The Glory of the Suvarnamukhari's Power

Verse 1 (skanda.2.33.1)

भरद्वाज उवाच । तदा दिव्यविमानस्थाः शक्रमुख्या दिवौकसः । अगस्त्यमनुयान्तीं तामनुजग्मुर्महापगाम् ।

bharadvāja uvāca tadā divyavimānasthāḥ śakramukhyā divaukasaḥ agastyamanuyāntīṁ tāmanujagmurmahāpagām

Bharadvaja said: Then the sky-dwellers, headed by Indra, seated in their divine chariots, followed after that great river as she followed Agastya.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.33.2)

नवावतारां तां दिव्यां सर्वे च मुनिपुंगवाः । कृताञ्जलिपुटाः स्तोत्रैरनुयाताः सिषेविरे ।

navāvatārāṁ tāṁ divyāṁ sarve ca munipuṁgavāḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭāḥ stotrairanuyātāḥ siṣevire

All the foremost sages, too, with joined palms, attended and served that newly-descended, divine river, following her with hymns of praise.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.33.3)

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वाः संभृताश्च सहस्रशः । तां नदीं तं मुनीन्द्रं च प्रशशंसुः शुभैः स्तवैः ।

siddhacāraṇagandharvāḥ saṁbhṛtāśca sahasraśaḥ tāṁ nadīṁ taṁ munīndraṁ ca praśaśaṁsuḥ śubhaiḥ stavaiḥ

Siddhas, Charanas, and Gandharvas, gathered there by the thousand, praised that river and that lord of sages with auspicious eulogies.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.33.4)

सुधोपमानममलं दिष्ट्या लब्धमिदं जलम् । इत्यौत्सुक्यरसायत्ता ननन्दुर्धरणीजनाः ।

sudhopamānamamalaṁ diṣṭyā labdhamidaṁ jalam ityautsukyarasāyattā nanandurdharaṇījanāḥ

"By good fortune this pure water, comparable to nectar, has been obtained!" — thus, filled with eagerness, the people of the earth rejoiced.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.33.5)

तदा निदेशाद्देवस्य पद्मयोनेः समीरणः । शृण्वतां सर्वदेवानामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।

tadā nideśāddevasya padmayoneḥ samīraṇaḥ śṛṇvatāṁ sarvadevānāmidaṁ vacanamabravīt

Then, by the command of the Lotus-born God (Brahma), the Wind-god, in the hearing of all the gods, spoke these words:

Verse 6 (skanda.2.33.6)

वायुरुवाच । सुवर्णमिव लोकानां भागधेयादियं नदी । नीता भुवमगस्त्येन मुखरीकृतदिङ्मुखा ।

vāyuruvāca suvarṇamiva lokānāṁ bhāgadheyādiyaṁ nadī nītā bhuvamagastyena mukharīkṛtadiṅmukhā

Vayu said: This river, as if the very fortune of all people made golden, has been brought to earth by Agastya, having made every quarter resound (mukhari) —

Verse 7 (skanda.2.33.7)

तस्माद्यास्यति विख्यातिं सर्वलोकाभिनन्दिताम् । सुवर्णमुखरी नाम्ना धाम्नि कैवल्यसंपदः ।

tasmādyāsyati vikhyātiṁ sarvalokābhinanditām suvarṇamukharī nāmnā dhāmni kaivalyasaṁpadaḥ

therefore she shall attain fame, celebrated by all the worlds, under the name Suvarnamukhari, in the abode of the wealth of final liberation.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.33.8)

एषा सुवर्णमुखरी सरित्सु सकलास्वपि । विशिष्टा सेवनीया च ब्रह्मणो वचनं त्विदम् ।

eṣā suvarṇamukharī saritsu sakalāsvapi viśiṣṭā sevanīyā ca brahmaṇo vacanaṁ tvidam

This Suvarnamukhari, among all rivers, is distinguished and worthy of resort — such is the very word of Brahma.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.33.9)

