The Twenty-Eight Hells and the Glory of Swami Pushkarini

Verse 1 (skanda.2.12.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सर्वार्थतत्त्वज्ञ वेदवेदांगपारग । श्रीस्वामिपुष्करिण्याश्च वैभवं वद नः प्रभो ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sarvārthatattvajña vedavedāṁgapāraga śrīsvāmipuṣkariṇyāśca vaibhavaṁ vada naḥ prabho

The sages said: O Suta, knower of the truth of all things, master of the Vedas and Vedangas — O lord, tell us of the glory of Shri Swami Pushkarini,

Verse 2 (skanda.2.12.2)

यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण मुक्तः स्यान्मानवो भुवि ।

yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa muktaḥ syānmānavo bhuvi

by whose mere remembrance a man on this earth becomes liberated.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.12.3)

श्रीसूत उवाच । स्वामितीर्थं प्रशंसन्ति स्नांति वा कथयंति ये । अष्टाविंशतिभेदांस्ते नरकान्नोपभुञ्जते ।

śrīsūta uvāca svāmitīrthaṁ praśaṁsanti snāṁti vā kathayaṁti ye aṣṭāviṁśatibhedāṁste narakānnopabhuñjate

Shri Suta said: Those who praise the Swami tirtha, bathe in it, or speak of it, never suffer the twenty-eight kinds of hell —

Verse 4 (skanda.2.12.4)

तामिस्रमन्धतामिस्रं महारौरवरौरवौ । कुम्भीपाकं कालसूत्रमसिपत्रवनं तथा ।

tāmisramandhatāmisraṁ mahārauravarauravau kumbhīpākaṁ kālasūtramasipatravanaṁ tathā

Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Maharaurava, Raurava, Kumbhipaka, Kalasutra, Asipatravana,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.12.5)

कृमिभक्षोऽन्धकूपश्च संदंशः शाल्मली तथा । लालाभक्षो ह्यवीचिश्च सारमेयादनं तथा ।

kṛmibhakṣo'ndhakūpaśca saṁdaṁśaḥ śālmalī tathā lālābhakṣo hyavīciśca sārameyādanaṁ tathā

Krimibhaksha, Andhakupa, Sandamsha, Shalmali, Lalabhaksha, Avichi, Sarameyadana,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.12.6)

तथैव वज्रकणकः क्षारकर्दमपातनम् । रक्षोगणाशनं चापि शूलप्रोतनिरोधनम् ।

tathaiva vajrakaṇakaḥ kṣārakardamapātanam rakṣogaṇāśanaṁ cāpi śūlaprotanirodhanam

Vajrakantaka, Ksharakardamapatana, Rakshoganashana,

Verse 7 (skanda.2.12.7)

तिरोधानाभिधं विप्रास्तथा सूचीमुखाभिधम् । पूयशोणितभक्षं च विषाग्निपरिपीडनम् ।

tirodhānābhidhaṁ viprāstathā sūcīmukhābhidham pūyaśoṇitabhakṣaṁ ca viṣāgniparipīḍanam

Shulaprotanirodhana, Tirodhana, Suchimukha, Puyashonitabhaksha, and Vishagniparipidana — these, O brahmins,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.12.8)

अष्टाविंशतिसंख्यातमेतन्नरकसंचयम् । न याति मनुजो विप्राः स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् ।

aṣṭāviṁśatisaṁkhyātametannarakasaṁcayam na yāti manujo viprāḥ svāmitīrthanimajjanāt

— these twenty-eight hells, counted in full, a man never enters, merely by immersing himself in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.12.9)

वित्तापत्यकलत्राणां योऽन्येषामपहारकः । स कालपाशबद्धोऽयं यमदूतैर्भयानकैः ।

vittāpatyakalatrāṇāṁ yo'nyeṣāmapahārakaḥ sa kālapāśabaddho'yaṁ yamadūtairbhayānakaiḥ

He who steals the wealth, offspring, or wife of others is bound with the noose of time and, by the terrible messengers of Yama,

Verse 10 (skanda.2.12.10)

