The Fruit of Worshipping the Conch

Verse 1 (skanda.2.138.1)

।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। पंचामृतस्य स्नपनाद्यत्फलं लभते हरेः।। शंखोदकेन यत्किंचित्तन्मे ब्रूह्यजिताऽच्युत

brahmovāca paṁcāmṛtasya snapanādyatphalaṁ labhate hareḥ śaṁkhodakena yatkiṁcittanme brūhyajitā'cyuta

Brahma said: What fruit is obtained from bathing Hari with the five nectars? And whatever fruit comes from conch-water, tell me that too, O unconquered Achyuta.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.138.2)

।। ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच।। ।। क्षीरस्नानं प्रकुर्वंति ये नरा मम मूर्द्धनि।। शताश्वमेधजं पुण्यं बिंदुना बिंदुना स्मृतम्

śrībhagavānuvāca kṣīrasnānaṁ prakurvaṁti ye narā mama mūrddhani śatāśvamedhajaṁ puṇyaṁ biṁdunā biṁdunā smṛtam

The Blessed Lord said: Those men who perform the milk-bath upon my head — for every single drop, the merit of a hundred Ashvamedha sacrifices is remembered.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.138.3)

क्षीराद्दशगुणं दध्ना घृतेनैव दशोत्तरम्।। मधुना तद्दशगुणं सितया तु ततोऽधिकम् ।। गंधपुष्पोदके मंत्रं सर्वोत्कृष्टं प्रशस्यते

kṣīrāddaśaguṇaṁ dadhnā ghṛtenaiva daśottaram madhunā taddaśaguṇaṁ sitayā tu tato'dhikam gaṁdhapuṣpodake maṁtraṁ sarvotkṛṣṭaṁ praśasyate

Ten times that of milk is gained with curd, and ten times more again with ghee; ten times that with honey, and even more with sugar; but the mantra recited with scented flower-water is praised as most excellent of all.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.138.4)

द्वादश्यां पंचदश्यां वा गव्येन पयसा मम ।। स्नापनं देवशार्दूल महापातकनाशनम्

dvādaśyāṁ paṁcadaśyāṁ vā gavyena payasā mama snāpanaṁ devaśārdūla mahāpātakanāśanam

On the twelfth or fifteenth lunar day, O tiger among gods, bathing me with cow's milk destroys even the greatest of sins.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.138.5)

दध्यादीनां विकाराणां क्षीरतः संभवो यथा ।। तथैव शेषकामानां क्षीरस्नपनतो मम

dadhyādīnāṁ vikārāṇāṁ kṣīrataḥ saṁbhavo yathā tathaiva śeṣakāmānāṁ kṣīrasnapanato mama

Just as curd and its other transformations arise from milk, so too all remaining desires arise from bathing me with milk.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.138.6)

क्षीरस्नानेन सौभाग्यं दध्ना मिष्टान्नभोजनम्।। घृतेन स्नापयेद्यो मां नरो मम पुरं व्रजेत्

kṣīrasnānena saubhāgyaṁ dadhnā miṣṭānnabhojanam ghṛtena snāpayedyo māṁ naro mama puraṁ vrajet

By the milk-bath comes good fortune; by curd, the enjoyment of sweet food; whoever bathes me with ghee attains my own abode.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.138.7)

मधुना सितया यस्तु कारयेन्मार्गशीर्षके ।। स राजा जायते लोके पुनः स्वर्गादिहागतः

madhunā sitayā yastu kārayenmārgaśīrṣake sa rājā jāyate loke punaḥ svargādihāgataḥ

Whoever performs the bath with honey and with sugar in Margashirsha becomes a king in this world, having come back again from heaven.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.138.8)

गजाश्वरथसंपूर्णं स राज्यं लभते भुवि ।। कारयेन्मार्गशीर्षे वै यः क्षीरस्नापनं मम

gajāśvarathasaṁpūrṇaṁ sa rājyaṁ labhate bhuvi kārayenmārgaśīrṣe vai yaḥ kṣīrasnāpanaṁ mama

Whoever performs the milk-bath of me in Margashirsha obtains on earth a kingdom full of elephants, horses and chariots.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.138.9)

स्वर्गे लोके स जयति चंद्रेंद्ररुद्रमारुतान् ।। क्षीरस्नानं परं श्रेष्ठं मार्गशीर्षे च पुत्रक

svarge loke sa jayati caṁdreṁdrarudramārutān kṣīrasnānaṁ paraṁ śreṣṭhaṁ mārgaśīrṣe ca putraka

He triumphs in the world of heaven even over Chandra, Indra, Rudra and the wind-god; the milk-bath is supreme and best in Margashirsha, O son.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.138.10)