भरद्वाज उवाच । श्रुत्वेत्थं पवनेनोक्तं वचनं कुम्भसम्भवः । तुतोष विस्मयाक्रान्तः स्वान्तःपुलकितांगकः ।

bharadvāja uvāca śrutvetthaṁ pavanenoktaṁ vacanaṁ kumbhasambhavaḥ tutoṣa vismayākrāntaḥ svāntaḥpulakitāṁgakaḥ

Bharadvaja said: Having heard these words spoken thus by the Wind-god, the pot-born sage rejoiced, overcome with wonder, the hairs of his body standing on end with inner delight.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.33.10)

एवमेषा दिव्यनदी स्नानपानादिकल्पनैः । सौख्यावहा मनुष्याणां प्रतिष्ठामगमद्भुवि ।

evameṣā divyanadī snānapānādikalpanaiḥ saukhyāvahā manuṣyāṇāṁ pratiṣṭhāmagamadbhuvi

Thus this divine river, through the provisions she makes for bathing, drinking, and the like, bringing happiness to mankind, attained renown upon the earth.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.33.11)

आज्ञया पद्मगर्भस्य तटिन्याकाशवाहिनी । सुवर्णमुखरीनाम्ना पुनात्यात्मैकसंश्रयान् ।

ājñayā padmagarbhasya taṭinyākāśavāhinī suvarṇamukharīnāmnā punātyātmaikasaṁśrayān

By the command of the Lotus-born One, this sky-flowing river, under the name Suvarnamukhari, purifies those who take sole refuge in her,

Verse 12 (skanda.2.33.12)

बहून्गिरीन्द्रान्वनमण्डलं च देशाननेकान्सरिदुत्तमेयम् । क्रमादतिक्रम्य निषेव्यमाणा महानदीभिर्गिरिसंभवाभिः ।

bahūngirīndrānvanamaṇḍalaṁ ca deśānanekānsariduttameyam kramādatikramya niṣevyamāṇā mahānadībhirgirisaṁbhavābhiḥ

passing in due course over many great mountains, over tracts of forest, and over many lands, this most excellent of rivers, attended by great rivers born of the mountains,

Verse 13 (skanda.2.33.13)

रोगाहतानामधिकातुराणामनामयैकप्रतिपादकानि । अन्तर्बहिः संभृतभूरितापनिवारणानि प्रियकारणानि ।

rogāhatānāmadhikāturāṇāmanāmayaikapratipādakāni antarbahiḥ saṁbhṛtabhūritāpanivāraṇāni priyakāraṇāni

her waters — the sole remedy for the diseased and the gravely afflicted, the beloved cause that removes the manifold heat gathered within and without,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.33.14)

विहारलोलद्विरदप्रकाण्डशुण्डामहाघातरयोत्थितेन । पुष्पोपहारं पृषतोत्करेण हर्षाद्ददातीव दिवाकरस्य ।

vihāraloladviradaprakāṇḍaśuṇḍāmahāghātarayotthitena puṣpopahāraṁ pṛṣatotkareṇa harṣāddadātīva divākarasya

as though, from the mighty blows of the trunks of elephants roaming there at play, she joyfully offered an oblation of flowers, in the form of a shower of water-drops, to the Sun-god,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.33.15)

सौगंधिकाम्भोरुहकैरवाणां सौरभ्यसंवासितदिङ्मुखानाम् । द्विरेफभाग्यैकनिकेतनानामाधारभूतान्प्रतिनिर्मलानि ।

saugaṁdhikāmbhoruhakairavāṇāṁ saurabhyasaṁvāsitadiṅmukhānām dvirephabhāgyaikaniketanānāmādhārabhūtānpratinirmalāni

her utterly clear waters, the very support of the bees whose fortune lies solely in the fragrant lotuses — the red lotus, the day-lotus, and the night-lotus — which perfume every quarter with their scent,

Verse 16 (skanda.2.33.16)

लीलावगाहोत्सुकनाकनारीसीमन्तसिन्दूररजोऽरुणानि । तत्केशपाशच्युतपारिजातप्रसूनगन्धैरधिवासितानि ।

līlāvagāhotsukanākanārīsīmantasindūrarajo'ruṇāni tatkeśapāśacyutapārijātaprasūnagandhairadhivāsitāni

her waters reddened with the vermilion-dust from the parted hair of the celestial women eager to bathe there in play, and perfumed with the fragrance of Parijata blossoms fallen from the tresses of their hair,