तामिस्रे नरके घोरे पात्यते बहुवत्सरम् । स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे स तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते ।

tāmisre narake ghore pātyate bahuvatsaram snāti cetsvāmitīrthe sa tasminnāsau nipātyate

cast down into the dreadful Tamisra hell for many years. But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into that hell.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.12.11)

मातरं पितरं विप्रान्यो द्वेष्टि पुरुषाधमः । स कालसूत्रनरके विस्तृतायुतयोजने ।

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ viprānyo dveṣṭi puruṣādhamaḥ sa kālasūtranarake vistṛtāyutayojane

That base man who bears hatred toward his mother, his father, and brahmins, is cast into the Kalasutra hell, ten thousand yojanas in extent,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.12.12)

अधस्तादग्निसन्तप्ते उपर्यर्कमरीचिभिः । खले ताम्रमये विप्राः पात्यते क्षुधयार्दितः ।

adhastādagnisantapte uparyarkamarīcibhiḥ khale tāmramaye viprāḥ pātyate kṣudhayārditaḥ

scorched from below by fire and burned from above by the sun's rays, upon a threshing-floor of copper, afflicted by hunger, O brahmins,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.12.13)

स्नाति चेत्पुष्करिण्यां वै तस्मिन्नाऽसौ निपात्यते । यो वेदमार्गमुल्लंघ्य वर्तते कुपथे नरः ।

snāti cetpuṣkariṇyāṁ vai tasminnā'sau nipātyate yo vedamārgamullaṁghya vartate kupathe naraḥ

that is the Kalasutra hell. But if he bathes in the Pushkarini, he is not cast into it. That man who transgresses the path of the Veda and walks a crooked way,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.12.14)

सोऽसिपत्रवने घोरे पात्यते यमकिंकरैः । स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नाऽसौ निपात्यते ।

so'sipatravane ghore pātyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnā'sau nipātyate

is cast by Yama's servants into the dreadful Asipatravana hell, the forest of sword-leaves. But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.12.15)

योऽश्नाति पंक्तिभेदेन पक्वं सूपादिकं नरः । अकृत्वा पंचयज्ञान्वा भुंक्ते मोहेन स द्विजाः ।

yo'śnāti paṁktibhedena pakvaṁ sūpādikaṁ naraḥ akṛtvā paṁcayajñānvā bhuṁkte mohena sa dvijāḥ

That man who, out of the divisiveness of caste-rows, or out of delusion, eats cooked food and the like without having performed the five great sacrifices, O brahmins,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.12.16)

पात्यतेऽयं यमभटैर्नरके कृमिभोजने । भक्ष्यमाणः कृमिशतैर्भक्षयन्कृमिसंचयान् ।

pātyate'yaṁ yamabhaṭairnarake kṛmibhojane bhakṣyamāṇaḥ kṛmiśatairbhakṣayankṛmisaṁcayān

is cast by Yama's soldiers into the Krimibhojana hell, where, eaten by hundreds of worms, and himself devouring masses of worms,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.12.17)

स्वयं च कृमिभूतः संस्तिष्ठेद्यावदघक्षयम् । स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे वै तस्मिन्नाऽसौ निपात्यते ।

svayaṁ ca kṛmibhūtaḥ saṁstiṣṭhedyāvadaghakṣayam snāti cetsvāmitīrthe vai tasminnā'sau nipātyate

he himself becomes a worm and remains so until his sin is exhausted. But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.12.18)

यो हरेद्विप्रवित्तानि स्नेहेन बलतोऽपि वा । अन्येषामपि वित्तानि राजा तत्पुरुषोऽपि वा ।

yo haredvipravittāni snehena balato'pi vā anyeṣāmapi vittāni rājā tatpuruṣo'pi vā

He who, whether out of affection or by force, seizes the wealth of brahmins, or the wealth of others — be he a king or one of the king's own men—

Verse 19 (skanda.2.12.19)

