Brahmakuṇḍa-Sahasradhārā-tīrtha-māhātmya-varṇanam — The Glory of the Brahma-kunda and Sahasradhara Fords

Verse 1 (skanda.2.181.1)

सूत उवाच अगस्त्यमुनिरित्युक्त्वा चक्रतीर्थाश्रयां कथाम् विभोर्विष्णुहरेश्चापि पुनराह द्विजोत्तमाः

sūta uvāca agastyamunirityuktvā cakratīrthāśrayāṁ kathām vibhorviṣṇuhareścāpi punarāha dvijottamāḥ

Suta said: Having thus told the tale connected with Chakra-tirtha and the mighty Vishnu-Hari, the sage Agastya, O best of brahmins, spoke again.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.181.2)

अगस्त्य उवाच पुरा ब्रह्मा जगत्स्रष्टा विज्ञाय हरिमच्युतम् अयोध्यावासिनं देवं तत्र चक्रे स्थितिं स्वयम्

agastya uvāca purā brahmā jagatsraṣṭā vijñāya harimacyutam ayodhyāvāsinaṁ devaṁ tatra cakre sthitiṁ svayam

Agastya said: Of old, Brahma, the creator of the universe, having learned that the imperishable Hari dwelt in Ayodhya, himself took up residence there.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.181.3)

आगत्य कृतवांस्तत्र यात्रां ब्रह्मा यथाविधि यज्ञं च विधिवच्चक्रे नानासंभारसंयुतम्

āgatya kṛtavāṁstatra yātrāṁ brahmā yathāvidhi yajñaṁ ca vidhivaccakre nānāsaṁbhārasaṁyutam

Having come there, Brahma duly performed the pilgrimage, and duly performed a sacrifice furnished with manifold requisites.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.181.4)

ततः स कृतवांस्तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः कुण्डं स्वनाम्ना विपुलं नानादेवसमन्वितम्

tataḥ sa kṛtavāṁstatra brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ kuṇḍaṁ svanāmnā vipulaṁ nānādevasamanvitam

Then Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, made there a vast tank bearing his own name, attended by various gods,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.181.5)

विस्तीर्णजलकल्लोलकलितं कलुषापहम् कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारपुंडरीककुलाकुलम्

vistīrṇajalakallolakalitaṁ kaluṣāpaham kumudotpalakahlārapuṁḍarīkakulākulam

adorned with the billows of its expansive water, a remover of impurity, thronging with clusters of white and blue lotuses, water-lilies and lotuses,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.181.6)

हंससारसचक्राह्व विहंगममनोहरम् तटांतविटपोल्लासि पतत्त्रिगणसंकुलम्

haṁsasārasacakrāhva vihaṁgamamanoharam taṭāṁtaviṭapollāsi patattrigaṇasaṁkulam

charming with swans, cranes and ruddy geese, thronging with flocks of birds sporting on the branches at its edges.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.181.7)

तत्र कुण्डे सुराः सर्वे स्नाताः शुद्धिसमन्विताः बभूवुरद्धा विगतरजस्का विमलत्विषः

tatra kuṇḍe surāḥ sarve snātāḥ śuddhisamanvitāḥ babhūvuraddhā vigatarajaskā vimalatviṣaḥ

In that tank, all the gods, having bathed, became truly endowed with purity, free of impurity, of stainless splendor.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.181.8)

तदाश्चर्य्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा ते सर्वे सहसा सुराः ब्रह्माणं प्रणिपत्योचुर्भक्त्या प्रांजलयस्तदा

tadāścaryyaṁ mahaddṛṣṭvā te sarve sahasā surāḥ brahmāṇaṁ praṇipatyocurbhaktyā prāṁjalayastadā

Seeing that great wonder, all those gods at once prostrated to Brahma and, with joined palms and devotion, spoke.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.181.9)

देवा ऊचुः भगवन्ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन माहात्म्यं कमलासन अस्य कुण्डस्य सकलं खातस्य विमलत्विषः

devā ūcuḥ bhagavanbrūhi tattvena māhātmyaṁ kamalāsana asya kuṇḍasya sakalaṁ khātasya vimalatviṣaḥ

The gods said: O lord seated on the lotus, tell us truly the entire greatness of this excavated tank of stainless splendor.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.181.10)

अत्र स्नानेन सर्वेषामस्माकं विगतं रजः महदाश्चर्यमेतस्य दृष्ट्वा कुंडस्य विस्मिताः सर्वे वयं सुरश्रेष्ठ कृपया त्वमतो वद

atra snānena sarveṣāmasmākaṁ vigataṁ rajaḥ mahadāścaryametasya dṛṣṭvā kuṁḍasya vismitāḥ sarve vayaṁ suraśreṣṭha kṛpayā tvamato vada

By bathing here, the impurity of us all has departed. Astonished at this great wonder of the tank, all of us, O best of gods, ask that you, out of grace, declare it.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.181.11)

