The Glory of Jabali-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.2.25.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच । भोभोस्तपोधनाः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । वेंकटाद्रौ महापुण्ये सर्वपातकनाशने ।

śrīsūta uvāca bhobhostapodhanāḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ veṁkaṭādrau mahāpuṇye sarvapātakanāśane

Shri Suta said: O all you sages rich in austerity, dwellers of Naimisharanya! On the immensely meritorious Venkatadri, which destroys all sins —

Verse 2 (skanda.2.25.2)

ततो जाबालितीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं वर्णयाम्यहम् । दुराचाराभिधो यत्र स्नात्वा मुक्तोऽभवद्द्विजाः ।

tato jābālitīrthasya māhātmyaṁ varṇayāmyaham durācārābhidho yatra snātvā mukto'bhavaddvijāḥ

— now I shall describe the glory of Jabali-tirtha, O brahmins, where a brahmin named Durachara was liberated by bathing.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.25.3)

मुनय ऊचुः । दुराचाराभिधः कोऽसौ सूत तत्त्वार्थकोविद । किञ्च पापं कृतं तेन दुराचारेण वै मुने ।

munaya ūcuḥ durācārābhidhaḥ ko'sau sūta tattvārthakovida kiñca pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ tena durācāreṇa vai mune

The sages said: O Suta, adept in the truth of things, who was that man named Durachara? And O sage, what sin did that Durachara commit?

Verse 4 (skanda.2.25.4)

कथं वा पातकान्मुक्तस्तीर्थेस्मिन्स्नानवैभवात् । एतच्छुश्रूषमाणानां विस्तराद्वद नो मुने ।

kathaṁ vā pātakānmuktastīrthesminsnānavaibhavāt etacchuśrūṣamāṇānāṁ vistarādvada no mune

And how was he freed from his sins by the power of bathing in this tirtha? O sage, tell us this at length, for we are eager to hear it.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.25.5)

श्रीसूत उवाच । मुनयः श्रूयतां तस्य दुराचारस्य पातकम् । जाबालितीर्थस्नानेन यथा मुक्तश्च पातकात् ।

śrīsūta uvāca munayaḥ śrūyatāṁ tasya durācārasya pātakam jābālitīrthasnānena yathā muktaśca pātakāt

Shri Suta said: O sages, hear now of that Durachara's sin, and how he was freed from sin by bathing in Jabali-tirtha.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.25.6)

दुराचाराभिधो विप्रः कावेरीतीरमाश्रितः । कश्चिदास्ते द्विजः पापी क्रूरकर्मरतः सदा ।

durācārābhidho vipraḥ kāverītīramāśritaḥ kaścidāste dvijaḥ pāpī krūrakarmarataḥ sadā

There lived a brahmin named Durachara, dwelling on the bank of the Kaveri, a sinful man ever engaged in cruel deeds.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.25.7)

ब्रह्मघ्नैश्च सुरापैश्च स्तेयिभिर्गुरुतल्पगैः । सदा संसर्गदुष्टोऽसौ तैः साकं न्यवसद्द्विजाः ।

brahmaghnaiśca surāpaiśca steyibhirgurutalpagaiḥ sadā saṁsargaduṣṭo'sau taiḥ sākaṁ nyavasaddvijāḥ

O brahmins, he lived constantly among brahmin-slayers, drunkards, thieves, and those who defile their teacher's bed, corrupted always by their company.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.25.8)

महापातकसंसर्गदोषेणास्य द्विजस्य वै । ब्राह्मण्यं सकलं नष्टं निःशेषेण द्विजोत्तमाः ।

mahāpātakasaṁsargadoṣeṇāsya dvijasya vai brāhmaṇyaṁ sakalaṁ naṣṭaṁ niḥśeṣeṇa dvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, by the fault of association with great sinners, this brahmin's entire brahminhood was utterly destroyed.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.25.9)

महापातकिभिः सार्धं दिनमेकं तु यो द्विजः । निवसेत्सादरं तस्य तत्क्षणाद्वै द्विजन्मनः ।

mahāpātakibhiḥ sārdhaṁ dinamekaṁ tu yo dvijaḥ nivasetsādaraṁ tasya tatkṣaṇādvai dvijanmanaḥ

Whatever brahmin dwells respectfully with great sinners for even a single day, that twice-born man, from that very moment —

Verse 10 (skanda.2.25.10)

ब्राह्मणस्य तु चैकांशो नश्यत्येव न संशयः । द्विदिनं सेवनात्स्पर्शाद्दर्शनाच्छयनात्तथा ।

brāhmaṇasya tu caikāṁśo naśyatyeva na saṁśayaḥ dvidinaṁ sevanātsparśāddarśanācchayanāttathā