अयोमयाग्निकुंडेषु संदंशैः सोऽपि पीडितः । संदंशे नरके घोरे पात्यते यमपूरुषैः ।

ayomayāgnikuṁḍeṣu saṁdaṁśaiḥ so'pi pīḍitaḥ saṁdaṁśe narake ghore pātyate yamapūruṣaiḥ

is tormented with iron tongs over pits of fire, and is cast by Yama's men into the dreadful Sandamsha hell.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.12.20)

स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते । अगम्यां योभिगच्छेत स्त्रियं वै पुरुषाधमः ।

snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnāsau nipātyate agamyāṁ yobhigaccheta striyaṁ vai puruṣādhamaḥ

But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it. That base man who approaches a woman forbidden to him,

Verse 21 (skanda.2.12.21)

अगम्यं पुरुषं योषिदभिगच्छेत वा द्विजाः । तावयोमयनारीं च पुरुषं चाप्ययोमयम् ।

agamyaṁ puruṣaṁ yoṣidabhigaccheta vā dvijāḥ tāvayomayanārīṁ ca puruṣaṁ cāpyayomayam

or, O brahmins, that woman who approaches a man forbidden to her — both of them, an iron woman and an iron man, heated red-hot,

Verse 22 (skanda.2.12.22)

तप्तावालिङ्ग्य तिष्ठन्तौ यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरम् । सूच्याख्ये नरके घोरे पात्येते यमकिंकरैः ।

taptāvāliṅgya tiṣṭhantau yāvaccandradivākaram sūcyākhye narake ghore pātyete yamakiṁkaraiḥ

are made to embrace and stand thus for as long as the sun and moon endure, cast by Yama's servants into the dreadful hell called Suchi.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.12.23)

स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे च तस्मिन्नासौ निपाप्यते । बाधते सर्वजन्तून्यो नानोपायैरुपद्रवैः ।

snāti cetsvāmitīrthe ca tasminnāsau nipāpyate bādhate sarvajantūnyo nānopāyairupadravaiḥ

But if they bathe in the Swami tirtha, they are not cast into it. He who torments all beings by manifold means and disturbances,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.12.24)

शाल्मलीनरके घोरे पात्यते बहुकण्टके । स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते ।

śālmalīnarake ghore pātyate bahukaṇṭake snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnāsau nipātyate

is cast into the dreadful, thorn-filled Shalmali hell. But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.12.25)

राजा वा राजभृत्यो वा यः पाषण्डमनुद्रुतः । भेदको धर्मसेतूनां वैतरण्यां निपात्यते ।

rājā vā rājabhṛtyo vā yaḥ pāṣaṇḍamanudrutaḥ bhedako dharmasetūnāṁ vaitaraṇyāṁ nipātyate

That king or king's servant who follows heresy, breaking the bounds of dharma, is cast into the river Vaitarani.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.12.26)

स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते । वृषलीसङ्गदुष्टो वा शौचाद्याचारवर्जितः ।

snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnāsau nipātyate vṛṣalīsaṅgaduṣṭo vā śaucādyācāravarjitaḥ

But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it. That man who is corrupted by consorting with a low-caste woman, devoid of purity and proper conduct,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.12.27)

त्यक्तलज्जस्त्यक्तवेदः पशुचर्यारतः सदा । स पूयविष्ठामूत्रासृक्छ्लेष्मपित्तादिपूरिते ।

tyaktalajjastyaktavedaḥ paśucaryārataḥ sadā sa pūyaviṣṭhāmūtrāsṛkchleṣmapittādipūrite

having abandoned both shame and the Veda, ever engaged in bestial conduct, is cast into the most loathsome hell, filled with pus, excrement, urine, blood, phlegm, and bile,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.12.28)

अतिबीभत्सनरके पात्यते यमकिंकरैः । स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते ।

atibībhatsanarake pātyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnāsau nipātyate

by Yama's servants. But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.12.29)

यः श्वभिर्मृगयुर्वन्यान्बाणैर्वा बाधते मृगान् । स विध्यमानो बाणौघैः परत्र यमकिंकरैः ।

yaḥ śvabhirmṛgayurvanyānbāṇairvā bādhate mṛgān sa vidhyamāno bāṇaughaiḥ paratra yamakiṁkaraiḥ