ब्रह्मोवाच शृण्वन्तु सर्वे त्रिदशाः सावधानाः सविस्मयाः कुण्डस्यैतस्य माहात्म्यं नानाफलसमन्वितम्

brahmovāca śṛṇvantu sarve tridaśāḥ sāvadhānāḥ savismayāḥ kuṇḍasyaitasya māhātmyaṁ nānāphalasamanvitam

Brahma said: Let all the gods listen attentively and with wonder to the greatness of this tank, endowed with manifold fruits.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.181.12)

अत्र स्नानेन विधिवत्पापात्मानोऽपि जंतवः विमानं हंससंयुक्तमास्थाय रुचिरांबराः निवसंति ब्रह्मलोके यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

atra snānena vidhivatpāpātmāno’pi jaṁtavaḥ vimānaṁ haṁsasaṁyuktamāsthāya rucirāṁbarāḥ nivasaṁti brahmaloke yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

By duly bathing here, even sinful creatures, mounting a swan-yoked celestial car clad in beautiful garments, dwell in the world of Brahma until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.181.13)

अत्र दानेन होमेन यथाशक्त्या सुरोत्तमाः तुलाश्वमेधयोः पुण्यं प्राप्नुयुर्मुनिसत्तम

atra dānena homena yathāśaktyā surottamāḥ tulāśvamedhayoḥ puṇyaṁ prāpnuyurmunisattama

O best of sages, by giving charity and performing fire-oblation here according to one's ability, one obtains the merit of the Tula-purusha rite and of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.181.14)

ममास्मिन्सरसि श्रीमाञ्जायते स्नानतो नरः तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं जपादिकम्

mamāsminsarasi śrīmāñjāyate snānato naraḥ tasmādatra vidhānena snānaṁ dānaṁ japādikam

By bathing in this lake of mine, a man becomes prosperous; therefore bathing, charity, japa and the like should be duly performed here,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.181.15)

सर्वयज्ञसमं स्याद्वै महापातकनाशनम् ब्रह्मकुण्डमिति ख्यातिमितो यास्यत्यनुत्तमाम्

sarvayajñasamaṁ syādvai mahāpātakanāśanam brahmakuṇḍamiti khyātimito yāsyatyanuttamām

which shall be equal to all sacrifices and a destroyer of great sins; from now this shall attain the unsurpassed fame of 'Brahma-kunda'.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.181.16)

अस्मिन्कुण्डे च सांनिध्यं भविष्यति सदा मम कार्त्तिके शुक्लपक्षस्य चतुर्दश्यां सुरोत्तमाः

asminkuṇḍe ca sāṁnidhyaṁ bhaviṣyati sadā mama kārttike śuklapakṣasya caturdaśyāṁ surottamāḥ

My presence shall ever abide in this tank; O best of gods, on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight of Kartika,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.181.17)

यात्रा भविष्यति सदा सुराः सांवत्सरी मम शुभप्रदा महापापराशिनाशकरी तदा

yātrā bhaviṣyati sadā surāḥ sāṁvatsarī mama śubhapradā mahāpāparāśināśakarī tadā

an annual festival of mine, O gods, shall ever take place here, bestowing auspiciousness and destroying great masses of sin.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.181.18)

स्वर्णं चैव सदा देयं वासांसि विविधानि च निजशक्त्या प्रकर्तव्या सुरास्तृप्तिर्द्विजन्मनाम्

svarṇaṁ caiva sadā deyaṁ vāsāṁsi vividhāni ca nijaśaktyā prakartavyā surāstṛptirdvijanmanām

Gold and various garments should ever be given; the satisfaction of brahmins should be secured according to one's own capacity.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.181.19)

अगस्त्य उवाच इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवोऽयं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः अन्तर्दधे सुरैः सार्द्धं तीर्थं दृष्ट्वा तपोधन

agastya uvāca ityuktvā devadevo’yaṁ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ antardadhe suraiḥ sārddhaṁ tīrthaṁ dṛṣṭvā tapodhana

Agastya said: Having said this, the god of gods, Brahma the grandsire of the worlds, O ascetic, having beheld the ford, vanished together with the gods.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.181.20)

तदाप्रभृति तत्कुण्डं विख्यातं परमं भुवि चक्रतीर्थाच्च पूर्वस्यां दिशि कुण्डं स्थितं महत्

tadāprabhṛti tatkuṇḍaṁ vikhyātaṁ paramaṁ bhuvi cakratīrthācca pūrvasyāṁ diśi kuṇḍaṁ sthitaṁ mahat

From then on that tank became supremely famed on earth; that great tank is situated to the east of Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.181.21)

सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा स तपोराशिरगस्त्यः कुंभसंभवः पुनः पृष्टो मुनिवरो व्यासायावीवदत्कथाम्

sūta uvāca ityuktvā sa taporāśiragastyaḥ kuṁbhasaṁbhavaḥ punaḥ pṛṣṭo munivaro vyāsāyāvīvadatkathām

Suta said: Having said this, that mass of austerity, Agastya, born of a pot, being questioned again, told this tale to Vyasa.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.181.22)

अगस्त्य उवाच अन्यच्छृणु महाभाग तीर्थं दुष्कृतिदुर्ल्लभम् ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु सरयूतीरसंगतम्

agastya uvāca anyacchṛṇu mahābhāga tīrthaṁ duṣkṛtidurllabham ṛṇamocanasaṁjñaṁ tu sarayūtīrasaṁgatam