क्षीरस्नपनमाहात्म्यं वर्चस्कं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।। दौर्भाग्यं विलयं याति क्षीरस्नानेन मे सुत

kṣīrasnapanamāhātmyaṁ varcaskaṁ puṣṭivardhanam daurbhāgyaṁ vilayaṁ yāti kṣīrasnānena me suta

The glory of the milk-bath bestows vigor and increases nourishment; misfortune melts away, my son, through the milk-bath of me.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.138.11)

स्नापयेन्मार्गशीर्षे मां यो वै पंचाऽमृतेन तु ।। स न शोच्यो भवेज्जंतुर्बंधुना भुवि मानद

snāpayenmārgaśīrṣe māṁ yo vai paṁcā'mṛtena tu sa na śocyo bhavejjaṁturbaṁdhunā bhuvi mānada

Whoever bathes me in Margashirsha with the five nectars — that soul, O giver of honor, need never be mourned by his kin on earth.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.138.12)

कपिलाक्षीरमादाय यः स्नापयति मां सुत ।। कपिलाशतदानस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

kapilākṣīramādāya yaḥ snāpayati māṁ suta kapilāśatadānasya phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

Whoever, O son, takes milk of the tawny kapila cow and bathes me with it, obtains the fruit of gifting a hundred kapila cows.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.138.13)

शंखे तीर्थोदकं कृत्वा यः स्नापयति देशिकः ।। बिंदुनाऽपि सहोमासे स्वकुलं तारयेद्धि सः

śaṁkhe tīrthodakaṁ kṛtvā yaḥ snāpayati deśikaḥ biṁdunā'pi sahomāse svakulaṁ tārayeddhi saḥ

Whatever priest fills a conch with tirtha-water and bathes me with it, even by a single drop, in the month of Sahoma — he ferries across his own lineage.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.138.14)

कापिलं क्षीरमादाय शंखे कृत्वा च मानवः ।। यः स्नापयति मां भक्त्या सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्

kāpilaṁ kṣīramādāya śaṁkhe kṛtvā ca mānavaḥ yaḥ snāpayati māṁ bhaktyā sarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever, O son, takes the milk of the kapila cow, places it in a conch, and bathes me thus with devotion, obtains the fruit of all the tirthas.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.138.15)

शंखे कृत्वा तु पानीयं साक्षतं कुशसंयुतम् ।। यः स्नापयेत्सहोमासे सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्

śaṁkhe kṛtvā tu pānīyaṁ sākṣataṁ kuśasaṁyutam yaḥ snāpayetsahomāse sarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever, having placed water in a conch together with unbroken rice and kusha grass, bathes me with it in the month of Sahoma, obtains the fruit of all tirthas.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.138.16)

शंखाष्टकेन यः स्नानं कारयेन्मार्गशीर्षके ।। भक्त्या भगवतः श्रेष्ठो मम लोके महीयते

śaṁkhāṣṭakena yaḥ snānaṁ kārayenmārgaśīrṣake bhaktyā bhagavataḥ śreṣṭho mama loke mahīyate

Whoever causes the bath to be performed with eight conches in Margashirsha, with devotion to the Lord, is exalted as foremost in my world.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.138.17)

शंखषोडशकेनाथ यः स्नापयति मे सुत ।। स पापमुक्तः सुचिरं स्वर्गलोके महीयते

śaṁkhaṣoḍaśakenātha yaḥ snāpayati me suta sa pāpamuktaḥ suciraṁ svargaloke mahīyate

Whoever, O son, bathes me with sixteen conches — freed from sin, he is exalted for a very long time in the world of heaven.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.138.18)

चतुर्विंशतिसंख्याकैः शंखैर्यः स्नापयेच्च माम् ।। इंद्रलोके चिरं स्थित्वा स राजा भुवि जायते

caturviṁśatisaṁkhyākaiḥ śaṁkhairyaḥ snāpayecca mām iṁdraloke ciraṁ sthitvā sa rājā bhuvi jāyate

Whoever bathes me with twenty-four conches, having dwelt long in Indra's world, is born a king on earth.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.138.19)

शंखाऽष्टोत्तरशतेनैव स्नापयेन्मार्गशीर्षके ।। शंखेशंखे सुवर्णस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

śaṁkhā'ṣṭottaraśatenaiva snāpayenmārgaśīrṣake śaṁkheśaṁkhe suvarṇasya phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

Whoever bathes me in Margashirsha with one hundred and eight conches obtains, for every single conch, the fruit of a golden gift.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.138.20)