That hunter who torments the forest deer with dogs or with arrows is, in the next world, pierced by showers of arrows by Yama's servants,

Verse 30 (skanda.2.12.30)

प्राणरोधाख्यनरके पात्यते यमकिंकरैः । स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते ।

prāṇarodhākhyanarake pātyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnāsau nipātyate

and cast by Yama's servants into the hell called Pranarodha. But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.12.31)

दाम्भिको यः पशून्यज्ञे विध्यनुष्ठानवर्जितः । हन्त्यसौ परलोकेषु वैशसे नरके द्विजाः ।

dāmbhiko yaḥ paśūnyajñe vidhyanuṣṭhānavarjitaḥ hantyasau paralokeṣu vaiśase narake dvijāḥ

That hypocrite who slaughters animals in sacrifice without proper ritual observance is, in the next world, O brahmins, cast into the hell called Vaishasa,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.12.32)

कर्त्यमानो यमभटैः पात्यते यमकिंकरैः । स्नाति चेत्पुष्करिण्यां वै तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते ।

kartyamāno yamabhaṭaiḥ pātyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ snāti cetpuṣkariṇyāṁ vai tasminnāsau nipātyate

where he is hacked apart by Yama's soldiers and cast down by Yama's servants. But if he bathes in the Pushkarini, he is not cast into it.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.12.33)

आत्मभार्यां सवर्णां यो रेतः पाययते यदि । परत्र रेतःपायी स रेतःकुण्डे निपात्यते ।

ātmabhāryāṁ savarṇāṁ yo retaḥ pāyayate yadi paratra retaḥpāyī sa retaḥkuṇḍe nipātyate

He who forces his own lawfully-wedded wife to swallow his seed is, in the next world, condemned as a seed-drinker and cast into a pit of seed.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.12.34)

स्नाति चेत्पुष्करिण्यां वै तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते । यो दस्युर्मार्गमाश्रित्य गरदो ग्रामदाहकः ।

snāti cetpuṣkariṇyāṁ vai tasminnāsau nipātyate yo dasyurmārgamāśritya garado grāmadāhakaḥ

But if he bathes in the Pushkarini, he is not cast into it. That bandit who lies in wait upon the road, poisons others, burns down villages,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.12.35)

वणिग्द्रव्यापहारी च स परत्र द्विजोत्तमाः । वज्रदंष्ट्राभिधे घोरे पात्यते नरके चिरम् ।

vaṇigdravyāpahārī ca sa paratra dvijottamāḥ vajradaṁṣṭrābhidhe ghore pātyate narake ciram

or plunders the goods of merchants, is, O excellent brahmins, cast for a long time into the dreadful hell named Vajradamshtra.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.12.36)

स्नाति चेत्स्वामितीर्थे तु तस्मिन्नासौ निपात्यते । विद्यन्ते यानि चान्यानि नरकाणि परत्र वै ।

snāti cetsvāmitīrthe tu tasminnāsau nipātyate vidyante yāni cānyāni narakāṇi paratra vai

But if he bathes in the Swami tirtha, he is not cast into it. And whatever other hells exist in the world beyond,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.12.37)

तानि नाप्नोति मनुजः स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् । पुष्करिण्यां सकृत्स्नानादश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।

tāni nāpnoti manujaḥ svāmitīrthanimajjanāt puṣkariṇyāṁ sakṛtsnānādaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

those too a man does not suffer, merely by immersing himself in the Swami tirtha. By bathing even once in the Pushkarini, one obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.12.38)

आत्मविद्या भवेत्साक्षान्मुक्तिश्चापि चतुर्विधा । न पापे रमते बुद्धिर्न भवेदुःखमेव वा ।

ātmavidyā bhavetsākṣānmuktiścāpi caturvidhā na pāpe ramate buddhirna bhaveduḥkhameva vā

self-knowledge is directly attained, and the fourfold liberation as well. The mind no longer delights in sin, nor does sorrow remain.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.12.39)