Verse 17 (skanda.2.33.17)

सा बिभ्रती संभृतमंगलानि स्वादून्यपंकान्यतिनिर्मलानि । सुधोपमानानि सुरेन्द्रसूनोः पयांसि पापप्रतिघातुकानि ।

sā bibhratī saṁbhṛtamaṁgalāni svādūnyapaṁkānyatinirmalāni sudhopamānāni surendrasūnoḥ payāṁsi pāpapratighātukāni

she, bearing waters filled with every auspiciousness, sweet, free of mire, utterly pure, comparable to nectar, the very destroyer of sin, the daughter of the Lord of gods (in her heavenly origin),

Verse 18 (skanda.2.33.18)

अगस्त्यशैलात्समवाप्तजन्मा नीता भुवं कुम्भसमुद्भवेन । प्रशस्ततीर्थौघविराजमाना समाययौ दक्षिणवारिराशिम् ।

agastyaśailātsamavāptajanmā nītā bhuvaṁ kumbhasamudbhavena praśastatīrthaughavirājamānā samāyayau dakṣiṇavārirāśim

having taken birth from the Agastya mountain, brought to the earth by the pot-born sage, resplendent with a host of glorious tirthas, came to the southern ocean.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.33.19)

शीकराक्षतविन्यासैः रत्नदीपार्पणैरपि । प्रत्युद्ययुस्तामम्भोधेर्वीचयोऽभिमुखागताः ।

śīkarākṣatavinyāsaiḥ ratnadīpārpaṇairapi pratyudyayustāmambhodhervīcayo'bhimukhāgatāḥ

With offerings of fine spray and unbroken rice, and with offerings of jewelled lamps, the waves of the ocean, coming forward to meet her, went out to receive her,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.33.20)

तरंगहस्तैरालिंग्य संभाव्यैनां समागताम् । चकार सरितां नाथः प्रियमाघोषभाषणैः ।

taraṁgahastairāliṁgya saṁbhāvyaināṁ samāgatām cakāra saritāṁ nāthaḥ priyamāghoṣabhāṣaṇaiḥ

and the Lord of rivers (the ocean), embracing her with his wave-like arms, honoured her as she arrived, and made her welcome with the roaring sound of his waters.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.33.21)

प्राप्तायामनुकूलायां तदा तस्यामपांनिधेः । प्रहृष्टेन तरंगेण जीवनं ववृधेतराम् ।

prāptāyāmanukūlāyāṁ tadā tasyāmapāṁnidheḥ prahṛṣṭena taraṁgeṇa jīvanaṁ vavṛdhetarām

When she, so favourable, had arrived, the life of that Lord of Waters swelled greatly with his own joyous, surging waves.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.33.22)

इत्थं संसृज्य सरितमगस्त्यस्तामुदन्वता । स्तुत्वा ययौ समामन्त्र्य कृतकृत्यो यदृच्छया ।

itthaṁ saṁsṛjya saritamagastyastāmudanvatā stutvā yayau samāmantrya kṛtakṛtyo yadṛcchayā

Having thus joined that river to the ocean, Agastya, having praised her, and having taken his leave, his purpose fulfilled, went on his way as he wished.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.33.23)

अर्जुन उवाच । त्वयैष कथितो ब्रह्मन्महानद्याः समुद्भवः । अस्याः प्रभावं भगवन्निदानीं श्रोतुमुत्सहे ।

arjuna uvāca tvayaiṣa kathito brahmanmahānadyāḥ samudbhavaḥ asyāḥ prabhāvaṁ bhagavannidānīṁ śrotumutsahe

Arjuna said: "You have told me, O Brahmin, of the origin of this great river; now, O blessed one, I am eager to hear of her power."