Agastya said: Hear, O greatly fortunate one, of another ford, hard for evildoers to attain, named Rina-mochana, situated on the bank of the Sarayu.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.181.23)

ब्रह्मकुण्डान्मुनिवर धनुःसप्तशतेन च पूर्वोत्तरदिशाभागे संस्थितं सरयूजले

brahmakuṇḍānmunivara dhanuḥsaptaśatena ca pūrvottaradiśābhāge saṁsthitaṁ sarayūjale

O excellent sage, at seven hundred bow-lengths from Brahma-kunda, to the north-east, it is situated in the waters of the Sarayu.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.181.24)

तत्र पूर्वं मुनिवरो लोमशो नाम नामतः तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन स्नानं चक्रे विधानतः

tatra pūrvaṁ munivaro lomaśo nāma nāmataḥ tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena snānaṁ cakre vidhānataḥ

There, formerly, an excellent sage named Lomasha, in the course of a pilgrimage, duly performed his ablutions.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.181.25)

ततः स ऋणनिर्मुक्तो बभूव गतकल्मषः तदाश्चर्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा मुनीन्सानन्दमब्रवीत्

tataḥ sa ṛṇanirmukto babhūva gatakalmaṣaḥ tadāścaryaṁ mahaddṛṣṭvā munīnsānandamabravīt

Thereupon he became freed from debt and rid of sin; having seen that great wonder, he spoke joyfully to the sages,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.181.26)

पश्यन्त्वेतस्य महतो गुणांस्तीर्थवरस्य वै भुजावूर्ध्वं तथा कृत्वा हर्षेणाहाऽश्रुलोचनः

paśyantvetasya mahato guṇāṁstīrthavarasya vai bhujāvūrdhvaṁ tathā kṛtvā harṣeṇāhā’śrulocanaḥ

raising both his arms upward, saying with joy, his eyes filled with tears: 'Behold the virtues of this great, excellent ford!'

Verse 27 (skanda.2.181.27)

लोमश उवाच ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु तीर्थमेतदनुत्तमम् यत्र स्नानेन जंतूनामृणनिर्यातनं भवेत्

lomaśa uvāca ṛṇamocanasaṁjñaṁ tu tīrthametadanuttamam yatra snānena jaṁtūnāmṛṇaniryātanaṁ bhavet

Lomasha said: This unsurpassed ford is named Rina-mochana, where, by bathing, the debts of creatures are discharged.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.181.28)

ऐहिकं पारलौकिक्यं यदृणत्रितयं नृणाम् तत्सर्वं स्नानमात्रेण तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नश्यति क्षणात्

aihikaṁ pāralaukikyaṁ yadṛṇatritayaṁ nṛṇām tatsarvaṁ snānamātreṇa tīrthe’sminnaśyati kṣaṇāt

Whatever threefold debt men bear, worldly and otherworldly, all of it is destroyed in an instant by mere bathing at this ford.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.181.29)

सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं चैतत्सद्यः प्रत्ययकारकम् मया चास्य फलं सम्यगनुभूतमृणादिह

sarvatīrthottamaṁ caitatsadyaḥ pratyayakārakam mayā cāsya phalaṁ samyaganubhūtamṛṇādiha

This is the best of all sacred fords, producing immediate conviction; I myself have fully experienced its fruit of release from debt here.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.181.30)

तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं च शक्तितः कर्त्तव्यं श्रद्धया युक्तैः सर्वदा फलकांक्षिभिः

tasmādatra vidhānena snānaṁ dānaṁ ca śaktitaḥ karttavyaṁ śraddhayā yuktaiḥ sarvadā phalakāṁkṣibhiḥ

Therefore bathing and charity should always be duly performed here, according to ability, by those endowed with faith who desire its fruit.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.181.31)

स्नातव्यं च सुवर्णं च देयं वस्त्रादि शक्तितः

snātavyaṁ ca suvarṇaṁ ca deyaṁ vastrādi śaktitaḥ

One should bathe, and gold and garments and the like should be given according to one's ability.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.181.32)

अगस्त्य उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं लोमशो मुनिसत्तमः अन्तर्दधे मुनिश्रेष्ठः स्तुवंस्तीर्थगुणान्मुदा

agastya uvāca ityuktvā tīrthamāhātmyaṁ lomaśo munisattamaḥ antardadhe muniśreṣṭhaḥ stuvaṁstīrthaguṇānmudā

Agastya said: Having thus spoken the ford's greatness, that excellent sage Lomasha, joyfully praising the ford's virtues, vanished.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.181.33)

इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र ऋणमोचनसंज्ञकम् यत्र स्नानेन जन्तूनामृणं नश्यति तत्क्षणात् ऋणमोचनतीर्थं तु पूर्वतः सरयूजले

ityetatkathitaṁ vipra ṛṇamocanasaṁjñakam yatra snānena jantūnāmṛṇaṁ naśyati tatkṣaṇāt ṛṇamocanatīrthaṁ tu pūrvataḥ sarayūjale