तुलापुरुषदानेन यत्फलं लभ्यते नरैः । तत्फलं लभ्यते पुम्भिः स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् ।

tulāpuruṣadānena yatphalaṁ labhyate naraiḥ tatphalaṁ labhyate pumbhiḥ svāmitīrthanimajjanāt

Whatever fruit men obtain from the gift of gold equal to one's own weight (tulapurusha-dana), that same fruit is obtained by men merely from immersing themselves in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.12.40)

गोसहस्रप्रदानेन यत्पुण्यं हि भवेन्नृणाम् । तत्पुण्यं लभते मर्त्यः स्वामितीर्थनिमजनात् ।

gosahasrapradānena yatpuṇyaṁ hi bhavennṛṇām tatpuṇyaṁ labhate martyaḥ svāmitīrthanimajanāt

Whatever merit men gain from the gift of a thousand cows, that same merit a mortal obtains from immersing himself in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.12.41)

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां यं यमिच्छति पूरुषः । तं तं सद्यः समाप्नोति स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् ।

dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṁ yaṁ yamicchati pūruṣaḥ taṁ taṁ sadyaḥ samāpnoti svāmitīrthanimajjanāt

Whatever a man desires among dharma, artha, kama, and moksha, that very thing he at once obtains from immersing himself in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.12.42)

महापातकयुक्तो वा युक्तो वा सर्वपातकैः । सद्यः पूतो भवेद्विप्राः स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् ।

mahāpātakayukto vā yukto vā sarvapātakaiḥ sadyaḥ pūto bhavedviprāḥ svāmitīrthanimajjanāt

Whether burdened with the gravest sins or with every sin whatsoever, O brahmins, he becomes instantly purified by immersing himself in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.12.43)

प्रज्ञा लक्ष्मीर्यशः संपज्ज्ञानं धर्मो विरक्तता । मनःशुद्धिर्भवेन्नृणां स्वामितीर्थनिषेवणात् ।

prajñā lakṣmīryaśaḥ saṁpajjñānaṁ dharmo viraktatā manaḥśuddhirbhavennṛṇāṁ svāmitīrthaniṣevaṇāt

Wisdom, prosperity, fame, wealth, knowledge, righteousness, detachment, and purity of mind — all these men obtain from serving the Swami tirtha.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.12.44)

ब्रह्महत्याऽयुतं चापि सुरापानायुतं तथा । अयुतं गुरुदाराणां गमनं पापकारिणाम् ।

brahmahatyā'yutaṁ cāpi surāpānāyutaṁ tathā ayutaṁ gurudārāṇāṁ gamanaṁ pāpakāriṇām

Ten thousand acts of brahmin-slaying, ten thousand acts of drinking liquor, ten thousand sinful acts of violating a teacher's wife,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.12.45)

स्तेयायुतं सुवर्णानां तत्संसर्गाश्च कोटिशः । शीघ्रं विलयमायान्ति स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् ।

steyāyutaṁ suvarṇānāṁ tatsaṁsargāśca koṭiśaḥ śīghraṁ vilayamāyānti svāmitīrthanimajjanāt

ten thousand thefts of gold, and crores of such taints of contaminating association — all these are swiftly destroyed by immersing oneself in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.12.46)

ब्रह्महत्यासमानानि सुरापानसमानि च । गुरुस्त्रीगमनेनापि यानि तुल्यानि चास्तिकाः ।

brahmahatyāsamānāni surāpānasamāni ca gurustrīgamanenāpi yāni tulyāni cāstikāḥ

O believers, whatever sins are equal to the slaying of a brahmin, equal to drinking liquor, equal to violating a teacher's wife,

Verse 47 (skanda.2.12.47)

सुवर्णस्तेयतुल्यानि तत्संसर्गसमानि च । तानि सर्वाणि नश्यन्ति स्वामितीर्थनिमज्जनात् ।

suvarṇasteyatulyāni tatsaṁsargasamāni ca tāni sarvāṇi naśyanti svāmitīrthanimajjanāt

equal to the theft of gold, or equal to that taint of association — all these are destroyed by immersing oneself in the Swami tirtha.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.12.48)