Verse 24 (skanda.2.33.24)

भरद्वाज उवाच । अहो निवर्हणं सर्वश्रेयसामेककारणम् । शृणु माहात्म्यमस्यास्ते कथयिष्यामि पाण्डव ।

bharadvāja uvāca aho nivarhaṇaṁ sarvaśreyasāmekakāraṇam śṛṇu māhātmyamasyāste kathayiṣyāmi pāṇḍava

Bharadvaja said: "Ah, the sole cause of the removal of every misfortune and of every blessing — hear her glory, O Pandava, I shall tell it to you.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.33.25)

पाश्चात्त्यं जन्म संप्राप्य ज्ञानिनां कर्मणः क्षये । सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानं सिद्ध्येद्ब्रह्मत्वकारणम् ।

pāścāttyaṁ janma saṁprāpya jñānināṁ karmaṇaḥ kṣaye suvarṇamukharīsnānaṁ siddhyedbrahmatvakāraṇam

For those of wisdom, at the destruction of their karma, having attained their final birth, bathing in Suvarnamukhari brings about the cause of Brahman-hood itself.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.33.26)

एतां सुवर्णमुखरीं योजनानां शतैरपि । स्मृत्वा मनुष्यः पापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।

etāṁ suvarṇamukharīṁ yojanānāṁ śatairapi smṛtvā manuṣyaḥ pāpebhyo mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Remembering this Suvarnamukhari even from hundreds of yojanas away, a man is freed from his sins — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.33.27)

निःक्षिप्तमस्थि जन्तूनां सुवर्णमुखरीजले । सोपानतां समायाति ब्रह्मलोकाधिरोहणे ।

niḥkṣiptamasthi jantūnāṁ suvarṇamukharījale sopānatāṁ samāyāti brahmalokādhirohaṇe

A bone of any creature cast into the waters of Suvarnamukhari becomes a stairway for the ascent to the world of Brahma.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.33.28)

स्मरन्तः स्वर्णमुखरीं यत्र कुत्रापि मानवाः । तोयान्तरेषु स्नात्वापि लभन्ते फलमुत्तमम् ।

smarantaḥ svarṇamukharīṁ yatra kutrāpi mānavāḥ toyāntareṣu snātvāpi labhante phalamuttamam

Men who remember Suvarnamukhari, wherever they may be, even while bathing in other waters, obtain the highest fruit.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.33.29)

तावदेवाभिभूयन्ते नराः पातककोटिभिः । सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानं यावत्तल्लभ्यते शुभम् ।

tāvadevābhibhūyante narāḥ pātakakoṭibhiḥ suvarṇamukharīsnānaṁ yāvattallabhyate śubham

Men remain overwhelmed by their millions of sins only until the auspicious bath in Suvarnamukhari is obtained by them.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.33.30)

दिव्यान्तरिक्षभौमानि तीर्थानि निजसिद्धये । स्मरन्त्यहरहः प्रातः सुवर्णमुखरीं नदीम् ।

divyāntarikṣabhaumāni tīrthāni nijasiddhaye smarantyaharahaḥ prātaḥ suvarṇamukharīṁ nadīm

For their own accomplishment, men remember, every day at dawn, the river Suvarnamukhari, along with the celestial, atmospheric, and earthly tirthas —

Verse 31 (skanda.2.33.31)

अगस्त्याचलसंभूता दक्षिणोदधिगामिनी । पापानि स्वर्णमुखरी स्मरणादेव नाशयेत् ।

agastyācalasaṁbhūtā dakṣiṇodadhigāminī pāpāni svarṇamukharī smaraṇādeva nāśayet

Suvarnamukhari, born from the Agastya mountain, flowing to the southern ocean, destroys sins by the mere remembrance of her.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.33.32)

सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानलोलुपेनान्तरात्मना । वाञ्छंति मर्त्यतामेव देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः ।

suvarṇamukharīsnānalolupenāntarātmanā vāñchaṁti martyatāmeva devāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ

With their inmost souls eager for a bath in Suvarnamukhari, even the gods headed by Indra long for mortal birth itself.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.33.33)