Thus, O brahmin, has been told the ford named Rina-mochana, where by bathing creatures' debt is destroyed at once; the Rina-mochana ford lies to the east, in the waters of the Sarayu.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.181.34)

धनुर्द्विशत्या तीर्थं च पापमोचनसंज्ञकम् सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा तत्र स्नानेन मानवः जायते तत्क्षणादेव नात्र कार्या विचारणा

dhanurdviśatyā tīrthaṁ ca pāpamocanasaṁjñakam sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā tatra snānena mānavaḥ jāyate tatkṣaṇādeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

At two hundred bow-lengths from there is a ford named Papa-mochana; a man, by bathing there, becomes wholly purified of all sin at once — there should be no doubt of this.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.181.35)

मया तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ दृष्टं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

mayā tatra muniśreṣṭha dṛṣṭaṁ māhātmyamuttamam

O best of sages, I myself witnessed there its excellent greatness.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.181.36)

पांचालदेशसंभूतो नाम्ना नरहरिर्द्विजः असत्संगप्रभावेन पापात्मा समजायत

pāṁcāladeśasaṁbhūto nāmnā naraharirdvijaḥ asatsaṁgaprabhāvena pāpātmā samajāyata

A brahmin named Narahari, born in the Panchala country, became sinful in soul through the influence of evil company.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.181.37)

नाना विधानि पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च कृतवान्पापिसंगेन त्रयीमार्गविनिन्दकः

nānā vidhāni pāpāni brahmahatyādikāni ca kṛtavānpāpisaṁgena trayīmārgavinindakaḥ

Through association with sinners he committed manifold sins beginning with the killing of a brahmin, and reviled the path of the triple Veda.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.181.38)

स कदाचित्साधुसंगात्तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगतः अयोध्यामागतो विप्र महापातककृद्द्विजः

sa kadācitsādhusaṁgāttīrthayātrāprasaṁgataḥ ayodhyāmāgato vipra mahāpātakakṛddvijaḥ

That brahmin, a doer of great sins, once, through the company of the virtuous, came to Ayodhya in the course of a pilgrimage.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.181.39)

पापमोचनतीर्थे तु स्नातः सत्संगतो द्विजः पापराशिर्विनष्टोऽस्य निष्पापः समभूत्क्षणात्

pāpamocanatīrthe tu snātaḥ satsaṁgato dvijaḥ pāparāśirvinaṣṭo’sya niṣpāpaḥ samabhūtkṣaṇāt

That brahmin, having come into good company, bathed at Papa-mochana-tirtha; his mass of sin was destroyed and he became sinless in an instant.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.181.40)

दिवः पपात तन्मूर्ध्नि पुष्पवृष्टिर्मुनीश्वर दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य विष्णुलोके गतो द्विजः

divaḥ papāta tanmūrdhni puṣpavṛṣṭirmunīśvara divyaṁ vimānamāruhya viṣṇuloke gato dvijaḥ

O lord of sages, a rain of flowers fell from the sky upon his head, and that brahmin, mounting a celestial car, went to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.181.41)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं मया च द्विजपुंगव श्रद्धया परया तत्र कृतं स्नानं विशेषतः

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṁ mayā ca dvijapuṁgava śraddhayā parayā tatra kṛtaṁ snānaṁ viśeṣataḥ

O foremost of brahmins, having witnessed that great wonder, I too performed my ablutions there with the utmost faith and special care.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.181.42)

माघकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां तत्र स्नानं विशेषतः दानं च मनुजैः कार्य्यं सर्वपापविशुद्धये

māghakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṁ tatra snānaṁ viśeṣataḥ dānaṁ ca manujaiḥ kāryyaṁ sarvapāpaviśuddhaye

On the fourteenth of the dark fortnight of Magha, bathing there is especially enjoined, and men should give charity for the purification of all sins.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.181.43)

अन्यदा तु कृते स्नाने सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

anyadā tu kṛte snāne sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

But even at another time, if bathing is performed there, the destruction of all sin occurs.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.181.44)

पापमोचनतीर्थे तु पूर्वं तु सरयूजले धनुःशतप्रमाणेन वर्त्तते तीर्थमुत्तमम्

pāpamocanatīrthe tu pūrvaṁ tu sarayūjale dhanuḥśatapramāṇena varttate tīrthamuttamam

But to the east of Papa-mochana-tirtha, at a distance of a hundred bow-lengths, in the waters of the Sarayu, there stands another excellent ford,

Verse 45 (skanda.2.181.45)

सहस्रधारासंज्ञं तु सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम् यस्मिन्रामाज्ञया वीरो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा प्राणानुत्सृज्य योगेन ययौ शेषात्मतां पुरा

sahasradhārāsaṁjñaṁ tu sarvakilbiṣanāśanam yasminrāmājñayā vīro lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā prāṇānutsṛjya yogena yayau śeṣātmatāṁ purā

named Sahasradhara, destroyer of all sin, where formerly, by Rama's command, the hero Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, having relinquished his life through yoga, attained the nature of Shesha.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.181.46)