— undoubtedly loses one portion of his brahminhood; through two days of serving, touching, seeing, and lying near them —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.25.11)

भोजनात्सह पंक्तौ च महापातकिभिर्द्विजाः । द्वितीयभागो नश्येत ब्राह्मण्यस्य न संशयः ।

bhojanātsaha paṁktau ca mahāpātakibhirdvijāḥ dvitīyabhāgo naśyeta brāhmaṇyasya na saṁśayaḥ

— and by eating in the same row with great sinners, O brahmins, a second portion of his brahminhood is undoubtedly destroyed.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.25.12)

त्रिदिनाच्च तृतीयांशो नश्यत्येव न संशयः । चतुर्दिनाच्चतुर्थांशो विलयं याति हि धुवम् ।

tridināt ca tṛtīyāṁśo naśyatyeva na saṁśayaḥ caturdināccaturthāṁśo vilayaṁ yāti hi dhruvam

By the third day, the third portion is undoubtedly destroyed as well; by the fourth day, the fourth portion certainly perishes too.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.25.13)

अतः परं च तैः साकं शयनासनभोजनैः । तत्तुल्यपातकी भूयान्महापातकिसंगवान् ।

ataḥ paraṁ ca taiḥ sākaṁ śayanāsanabhojanaiḥ tattulyapātakī bhūyānmahāpātakisaṁgavān

Beyond that, by continuing to sleep, sit, and eat with them, one who associates with great sinners becomes equally a great sinner himself.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.25.14)

तेन ब्राह्मण्यहीनोऽयं दुराचाराभिधो द्विज । ग्रस्तोऽभवद्भीषणेन व्यालेनेव बलीयसा ।

tena brāhmaṇyahīno'yaṁ durācārābhidho dvijaḥ grasto'bhavadbhīṣaṇena vyāleneva balīyasā

Thus deprived of his brahminhood, that brahmin named Durachara became as one seized by a terrible and mighty serpent.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.25.15)

असौ परवशस्तेन वेतालेनातिपीडितः । देशाद्देशं भ्रमन्विप्रो वनाच्चैव वनान्तरम् ।

asau paravaśastena vetālenātipīḍitaḥ deśāddeśaṁ bhramanvipro vanāccaiva vanāntaram

Overpowered and grievously afflicted by that vetala (a malevolent spirit), that brahmin wandered from land to land and from forest to forest.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.25.16)

पूर्वपुण्यविपाकेन दैवयोगेन स द्विजः । वेंकटाद्रिं महापुण्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम् ।

pūrvapuṇyavipākena daivayogena sa dvijaḥ veṁkaṭādriṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam

By the ripening of merit from a former life, and by divine chance, that brahmin came, toward the immensely meritorious Venkatadri, which destroys all sins —

Verse 17 (skanda.2.25.17)

अनुद्रुतः पिशाचेन वेतालेन द्विजो ययौ । न्यमज्जयत्स वेतालो महापातकनाशने ।

anudrutaḥ piśācena vetālena dvijo yayau nyamajjayatsa vetālo mahāpātakanāśane

— chased by the demonic vetala, that brahmin went; and the vetala plunged him into that tirtha which destroys great sins.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.25.18)

जाबालितीर्थे विप्रेन्द्रा महापातकिसंगिनम् । उदतिष्ठत्क्षणादेव वेतालेन विमोचितः ।

jābālitīrthe viprendrā mahāpātakisaṁginam udatiṣṭhatkṣaṇādeva vetālena vimocitaḥ

O lords of brahmins, that brahmin who had kept company with great sinners, released from the vetala at once, rose up that very instant in Jabali-tirtha.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.25.19)

उत्थितोऽसौ द्विजो विप्रास्तस्मात्तीर्थात्तु पावनात् । स्वस्थो व्यचिन्तयत्कोऽयं स्वर्णमुख्याः समीपतः ।

utthito'sau dvijo viprāstasmāttīrthāttu pāvanāt svastho vyacintayatko'yaṁ svarṇamukhyāḥ samīpataḥ

O brahmins, having risen from that purifying tirtha, that brahmin, restored to himself, began to wonder: "What place is this, near the Suvarnamukhi?"