सुवर्णमुखरीतोयपुष्टसस्यान्नभोजिनः । न लिप्यन्ते महापापैर्दुर्भोजनशतोद्भवैः ।

suvarṇamukharītoyapuṣṭasasyānnabhojinaḥ na lipyante mahāpāpairdurbhojanaśatodbhavaiḥ

Those who eat food grown from crops nourished by the water of Suvarnamukhari are not tainted by the great sins arising from hundreds of improper meals.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.33.34)

अपि निष्कमितं पीतं सुवर्णमुखरीजलम् । नाशयेदद्रितुल्यानि ह्याशु पापानि देहिनाम् ।

api niṣkamitaṁ pītaṁ suvarṇamukharījalam nāśayedadritulyāni hyāśu pāpāni dehinām

Even the water of Suvarnamukhari, taken outside her bed and drunk, swiftly destroys the sins of embodied beings, mountain-like though they be.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.33.35)

प्राप्याऽपि मानुषं जन्म सुवर्णमुखरीजले । ये वा स्नानं न कुर्वन्ति तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम् ।

prāpyā'pi mānuṣaṁ janma suvarṇamukharījale ye vā snānaṁ na kurvanti teṣāṁ janma nirarthakam

Even having attained a human birth, those who do not bathe in the water of Suvarnamukhari — their birth is in vain.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.33.36)

सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानं यदेकं विधिना कृतम् । जाह्नवीस्नानकोटीनां समं भवति पर्वसु ।

suvarṇamukharīsnānaṁ yadekaṁ vidhinā kṛtam jāhnavīsnānakoṭīnāṁ samaṁ bhavati parvasu

A single bath in Suvarnamukhari, duly performed, equals millions of baths in the Jahnavi (Ganga) on her sacred festival days.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.33.37)

गोविंद इव देवेषु नक्षत्रेष्विव चन्द्रमाः । नरेष्विव महीपालो भूरुहेष्विव कल्पकः ।

goviṁda iva deveṣu nakṣatreṣviva candramāḥ nareṣviva mahīpālo bhūruheṣviva kalpakaḥ

As Govinda is among the gods, as the moon is among the constellations, as a righteous king is among men, as the wish-fulfilling tree is among trees,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.33.38)

महाभूतेष्विव वियन्मायेवाखिलशक्तिषु । गायत्रीव च मन्त्रेषु वज्रं देवायुधेष्विव ।

mahābhūteṣviva viyanmāyevākhilaśaktiṣu gāyatrīva ca mantreṣu vajraṁ devāyudheṣviva

as space is among the great elements, as illusion is among all powers, as the Gayatri is among mantras, as the thunderbolt is among the weapons of the gods,

Verse 39 (skanda.2.33.39)

तत्त्वेष्विवात्मनस्तत्त्वं रुद्राध्यायो यजुष्ष्विव । अनन्त इव नागेषु हिमाचल इवाद्रिषु ।

tattveṣvivātmanastattvaṁ rudrādhyāyo yajuṣṣviva ananta iva nāgeṣu himācala ivādriṣu

as the truth of the Self is among all truths, as the Rudra hymn is among the Yajur verses, as Ananta is among serpents, as the Himalaya is among mountains,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.33.40)

पोत्रिक्षेत्रमिव क्षेत्रेष्विन्द्रियेष्विव मानसम् । नदीष्वपि च सर्वासु सुवर्णमुखरी वरा ।

potrikṣetramiva kṣetreṣvindriyeṣviva mānasam nadīṣvapi ca sarvāsu suvarṇamukharī varā

as the sacrificial altar-ground is among sacred fields, as the mind is among the senses — so is Suvarnamukhari the most excellent among all rivers as well.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.33.41)

नित्यं स्मरेन्नमस्कुर्यात्कीर्तयेन्मनसार्चयेत् । शुद्धिक्षेमशिवापेक्षी सुवर्णमुखरीं शुभाम् ।

nityaṁ smarennamaskuryātkīrtayenmanasārcayet śuddhikṣemaśivāpekṣī suvarṇamukharīṁ śubhām

One who desires purity, welfare, and auspiciousness should ever remember, bow to, chant of, and worship in the mind the auspicious Suvarnamukhari.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.33.42)