सार्द्धंहस्तत्रयेणैव प्रमाणं धनुषो विदुः चतुर्भिर्हस्तकैः संख्या दण्ड इत्यभिधीयते

sārddhaṁhastatrayeṇaiva pramāṇaṁ dhanuṣo viduḥ caturbhirhastakaiḥ saṁkhyā daṇḍa ityabhidhīyate

The measure of a bow-length is known as three and a half cubits; a count of four cubits is called a 'danda'.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.181.47)

सूत उवाच इत्थं तदा समाकर्ण्य कुम्भयोनिमुनेस्तदा कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासः पुनः पप्रच्छ कौतुकात्

sūta uvāca itthaṁ tadā samākarṇya kumbhayonimunestadā kṛṣṇadvaipāyano vyāsaḥ punaḥ papraccha kautukāt

Suta said: Having thus heard this from the pot-born sage, Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, out of curiosity, asked again.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.181.48)

व्यास उवाच सहस्रधारामाहात्म्यं विस्तराद्वद सुव्रत शृण्वंस्तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं न तृप्यति मनो मम

vyāsa uvāca sahasradhārāmāhātmyaṁ vistarādvada suvrata śṛṇvaṁstīrthasya māhātmyaṁ na tṛpyati mano mama

Vyasa said: O you of good vows, tell at length the greatness of Sahasradhara; my mind is not satiated hearing the greatness of this ford.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.181.49)

अगस्त्य उवाच सावधानः शृणु मुने कथां कथयतो मम सहस्रधारातीर्थस्य समुत्पत्तिं महोदयात्

agastya uvāca sāvadhānaḥ śṛṇu mune kathāṁ kathayato mama sahasradhārātīrthasya samutpattiṁ mahodayāt

Agastya said: Listen attentively, O sage, to this tale I tell — the tale of the glorious origin of the ford Sahasradhara.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.181.50)

पुरा रामो रघुपतिर्देवकार्यं विधाय वै कालेन सह संगम्य मंत्रं चक्रे नरेश्वरः

purā rāmo raghupatirdevakāryaṁ vidhāya vai kālena saha saṁgamya maṁtraṁ cakre nareśvaraḥ

Formerly, Rama, lord of the Raghus, having accomplished the task of the gods, met together with Kala and held a secret counsel.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.181.51)

आवां मन्त्रयमाणौ हि यः पश्येदन्तिकागतः

āvāṁ mantrayamāṇau hi yaḥ paśyedantikāgataḥ

'Whoever, coming near, should see the two of us conferring in secret —'

Verse 52 (skanda.2.181.52)

मया त्याज्यो भवेत्क्षिप्रमित्थं चक्रे स संविदम्

mayā tyājyo bhavetkṣipramitthaṁ cakre sa saṁvidam

'— shall at once be forsaken by me.' Thus he made this covenant.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.181.53)

तस्मिन्मंत्रयमाणे हि द्वारे तिष्ठति लक्ष्मणे आगतः स तपोराशिर्दुर्वासास्तेजसां निधिः

tasminmaṁtrayamāṇe hi dvāre tiṣṭhati lakṣmaṇe āgataḥ sa taporāśirdurvāsāstejasāṁ nidhiḥ

While the two were thus conferring, with Lakshmana stationed at the door, that mass of austerity, Durvasa, a treasury of splendor, arrived.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.181.54)

आगत्य लक्ष्मणं शीघ्रं प्रीत्योवाच क्षुधाऽऽकुलः

āgatya lakṣmaṇaṁ śīghraṁ prītyovāca kṣudhā’’kulaḥ

Having arrived, tormented by hunger, he spoke at once, urgently, to Lakshmana.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.181.55)

दुर्वासा उवाच सौमित्रे गच्छ शीघ्रं त्वं रामाग्रे मां निवेदय कार्यार्थिनमिदं वाक्यं नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि

durvāsā uvāca saumitre gaccha śīghraṁ tvaṁ rāmāgre māṁ nivedaya kāryārthinamidaṁ vākyaṁ nānyathā kartumarhasi

Durvasa said: O son of Sumitra, go quickly, announce me before Rama; I have urgent business — do not act otherwise than this.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.181.56)

अगस्त्य उवाच शापाद्भीतः स सौमित्रिर्द्रुतं गत्वा तयोः पुरः मुनिं निवेदयामास रामाग्रे दर्शनार्थिनम् दुर्वाससं तपोराशिमत्रिनन्दनमागतम्

agastya uvāca śāpādbhītaḥ sa saumitrirdrutaṁ gatvā tayoḥ puraḥ muniṁ nivedayāmāsa rāmāgre darśanārthinam durvāsasaṁ taporāśimatrinandanamāgatam

Agastya said: That son of Sumitra, fearing the curse, having gone quickly before the two of them, announced to Rama that the sage Durvasa, that mass of austerity, son of Atri, had come desiring an audience.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.181.57)