मार्गशीर्षे भक्तिमान्यः कृत्वा शंखध्वनिं हि माम् ।। स्नापयेत्पितरस्तस्य स्वर्गं तावत्प्रतिष्ठिताः

mārgaśīrṣe bhaktimānyaḥ kṛtvā śaṁkhadhvaniṁ hi mām snāpayetpitarastasya svargaṁ tāvatpratiṣṭhitāḥ

Whoever, devoted, bathes me in Margashirsha while sounding the conch — his ancestors, that same number, become established in heaven.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.138.21)

अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं तु शंख स्नानं तु यश्चरेत् ।। स गणो मुक्तिमाप्नोति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

aṣṭottarasahasraṁ tu śaṁkha snānaṁ tu yaścaret sa gaṇo muktimāpnoti yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

Whoever performs conch-bathing one thousand and eight times attains liberation as part of the divine retinue, lasting until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.138.22)

नित्यं संस्नापयेद्यो मां शंखेन सुरसत्तम ।। गंगास्नानफलं प्राप्य नित्यं नंदति देववत्

nityaṁ saṁsnāpayedyo māṁ śaṁkhena surasattama gaṁgāsnānaphalaṁ prāpya nityaṁ naṁdati devavat

O best of gods, whoever always bathes me with the conch obtains the fruit of bathing in the Ganga, and rejoices forever like a god.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.138.23)

शंखेतोयं समादाय यः स्नापयति मां सुत ।। नमो नारायणेत्युक्त्वा मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः

śaṁkhetoyaṁ samādāya yaḥ snāpayati māṁ suta namo nārāyaṇetyuktvā mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

Whoever, O son, taking water in a conch, bathes me while uttering 'Namo Narayanaya,' is freed from all sins.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.138.24)

कृत्वा पादोदकं शंखे वैष्णवानां महात्मनाम् ।। यो ददाति तिलोन्मिश्रं चांद्रायणफलं लभेत्

kṛtvā pādodakaṁ śaṁkhe vaiṣṇavānāṁ mahātmanām yo dadāti tilonmiśraṁ cāṁdrāyaṇaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever, having collected the foot-water of great Vaishnavas in a conch, gives it away mixed with sesame, obtains the fruit of the Chandrayana fast.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.138.25)

नाद्यं तडागजं वाऽपि वापीकूपादिकं च यत् ।। गांगेयं जायते सर्वं जलं शंखकृतं च यत्

nādyaṁ taḍāgajaṁ vā'pi vāpīkūpādikaṁ ca yat gāṁgeyaṁ jāyate sarvaṁ jalaṁ śaṁkhakṛtaṁ ca yat

Whatever water there be — from a river, a tank, a stepwell or a well — once placed in a conch, becomes altogether the same as the water of the Ganga.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.138.26)

गृहीत्वा मम पादांबु शंखे कृत्वा तु वैष्णवः ।। यो वहेच्छिरसा नित्यं स मुनिस्तपतां वरः

gṛhītvā mama pādāṁbu śaṁkhe kṛtvā tu vaiṣṇavaḥ yo vahecchirasā nityaṁ sa munistapatāṁ varaḥ

Whatever Vaishnava, taking my foot-water and placing it in a conch, bears it daily upon his head, is a sage, foremost among ascetics.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.138.27)

त्रैलोक्ये यानि तीर्थानि मम चैवाज्ञया सुत ।। शंखे तानि वसंतीह तस्माच्छंखो वरः स्मृतः

trailokye yāni tīrthāni mama caivājñayā suta śaṁkhe tāni vasaṁtīha tasmācchaṁkho varaḥ smṛtaḥ

Whatever tirthas exist in the three worlds, O son, by my very command dwell here in the conch; therefore the conch is remembered as supreme.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.138.28)

सांबुं शंखं करे धृत्वा मंत्रैरेतैस्तु वैष्णवः ।। यः स्नापयेन्मार्गशीर्षे तुष्टस्तस्य भवाम्यहम्

sāṁbuṁ śaṁkhaṁ kare dhṛtvā maṁtrairetaistu vaiṣṇavaḥ yaḥ snāpayenmārgaśīrṣe tuṣṭastasya bhavāmyaham

Whatever Vaishnava, holding the water-filled conch in hand, bathes me in Margashirsha with these mantras — with him I become pleased.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.138.29)

शंखादौ चंद्रदैवत्यं कुक्षौ वरुणदेवता ।। पृष्ठे प्रजापतिश्चैव अग्रे गंगा सरस्वती

śaṁkhādau caṁdradaivatyaṁ kukṣau varuṇadevatā pṛṣṭhe prajāpatiścaiva agre gaṁgā sarasvatī