अगस्त्याचलसंभूतां दक्षिणोदधिगामिनीम् । समस्तपापहन्त्रीं त्वां सुवर्णमुखरीं श्रये ।

agastyācalasaṁbhūtāṁ dakṣiṇodadhigāminīm samastapāpahantrīṁ tvāṁ suvarṇamukharīṁ śraye

'Born of the Agastya mountain, flowing to the southern ocean, destroyer of every sin — I take refuge in you, O Suvarnamukhari.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.33.43)

महापातकविप्लुष्टं गात्रं मम तवोदकैः । क्षालयामि जगद्धात्रि श्रेयसा योजयस्व माम् ।

mahāpātakavipluṣṭaṁ gātraṁ mama tavodakaiḥ kṣālayāmi jagaddhātri śreyasā yojayasva mām

With your waters I wash my body, defiled by great sin, O sustainer of the world; join me to true well-being.'

Verse 44 (skanda.2.33.44)

इति सूक्तद्वयं सम्यगुच्चार्य नियतो नरः । सुवर्णमुखरीतोये स्नात्वा शुद्धः प्रमोदते ।

iti sūktadvayaṁ samyaguccārya niyato naraḥ suvarṇamukharītoye snātvā śuddhaḥ pramodate

Having duly recited these two hymns, a disciplined man, having bathed in the water of Suvarnamukhari, purified, rejoices.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.33.45)

ब्रह्मणा निर्मिता पूर्वमगस्त्येन समाहृता । स्वयं मन्दाकिनी मूर्ता सुवर्णमुखरी वरा ।

brahmaṇā nirmitā pūrvamagastyena samāhṛtā svayaṁ mandākinī mūrtā suvarṇamukharī varā

Fashioned first by Brahma, and brought here by Agastya, this excellent Suvarnamukhari is herself the embodied form of the Mandakini (Ganga).

Verse 46 (skanda.2.33.46)

एवंप्रभावा दिव्येयं कीर्तनीया शुभार्थिभिः । मनसा भक्तियुक्तेन स्नातव्या शुभकांक्षिभिः ।

evaṁprabhāvā divyeyaṁ kīrtanīyā śubhārthibhiḥ manasā bhaktiyuktena snātavyā śubhakāṁkṣibhiḥ

This divine river, of such power, should be praised by those who seek what is auspicious, and should be bathed in, with a devoted mind, by those desiring good fortune.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.33.47)

सोमसूर्योपरागेषु स्नानदानादिकं कृतम् । स्यादमेयफलं पार्थ सुवर्णमुखरीतटे ।

somasūryoparāgeṣu snānadānādikaṁ kṛtam syādameyaphalaṁ pārtha suvarṇamukharītaṭe

At lunar and solar eclipses, bathing, giving gifts, and the like performed on the bank of Suvarnamukhari, O Partha, yield immeasurable fruit.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.33.48)

संक्रान्तावयने पुण्ये व्यतीपातेऽथ वासरे । सुवर्णमुखरीस्नानं कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत् ।

saṁkrāntāvayane puṇye vyatīpāte'tha vāsare suvarṇamukharīsnānaṁ kulakoṭiṁ samuddharet

At the sacred solstice, at the equinox, and on the day of Vyatipata, bathing in Suvarnamukhari redeems a hundred million generations of one's family.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.33.49)

जन्मर्क्षे जन्मदिवसे सुवर्णमुखरीजले । स्नात्वा विधिवदाप्नोति क्षेमारोग्यसुखश्रियः ।

janmarkṣe janmadivase suvarṇamukharījale snātvā vidhivadāpnoti kṣemārogyasukhaśriyaḥ

Bathing duly in the water of Suvarnamukhari on one's birth-star and birthday, a man obtains welfare, health, happiness, and prosperity.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.33.50)

दुःस्वप्नविघ्नजं भूतग्रहदुःस्थानजं तथा । सुवर्णमुखरीतोये स्नात्वा तरति किल्बिषम् ।

duḥsvapnavighnajaṁ bhūtagrahaduḥsthānajaṁ tathā suvarṇamukharītoye snātvā tarati kilbiṣam