रामोऽपि कालमामंत्र्य प्रस्थाप्य च बहिर्ययौ दृष्ट्वा मुनिं तं प्रणतः संभोज्य प्रभुरादरात्

rāmo’pi kālamāmaṁtrya prasthāpya ca bahiryayau dṛṣṭvā muniṁ taṁ praṇataḥ saṁbhojya prabhurādarāt

Rama too, having taken leave of Kala and sent him away, came out; and having seen that sage, bowing, respectfully fed him himself.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.181.58)

दुर्वाससं मुनिवरं प्रस्थाप्य स्वयमादरात् सत्यभंगभयाद्वीरो लक्ष्मणं त्यक्तवांस्तदा

durvāsasaṁ munivaraṁ prasthāpya svayamādarāt satyabhaṁgabhayādvīro lakṣmaṇaṁ tyaktavāṁstadā

Having himself respectfully sent off the excellent sage Durvasa, that hero, fearing the breaking of his word, then forsook Lakshmana.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.181.59)

लक्ष्मणोऽपि तदा वीरः कुर्वन्नवितथं वचः भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य सुमतिः सरयूतीरमाययौ

lakṣmaṇo’pi tadā vīraḥ kurvannavitathaṁ vacaḥ bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya sumatiḥ sarayūtīramāyayau

That hero Lakshmana too, of good understanding, making his elder brother's word true, went to the bank of the Sarayu.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.181.60)

तत्र गत्वाथ च स्नात्वा ध्यानमास्थाय सत्वरम् चिदात्मनि मनः शान्तं संगम्यावस्थितस्तदा

tatra gatvātha ca snātvā dhyānamāsthāya satvaram cidātmani manaḥ śāntaṁ saṁgamyāvasthitastadā

Having gone there and bathed, and quickly taking up meditation, he united his tranquil mind with the self of pure consciousness and remained fixed there.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.181.61)

ततः प्रादुरभूत्तत्र सहस्रफणमण्डितः शेषश्चक्षुःश्रवाः श्रेष्ठः क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रधा सुरलोकात्सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समागादमरैः सह

tataḥ prādurabhūttatra sahasraphaṇamaṇḍitaḥ śeṣaścakṣuḥśravāḥ śreṣṭhaḥ kṣitiṁ bhittvā sahasradhā suralokātsurendro’pi samāgādamaraiḥ saha

Then there appeared, adorned with a thousand hoods, the excellent serpent Shesha, splitting the earth in a thousand places; and the lord of the gods too came there from the world of the gods, together with the immortals.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.181.62)

ततः शेषात्मतां यातं लक्ष्मणं सत्यसंगरम् उवाच मधुरं शक्रः सुराणां तत्र पश्यताम्

tataḥ śeṣātmatāṁ yātaṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ satyasaṁgaram uvāca madhuraṁ śakraḥ surāṇāṁ tatra paśyatām

Then, while the gods looked on, Indra spoke sweetly to Lakshmana, true to his covenant, who had attained the nature of Shesha.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.181.63)

इन्द्र उवाच लक्ष्मणोत्तिष्ठ शीघ्रं त्वमारोह स्वपदं स्वकम् देवकार्यं कृतं वीर त्वया रिपुनिषूदन

indra uvāca lakṣmaṇottiṣṭha śīghraṁ tvamāroha svapadaṁ svakam devakāryaṁ kṛtaṁ vīra tvayā ripuniṣūdana

Indra said: Lakshmana, rise quickly; ascend to your own rightful station. The task of the gods has been accomplished by you, O hero, slayer of foes.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.181.64)

वैष्णवं परमं स्थानं प्राप्नुहि त्वं सनातनम् भवन्मूर्तिः समायातः शेषोऽपि विलसत्फणः

vaiṣṇavaṁ paramaṁ sthānaṁ prāpnuhi tvaṁ sanātanam bhavanmūrtiḥ samāyātaḥ śeṣo’pi vilasatphaṇaḥ

Attain the supreme, eternal, Vaishnava abode; your own true form, Shesha, resplendent with his hoods, has come to you.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.181.65)

सहस्रधा क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रफणमण्डलैः क्षितेः सहस्रच्छिद्रेषु यस्माद्भित्त्वा समुद्गताः

sahasradhā kṣitiṁ bhittvā sahasraphaṇamaṇḍalaiḥ kṣiteḥ sahasracchidreṣu yasmādbhittvā samudgatāḥ

Since, with the coils of his thousand hoods, he split the earth in a thousand places, emerging through a thousand openings of the earth,

Verse 66 (skanda.2.181.66)

फणसाहस्रमणिभिर्दग्धाः शेषस्य सुव्रत तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सरयूतीरगं शुभम् ख्यातं सहस्रधारेति भविष्यति न संशयः

phaṇasāhasramaṇibhirdagdhāḥ śeṣasya suvrata tasmādetanmahātīrthaṁ sarayūtīragaṁ śubham khyātaṁ sahasradhāreti bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

and those places were scorched by the thousand jewels of Shesha's hoods, O you of good vows — therefore this great, auspicious ford on the bank of the Sarayu shall, without doubt, become known as 'Sahasradhara'.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.181.67)