Verse 20 (skanda.2.25.20)

कथं मयागतमहो कावेरीतीरवासिना । इति चिन्ताकुलः सोऽयं जाबालेस्तीर्थमुत्तमम् ।

kathaṁ mayāgatamaho kāverītīravāsinā iti cintākulaḥ so'yaṁ jābālestīrthamuttamam

"Ah, how have I, a dweller on the bank of the Kaveri, come to be here?" — thus troubled by anxiety, he, at this excellent tirtha of Jabali —

Verse 21 (skanda.2.25.21)

जाबालिं च महात्मानं योगीन्द्रवरमुत्तमम् । समागम्य प्रणम्यासौ दुराचारोऽभ्यभाषत ।

jābāliṁ ca mahātmānaṁ yogīndravaramuttamam samāgamya praṇamyāsau durācāro'bhyabhāṣata

— having come upon and bowed to the great soul Jabali, foremost among the lords of yogis, that Durachara spoke.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.25.22)

न जाने भगवन्विप्र पर्वतोऽयं वदाधुना । कावेरीतीरनिलयो दुराचाराभिधो ह्यहम् ।

na jāne bhagavanvipra parvato'yaṁ vadādhunā kāverītīranilayo durācārābhidho hyaham

"O blessed brahmin, I do not know what mountain this is — please tell me now; I am the brahmin named Durachara, dwelling on the bank of the Kaveri."

Verse 23 (skanda.2.25.23)

कृपया ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन्मयात्र कथमागतम् । इति पृष्टो मुनिस्तेन दुराचारेण सुव्रतः ।

kṛpayā brūhi me brahmanmayātra kathamāgatam iti pṛṣṭo munistena durācāreṇa suvrataḥ

"O brahmin, tell me kindly how I came to be here." Thus questioned by that Durachara, the sage of excellent vows —

Verse 24 (skanda.2.25.24)

ध्यात्वा मुहुर्तमवदद्दुराचारं कृपानिधिः ।

dhyātvā muhūrtamavadaddurācāraṁ kṛpānidhiḥ

— meditated for a moment, and then, the ocean of compassion, spoke to Durachara.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.25.25)

जाबालिरुवाच । महापातकिसंसर्गाद्दुराचारस्य ते पुरा । ब्राह्मण्यं नष्टमभवद्वेतालस्त्वां ततोऽग्रहीत् ।

jābālir uvāca mahāpātakisaṁsargāddurācārasya te purā brāhmaṇyaṁ naṣṭamabhavadvetālastvāṁ tato'grahīt

Jabali said: O Durachara, formerly, through association with great sinners, your brahminhood was destroyed; therefore the vetala seized you.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.25.26)

तेनाविष्टस्त्वमायातो विवशोऽत्र विमूढधीः । न्यमज्जयत्त्वां वेतालस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नतिपावने ।

tenāviṣṭastvamāyāto vivaśo'tra vimūḍhadhīḥ nyamajjayattvāṁ vetālastīrthe'sminnatipāvane

Possessed by it, powerless, your mind bewildered, you came here; the vetala plunged you into this exceedingly purifying tirtha.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.25.27)

अत्र मज्जनमात्रेण विमुक्तः पातकाद्भवान् । जाबालितीर्थे ये स्नानं पुण्यं कुर्वन्ति मानवाः ।

atra majjanamātreṇa vimuktaḥ pātakādbhavān jābālitīrthe ye snānaṁ puṇyaṁ kurvaṁti mānavāḥ

By that mere immersion here, you have been freed from your sin; whatever men perform this meritorious bathing in Jabali-tirtha —

Verse 28 (skanda.2.25.28)

तेषां नश्यंति वै सत्यं पञ्चपातकसंचयाः । सत्कर्मसाधने पुण्यतीर्थेऽस्मिन्स्नानमात्रतः ।

teṣāṁ naśyaṁti vai satyaṁ pañcapātakasaṁcayāḥ satkarmasādhane puṇyatīrthe'sminsnānamātrataḥ

— truly have their accumulated five great sins destroyed, by mere bathing in this meritorious tirtha which accomplishes good deeds.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.25.29)

महापातकिसंसर्गदोषस्ते विलयं गतः । त्वामग्रहीद्यो वेतालः पुरायं ब्राह्मणोऽभवत् ।

mahāpātakisaṁsargadoṣaste vilayaṁ gataḥ tvāmagrahīdyo vetālaḥ purāyaṁ brāhmaṇo'bhavat

Your fault of association with great sinners has been destroyed; and the vetala who seized you was, in an earlier time, a brahmin himself.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.25.30)

मृतेऽहनि पितृश्राद्धं नाकरोत्पार्वणेन वै । तेन स्वपितृभिः शप्तो वेतालत्वमगादयम् ।

mṛte'hani pitṛśrāddhaṁ nākarotpārvaṇena vai tena svapitṛbhiḥ śapto vetālatvamagādayam