Bathing in the water of Suvarnamukhari, one crosses beyond the sin born of bad dreams and obstacles, and that born of possession by spirits and evil planetary influence and ill-placed dwellings.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.33.51)

सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे गोपादप्रमितां भुवम् । दत्त्वा सर्वमहीदानाद्यत्फलं तदवाप्नुयात् ।

suvarṇamukharītīre gopādapramitāṁ bhuvam dattvā sarvamahīdānādyatphalaṁ tadavāpnuyāt

Having given, on the bank of Suvarnamukhari, land measured by the span a cow can cover with a single step, one obtains the very fruit that comes from the gift of the entire earth.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.33.52)

धेनुं सवस्त्रालंकारां सुवर्णमुखरीतटे । दत्त्वा विप्राय विधिवद्याति ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।

dhenuṁ savastrālaṁkārāṁ suvarṇamukharītaṭe dattvā viprāya vidhivadyāti brahma sanātanam

Having duly given, on the bank of Suvarnamukhari, a cow adorned with cloth and ornaments to a Brahmin, one goes to the eternal Brahman.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.33.53)

पुण्यकालेषु दानानि विधेयान्यखिलान्यपि । इहामुत्र फलप्राप्त्यै सुवर्णमुखरीतटे ।

puṇyakāleṣu dānāni vidheyānyakhilānyapi ihāmutra phalaprāptyai suvarṇamukharītaṭe

All manner of gifts should be given on the auspicious occasions on the bank of Suvarnamukhari, for the attainment of fruit both here and in the next world.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.33.54)

जपो होमस्तपो दानं पितृकर्म सुरार्चनम् । कृतं भवेच्छतगुणं सुवर्णमुखरीतटे ।

japo homastapo dānaṁ pitṛkarma surārcanam kṛtaṁ bhavecchataguṇaṁ suvarṇamukharītaṭe

Japa, homa, austerity, giving, rites for the ancestors, and worship of the gods — performed on the bank of Suvarnamukhari, become a hundredfold in their fruit.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.33.55)

अन्यत्ते कथयिष्यामि विधेयं व्रतमुत्तमम् । सुवर्णमुखरीतीरे प्रतिवर्षं सुखार्थिभिः ।

anyatte kathayiṣyāmi vidheyaṁ vratamuttamam suvarṇamukharītīre prativarṣaṁ sukhārthibhiḥ

I shall tell you another excellent vow that is to be performed every year, on the bank of Suvarnamukhari, by those seeking happiness.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.33.56)

मेघकाले रविकरैस्तिरोधानमुपागतः । यदोदेति मुनिः श्रीमान्मित्रावरुणनन्दनः ।

meghakāle ravikaraistirodhānamupāgataḥ yadodeti muniḥ śrīmānmitrāvaruṇanandanaḥ

In the rainy season, when he has been hidden by the sun's rays, when the glorious sage, son of Mitra and Varuna (the star Canopus/Agastya), then rises again —

Verse 57 (skanda.2.33.57)

तस्मिन्दिने ये नियताः स्नानमस्यां प्रकुर्वते । तैः कल्पं च सुरावासे स्थीयते कुरुनन्दन ।

tasmindine ye niyatāḥ snānamasyāṁ prakurvate taiḥ kalpaṁ ca surāvāse sthīyate kurunandana

on that day, those who, with disciplined mind, bathe in this river, dwell, O joy of the Kurus, for a whole kalpa in the abode of the gods.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.33.58)

तदागस्त्यस्य यद्रूपं सुवर्णेन विनिर्मितम् । विधिना ददते पार्थ ते यांति ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् ।

tadāgastyasya yadrūpaṁ suvarṇena vinirmitam vidhinā dadate pārtha te yāṁti brahma śāśvatam

Those, O Partha, who then duly give away, according to rule, an image of Agastya fashioned of gold, go to the eternal Brahman.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.33.59)

अर्जुन उवाच । विधिना केन कर्तव्यं व्रतमेतन्महामुने । तन्ममाचक्ष्व सकलं जिज्ञासोस्तु महात्मनः ।

arjuna uvāca vidhinā kena kartavyaṁ vratametanmahāmune tanmamācakṣva sakalaṁ jijñāsostu mahātmanaḥ

Arjuna said: "By what procedure should this vow be performed, O great sage? Tell me all of it fully, for I, great-souled one, am eager to know."