एतत्क्षेत्रप्रमाणं तु धनुषां पञ्चविंशतिः अत्र स्नानेन दानेन श्राद्धेन श्रद्धयान्वितः सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं व्रजेन्नरः

etatkṣetrapramāṇaṁ tu dhanuṣāṁ pañcaviṁśatiḥ atra snānena dānena śrāddhena śraddhayānvitaḥ sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā viṣṇulokaṁ vrajennaraḥ

The measure of this sacred field is twenty-five bow-lengths; a man endowed with faith, by bathing, giving charity, and performing shraddha here, his soul purified of all sin, goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 68 (skanda.2.181.68)

अत्र स्नातो नरो धीमाञ्छेषं संपूज्य चाव्ययम् तीर्थं संपूज्य विधिवद्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्

atra snāto naro dhīmāñcheṣaṁ saṁpūjya cāvyayam tīrthaṁ saṁpūjya vidhivadviṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt

A wise man, having bathed here and worshipped the imperishable Shesha, and duly worshipped the ford, attains the world of Vishnu.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.181.69)

तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानं विधिपुरःसरम् शेषरूपाहिवद्ध्येयाः पूज्या विप्रा विशेषतः

tasmādatra prakartavyaṁ snānaṁ vidhipuraḥsaram śeṣarūpāhivaddhyeyāḥ pūjyā viprā viśeṣataḥ

Therefore bathing should be performed here preceded by due ritual; serpents in the form of Shesha are to be meditated upon, and brahmins especially worshipped.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.181.70)

स्वर्णं चान्नं च वासांसि देयानि श्रद्धयान्वितैः स्नानं दानं हरेः पूजा सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत्

svarṇaṁ cānnaṁ ca vāsāṁsi deyāni śraddhayānvitaiḥ snānaṁ dānaṁ hareḥ pūjā sarvamakṣayatāṁ vrajet

Gold, food and garments should be given by those endowed with faith; bathing, charity and worship of Hari — all these become imperishable in their fruit.

Verse 71 (skanda.2.181.71)

तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् क्षितौ भविष्यति सदा नात्र कार्या विचारणा

tasmādetanmahātīrthaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam kṣitau bhaviṣyati sadā nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Therefore this great ford, granting the fruit of all desires, shall ever remain upon the earth — there should be no doubt of this.

Verse 72 (skanda.2.181.72)

श्रावणे शुद्धपक्षस्य या तिथिः पञ्चमी भवेत् तस्यामत्र प्रकर्तव्यो नागानुद्दिश्य यत्नतः

śrāvaṇe śuddhapakṣasya yā tithiḥ pañcamī bhavet tasyāmatra prakartavyo nāgānuddiśya yatnataḥ

On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravana, worship directed toward the serpent deities should be diligently performed here,

Verse 73 (skanda.2.181.73)

उत्सवो विपुलः सद्भिः शेषपूजापुरःसरम् उत्सवे तु कृते तत्र तीर्थे महति मानवैः

utsavo vipulaḥ sadbhiḥ śeṣapūjāpuraḥsaram utsave tu kṛte tatra tīrthe mahati mānavaiḥ

a grand festival held by the virtuous, preceded by the worship of Shesha; and when that festival is held by men at that great ford,

Verse 74 (skanda.2.181.74)

सन्तोष्य च द्विजान्भक्त्या नागपूजापुरस्सरम् सन्तुष्टाः फणिनः सर्वे पीडयन्ति न मानुषान्

santoṣya ca dvijānbhaktyā nāgapūjāpurassaram santuṣṭāḥ phaṇinaḥ sarve pīḍayanti na mānuṣān

and brahmins are satisfied with devotion, preceded by the worship of the serpents, all the hooded serpents, being satisfied, do not afflict human beings.

Verse 75 (skanda.2.181.75)

वैशाखमासे ये स्नानं कुर्वंत्यत्र समाहिताः न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

vaiśākhamāse ye snānaṁ kurvaṁtyatra samāhitāḥ na teṣāṁ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Those who, composed in mind, bathe here in the month of Vaishakha — for them there is no return to rebirth even for hundreds of millions of kalpas.

Verse 76 (skanda.2.181.76)

तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं माधवे यत्नतो नरैः स्नानं दानं हरिः पूज्यो ब्राह्मणाश्च विशेषतः तीर्थे कृतेऽत्र मनुजैः सर्वकामफलप्रदः

tasmādatra prakartavyaṁ mādhave yatnato naraiḥ snānaṁ dānaṁ hariḥ pūjyo brāhmaṇāśca viśeṣataḥ tīrthe kṛte’tra manujaiḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ

Therefore, in the month of Madhava, men should diligently perform bathing and charity here, worshipping Hari and especially the brahmins; when this is done by men at this ford, it bestows the fruit of all desires.