On the day of his father's death, he had failed to perform the parvana shraddha rite; therefore, cursed by his own ancestors, he came to be born as a vetala.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.25.31)

सोऽपि जाबालितीर्थस्य जले स्नानप्रभावतः । वेतालत्वं विहायैव विष्णुलोकमवाप्तवान् ।

so'pi jābālitīrthasya jale snānaprabhāvataḥ vetālatvaṁ vihāyaiva viṣṇulokamavāptavān

He too, by the power of bathing in the waters of Jabali-tirtha, abandoned his vetala existence and attained the abode of Vishnu.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.25.32)

न कुर्याद्यो नरः श्राद्धं मातापित्रोर्मृतेऽहनि । वेतालत्वमवाप्याशु पश्चान्नरकमश्नुते ।

na kuryādyo naraḥ śrāddhaṁ mātāpitrormṛte'hani vetālatvamavāpyāśu paścānnarakamaśnute

Whatever man fails to perform the shraddha rite on the day of his parents' death swiftly attains the state of a vetala, and afterward suffers in hell.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.25.33)

श्रीसूत उवाच । दुराचारो महापापी तीर्थेऽस्मित्स्नानमात्रतः । प्राप्तवान्विष्णुलोकं वै पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् ।

śrīsūta uvāca durācāro mahāpāpī tīrthe'smitsnānamātrataḥ prāptavānviṣṇulokaṁ vai punarāvṛttivarjitam

Shri Suta said: That greatly sinful Durachara, by mere bathing in this tirtha, attained the abode of Vishnu, from which there is no return.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.25.34)

एवं वः कथितं पुण्यं दुराचारविमोक्षणम् । तस्मात्पुण्यतमं तीर्थं सर्वपापहरं शुभम् ।

evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ puṇyaṁ durācāravimokṣaṇam tasmātpuṇyatamaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvapāpaharaṁ śubham

Thus have I told you this meritorious account of Durachara's liberation; therefore this tirtha is most meritorious, auspicious, and destroys every sin.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.25.35)

यत्र हि स्नानमात्रेण दुराचारो विमोचितः । यानि निष्कृतिहीनानि पापान्यपि विनाशयेत् ।

yatra hi snānamātreṇa durācāro vimocitaḥ yāni niṣkṛtihīnāni pāpānyapi vināśayet

Here, where mere bathing freed Durachara, this tirtha destroys even those sins for which there is no other atonement.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.25.36)

शूद्रेण पूजितं लिङ्गं विष्णुं वा यो नमेद्द्विजः । प्रायश्चित्तं न स्मृतिषु तस्योक्तं परमर्षिभिः ।

śūdreṇa pūjitaṁ liṅgaṁ viṣṇuṁ vā yo nameddvijaḥ prāyaścittaṁ na smṛtiṣu tasyoktaṁ paramarṣibhiḥ

For the brahmin who bows to a linga or an image of Vishnu that has been worshipped by a shudra, the great sages have prescribed no atonement in the Smritis.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.25.37)

नश्येत्तस्यापि तत्पापं तीर्थे जाबालिसंज्ञके । विप्रनिन्दाकृतां चैव प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते ।

naśyettasyāpi tatpāpaṁ tīrthe jābālisaṁjñake vipranindākṛtāṁ caiva prāyaścittaṁ na vidyate

Even that sin of his is destroyed at the tirtha named Jabali; and for those who slander brahmins, likewise, there exists no atonement —

Verse 38 (skanda.2.25.38)

विश्वासघातुकानां च कृतघ्नानां च निष्कृतिः । भ्रातृभार्यारतानां च प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते ।

viśvāsaghātukānāṁ ca kṛtaghnānāṁ ca niṣkṛtiḥ bhrātṛbhāryārtānāṁ ca prāyaścittaṁ na vidyate

— nor for betrayers of trust, nor for the ungrateful, nor is there any atonement for one who lusts after his brother's wife.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.25.39)

तेषां जाबालितीर्थे वै स्नानाच्छुद्धिर्भविष्यति । एवं वः कथितं विप्रा जाबालेस्तीर्थवैभवम् ।

teṣāṁ jābālitīrthe vai snānācchuddhirbhaviṣyati evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprā jābālestīrthavaibhavam

For all of them, purification shall come only through bathing in Jabali-tirtha. Thus, O brahmins, have I told you of the splendor of the Jabali tirtha.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.25.40)

यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते मानवो भुवि ।

yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate mānavo bhuvi

Hearing which, a man on this earth is freed from all sins.