In the mouth of the conch dwells the deity of the Moon, in its belly Varuna, on its back Prajapati, and at its tip, Ganga and Sarasvati.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.138.30)

तेषामुच्चारपूर्वं तु स्नापयेन्मामतंद्रितः ।। तस्य पुण्यस्य संख्यां वै कर्तुं नैव सुराः क्षमाः

teṣāmuccārapūrvaṁ tu snāpayenmāmataṁdritaḥ tasya puṇyasya saṁkhyāṁ vai kartuṁ naiva surāḥ kṣamāḥ

Having first uttered these names, one should, without laziness, bathe me; even the gods are not able to reckon the measure of that merit.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.138.31)

पुरतो मम देवेश सपुष्पः सजलाक्षतः।। शंखस्त्वभ्यर्चितस्तिष्ठेत्तस्य श्रीः सर्वतोमुखी

purato mama deveśa sapuṣpaḥ sajalākṣataḥ śaṁkhastvabhyarcitastiṣṭhettasya śrīḥ sarvatomukhī

O Lord of gods, if before me the conch, worshipped with flowers, water and unbroken rice, remains established, his prosperity spreads in every direction.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.138.32)

विलेपनेन संपूर्णं शंखं कृत्वा तु मां भजेत् ।। तदा मे परमा प्रीतिर्भवेद्वै शतवार्षिकी

vilepanena saṁpūrṇaṁ śaṁkhaṁ kṛtvā tu māṁ bhajet tadā me paramā prītirbhavedvai śatavārṣikī

Whoever anoints the conch fully with sandal-paste and thus worships me obtains my supreme affection, lasting a hundred years.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.138.33)

शंखे कृत्वा तु पानीयं सपुष्पं सजलाक्षतम् ।। अर्घ्यं ददाति यो मां वै तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्

śaṁkhe kṛtvā tu pānīyaṁ sapuṣpaṁ sajalākṣatam arghyaṁ dadāti yo māṁ vai tasya puṇyamanaṁtakam

Whoever offers me arghya, having placed water in the conch together with flowers, water and unbroken rice, his merit becomes endless.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.138.34)

अर्घ्यं कृत्वा स्वयं शंखे यः करोति प्रदक्षिणाम् ।। प्रदक्षिणीकृता तेन सप्तद्वीपा वसुंधरा

arghyaṁ kṛtvā svayaṁ śaṁkhe yaḥ karoti pradakṣiṇām pradakṣiṇīkṛtā tena saptadvīpā vasuṁdharā

Whoever, having himself prepared the arghya in the conch, then circumambulates it — by him the whole seven-continented earth is circumambulated.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.138.35)

भ्रामयित्वा च मे मूर्ध्नि मंदिरं शंखवारिणा ।। प्रोक्षयेद्वैष्णवो यस्तु नाशुभं तद्ग्रहे भवेत्

bhrāmayitvā ca me mūrdhni maṁdiraṁ śaṁkhavāriṇā prokṣayedvaiṣṇavo yastu nāśubhaṁ tadgrahe bhavet

Whatever Vaishnava, having circled the conch-water around my head, sprinkles it upon the temple-shrine — no misfortune ever befalls his house.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.138.36)

नाधयो न क्लमस्तस्य नारकं न भयं क्वचित् ।। यस्य पादोदकं शंखे कृतं मूर्धानमालभेत्

nādhayo na klamastasya nārakaṁ na bhayaṁ kvacit yasya pādodakaṁ śaṁkhe kṛtaṁ mūrdhānamālabhet

He on whose head is touched the foot-water that has been placed in the conch has neither mental anguish nor bodily fatigue, nor a hellish fate, nor any fear at all.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.138.37)

ग्रहा रक्षांसि कूष्मांडपिशाचोरगदानवाः ।। दृष्ट्वा शंखोदकं मूर्ध्नि विद्रवंति दिशो दश

grahā rakṣāṁsi kūṣmāṁḍapiśācoragadānavāḥ dṛṣṭvā śaṁkhodakaṁ mūrdhni vidravaṁti diśo daśa

Planets, rakshasas, kushmandas, pishachas, serpents and danavas, seeing the conch-water upon the head, flee in all ten directions.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.138.38)

वादित्रनिनदैरुच्चैर्गीतमंगलनिःस्वनैः ।। यः स्नापयति मां भक्त्या जीवन्मुक्तो भवेद्धि सः

vāditraninadairuccairgītamaṁgalaniḥsvanaiḥ yaḥ snāpayati māṁ bhaktyā jīvanmukto bhaveddhi saḥ

Whoever, amid the loud sound of instruments, song and auspicious cries, bathes me with devotion — he indeed becomes liberated while yet living.