Verse 77 (skanda.2.181.77)

विष्णुमुद्दिश्य यो दद्यात्सालंकारां पयस्विनीम् सवत्सामत्र सत्तीर्थे सत्पात्राय द्विजन्मने

viṣṇumuddiśya yo dadyātsālaṁkārāṁ payasvinīm savatsāmatra sattīrthe satpātrāya dvijanmane

Whoever, for the sake of Vishnu, gives here at this holy ford an ornamented milch-cow with her calf to a worthy brahmin,

Verse 78 (skanda.2.181.78)

तस्य वासो भवेन्नित्य विष्णुलोके सनातने अक्षयं स्वर्गमाप्नोति तीर्थ स्नानेन मानवः

tasya vāso bhavennitya viṣṇuloke sanātane akṣayaṁ svargamāpnoti tīrtha snānena mānavaḥ

his dwelling shall be forever in the eternal world of Vishnu; a man attains imperishable heaven by bathing at this ford.

Verse 79 (skanda.2.181.79)

अत्र पूज्यौ विशेषेण नरैः श्रद्धासमन्वितः वैशाखे मास्यलंकारैर्वस्त्रैश्च द्विजदंपती

atra pūjyau viśeṣeṇa naraiḥ śraddhāsamanvitaḥ vaiśākhe māsyalaṁkārairvastraiśca dvijadaṁpatī

Here, in the month of Vaishakha, a brahmin couple should be especially worshipped by men endowed with faith, with ornaments and garments,

Verse 80 (skanda.2.181.80)

लक्ष्मीनारायणप्रीत्यै लक्ष्मीप्रात्यै विशेषतः वैशाखे मासि तीर्थानि पृथिवीसंस्थितानि वै

lakṣmīnārāyaṇaprītyai lakṣmīprātyai viśeṣataḥ vaiśākhe māsi tīrthāni pṛthivīsaṁsthitāni vai

for the pleasure of Lakshmi-Narayana, and especially for the pleasure of Lakshmi; for in the month of Vaishakha, all the sacred fords situated on earth,

Verse 81 (skanda.2.181.81)

सर्वाण्यपि च संगत्य स्थास्यंत्यत्र न संशयः तस्मादत्र विशेषेण वैशाखे स्नानतो नृणाम् सर्वतीर्थावगाहस्य भविष्यति फलं महत्

sarvāṇyapi ca saṁgatya sthāsyaṁtyatra na saṁśayaḥ tasmādatra viśeṣeṇa vaiśākhe snānato nṛṇām sarvatīrthāvagāhasya bhaviṣyati phalaṁ mahat

all of them together come and abide right here — there is no doubt of this; therefore for men who especially bathe here in Vaishakha, the great fruit of bathing in all sacred fords shall arise.

Verse 82 (skanda.2.181.82)

अगस्त्य उवाच इत्युक्त्वा मुनिराजेंद्रो लक्ष्मणं सुरसं गतम् शेषं संस्थाप्य तत्तीर्थे भूभारहरणक्षमम् लक्ष्मणं यानमारोप्य प्रतस्थे दिवमादरात्

agastya uvāca ityuktvā munirājeṁdro lakṣmaṇaṁ surasaṁ gatam śeṣaṁ saṁsthāpya tattīrthe bhūbhāraharaṇakṣamam lakṣmaṇaṁ yānamāropya pratasthe divamādarāt

Agastya said: Having said this, that great lord Indra, having established at that ford Shesha — capable of bearing the earth's burden, who had been Lakshmana — and having mounted him upon a celestial chariot, respectfully departed for heaven.

Verse 83 (skanda.2.181.83)

तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं विख्यातिं परमां ययौ वैशाखे मासि तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं परमं स्मृतम्

tadāprabhṛti tattīrthaṁ vikhyātiṁ paramāṁ yayau vaiśākhe māsi tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ paramaṁ smṛtam

From then on that ford attained supreme renown; in the month of Vaishakha, the greatness of this ford is remembered as supreme.

Verse 84 (skanda.2.181.84)

पञ्चम्यामपि शुक्लायां श्रावणस्य विशेषतः अन्यदा पर्वणि श्रेष्ठं विशेषं स्नानमाचरेत् सहस्रधारातीर्थे च नरः स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्

pañcamyāmapi śuklāyāṁ śrāvaṇasya viśeṣataḥ anyadā parvaṇi śreṣṭhaṁ viśeṣaṁ snānamācaret sahasradhārātīrthe ca naraḥ svargamavāpnuyāt

Also on the fifth of the bright fortnight of Shravana, and especially on other excellent festival occasions, a special bathing should be performed; and a man attains heaven at the ford Sahasradhara.

Verse 85 (skanda.2.181.85)

विधिवदिह हि धीमान्स्नानदानानि तीर्थे नरवर इह शक्त्या यः करोत्यादरेण स इह विपुलभोगान्निर्मलात्मा च भक्त्या भजति भुजगशायिश्रीपतेरात्मनैक्यम्

vidhivadiha hi dhīmānsnānadānāni tīrthe naravara iha śaktyā yaḥ karotyādareṇa sa iha vipulabhogānnirmalātmā ca bhaktyā bhajati bhujagaśāyiśrīpaterātmanaikyam

Whatever wise, excellent man duly performs here, according to his ability and with reverence, acts of bathing and charity — he, having enjoyed abundant pleasures here, his soul made stainless, attains through devotion union of self with the Lord of Shri who reclines upon the serpent.