Partha, there follows a long, imperishable, and eternal course in heaven."

Verse 44 (skanda.1.87.44)

कोटितीर्थे तीर्थवरे देहत्यागं करोति यः॥ तस्य पूजां प्रकुर्वंति ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः

koṭitīrthe tīrthavare dehatyāgaṁ karoti yaḥ tasya pūjāṁ prakurvaṁti brahmādyā devatāgaṇāḥ

"Whoever gives up his body at Koti-tirtha, that most excellent of tirthas, is honored in worship by Brahma and the entire host of gods."

Verse 45 (skanda.1.87.45)

अस्य तीरे देहदाहो यस्य कस्य प्रजायते॥ अस्थिक्षेपो यस्य भवेन्महीसागरसंगमे

asya tīre dehadāho yasya kasya prajāyate asthikṣepo yasya bhavenmahīsāgarasaṁgame

"Whoever's body is cremated upon this bank, and whoever's bones are cast into the confluence where land meets sea—"

Verse 46 (skanda.1.87.46)

तत्फलं गदितुं पार्थ वागीशोऽपि न वै क्षमः॥ एतज्ज्ञात्वा परं पार्थ कोटितीर्थं प्रसेवते

tatphalaṁ gadituṁ pārtha vāgīśo'pi na vai kṣamaḥ etajjñātvā paraṁ pārtha koṭitīrthaṁ prasevate

"—to describe the fruit of that, O Partha, even Brihaspati, the very Lord of Speech, is not capable. Knowing this, O Partha, one should devotedly resort to Koti-tirtha."

Verse 47 (skanda.1.87.47)

दिनेदिने फलं तस्य कापिलं गोसहस्रकम्॥ स्वर्गे मर्त्ये च पाताले तस्मादेतत्सुदुर्लभम्

dinedine phalaṁ tasya kāpilaṁ gosahasrakam svarge martye ca pātāle tasmādetatsudurlabham

"Day after day its fruit equals the merit of gifting a thousand tawny cows; therefore this tirtha is exceedingly rare to find, whether in heaven, on earth, or in the netherworld."