उक्तेष्वेतेषु सन्देहो न कर्त्तव्यः कदाचन । जिह्वाग्रे परशुं तप्तं प्रक्षिपंति च किंकराः ।

ukteṣveteṣu sandeho na karttavyaḥ kadācana jihvāgre paraśuṁ taptaṁ prakṣipaṁti ca kiṁkarāḥ

One should never doubt what has here been said, for Yama's servants place a heated axe upon the very tip of the tongue

Verse 49 (skanda.2.12.49)

अर्थवादमिमं सर्वं ब्रुवन्वै नरकं व्रजेत् । सूकरः स हि विज्ञेयः सर्वकर्मबहिष्कृतः ।

arthavādamimaṁ sarvaṁ bruvanvai narakaṁ vrajet sūkaraḥ sa hi vijñeyaḥ sarvakarmabahiṣkṛtaḥ

of one who, calling all this mere exaggerated praise, goes to hell for saying so. Such a man is surely to be known as no better than a hog, cast out from every sacred rite.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.12.50)

अहो मौर्ख्यमहो मौर्ख्यमहो मौर्ख्यं द्विजोत्तमाः । स्वामितीर्थाभिधे तीर्थे सर्वपातकनाशने ।

aho maurkhyamaho maurkhyamaho maurkhyaṁ dvijottamāḥ svāmitīrthābhidhe tīrthe sarvapātakanāśane

Alas, what folly, what folly, what utter folly, O excellent brahmins, that this tirtha called Swami Tirtha — destroyer of every sin,

Verse 51 (skanda.2.12.51)

अद्वैतज्ञानदे पुंसां भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि । इष्टकामप्रदे नित्यं तथैवाज्ञाननाशने ।

advaitajñānade puṁsāṁ bhuktimuktipradāyini iṣṭakāmaprade nityaṁ tathaivājñānanāśane

bestower of the knowledge of non-duality upon men, granter of both worldly enjoyment and liberation, ever fulfilling one's desired wishes, and destroyer of ignorance,

Verse 52 (skanda.2.12.52)

स्थितेऽपि तद्विहायायं रमतेन्यत्र वै जनः । अहो मोहस्य माहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न शक्यते ।

sthite'pi tadvihāyāyaṁ ramatenyatra vai janaḥ aho mohasya māhātmyaṁ mayā vaktuṁ na śakyate

— though it stands right there — this man abandons it and takes his delight elsewhere instead! Alas, the power of delusion is such that I cannot even put it fully into words.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.12.53)

स्नातस्य स्वामितीर्थे तु नान्तकाद्भयमस्ति वै । स्वामितीर्थं च पश्यंति तत्र स्नांति च ये नराः ।

snātasya svāmitīrthe tu nāntakādbhayamasti vai svāmitīrthaṁ ca paśyaṁti tatra snāṁti ca ye narāḥ

For one who has bathed in the Swami tirtha, there is truly no fear even of death. Those men who behold the Swami tirtha, who bathe there,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.12.54)

स्तुवन्ति च प्रशंसंति स्पृशंति च नमन्ति च । न पिबन्ति हि ते स्तन्यं मातॄणां द्विजपुंगवाः ।

stuvanti ca praśaṁsaṁti spṛśaṁti ca namanti ca na pibanti hi te stanyaṁ mātṝṇāṁ dvijapuṁgavāḥ

who praise and extol it, who touch it, and who bow to it — such men, O excellent brahmins, never again drink at their mothers' breasts (that is, they are never reborn).

Verse 55 (skanda.2.12.55)

एवं वः कथितं विप्राः स्वामितीर्थस्य वैभवम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नृणां सर्वपापनिबर्हणम् ।

evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprāḥ svāmitīrthasya vaibhavam bhuktimuktipradaṁ nṛṇāṁ sarvapāpanibarhaṇam

Thus, O brahmins, have I told you of the glory of the Swami tirtha, which bestows upon men both enjoyment and liberation, and which destroys every sin.