Verse 60 (skanda.2.33.60)

भरद्वाज उवाच । अगस्त्यस्योदयदिनं ज्ञात्वा नियतमानसः । स्वशक्त्या कारयेद्रूपं तस्य हेम्ना महामुनेः ।

bharadvāja uvāca agastyasyodayadinaṁ jñātvā niyatamānasaḥ svaśaktyā kārayedrūpaṁ tasya hemnā mahāmuneḥ

Bharadvaja said: "Knowing the day of Agastya's heliacal rising, with disciplined mind, one should, according to one's means, have made an image of that great sage in gold,

Verse 61 (skanda.2.33.61)

सुवर्णभास्वरच्छायं जटाबन्धमनोहरम् । दधानं करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालां कमण्डलुम् ।

suvarṇabhāsvaracchāyaṁ jaṭābandhamanoharam dadhānaṁ karapadmābhyāmakṣamālāṁ kamaṇḍalum

golden and radiant in hue, lovely with its bound matted locks, holding in its lotus hands a rosary and a water-pot,

Verse 62 (skanda.2.33.62)

वसानं मृदुलं वल्कं मृगचर्मोत्तरीयकम् । सौम्यं भस्मांकरुचिरं रुद्राक्षकृतभूषणम् ।

vasānaṁ mṛdulaṁ valkaṁ mṛgacarmottarīyakam saumyaṁ bhasmāṁkaruciraṁ rudrākṣakṛtabhūṣaṇam

wearing soft bark-cloth and a deerskin as upper garment, gentle in appearance, lovely with the marks of ash, adorned with ornaments of rudraksha beads.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.33.63)

एवं विधाय तद्रूपं स्नात्वा नियतमानसः । आचार्यं गन्धपुष्पाद्यैरलङ्कृत्य यथाविधि ।

evaṁ vidhāya tadrūpaṁ snātvā niyatamānasaḥ ācāryaṁ gandhapuṣpādyairalaṅkṛtya yathāvidhi

Having thus prepared that image, and having bathed, with disciplined mind, and having duly adorned one's preceptor with sandal-paste, flowers, and the like,

Verse 64 (skanda.2.33.64)

शालेयतण्डुलानां तामाढकस्योपरि स्थिताम् । वस्त्रद्वयसमायुक्तां प्रतिमां प्रतिपूजयेत् ।

śāleyataṇḍulānāṁ tāmāḍhakasyopari sthitām vastradvayasamāyuktāṁ pratimāṁ pratipūjayet

one should worship that image, set upon a heap of an adhaka-measure of rice grains, and furnished with a pair of garments, reciting:

Verse 65 (skanda.2.33.65)

विन्ध्यसंस्तम्भनो वार्धिचुलकीकृतिपेशलः । ब्रह्मादिसर्वदेवानां तेजसा सुप्रकाशितः ।

vindhyasaṁstambhano vārdhiculakīkṛtipeśalaḥ brahmādisarvadevānāṁ tejasā suprakāśitaḥ

'He who halted the Vindhya, who was skilled in drinking up the ocean in his cupped palm, who is well illumined by the splendour of Brahma and all the gods,

Verse 66 (skanda.2.33.66)

अगस्त्यः कुम्भसंभूतो देवासुरनमस्कृतः । प्रीतिमाप्नोतु महतीं दानेनानेन मे प्रभुः ।

agastyaḥ kumbhasaṁbhūto devāsuranamaskṛtaḥ prītimāpnotu mahatīṁ dānenānena me prabhuḥ

Agastya, the pot-born, bowed to by gods and demons — may that lord of mine attain great pleasure through this gift of mine.'

Verse 67 (skanda.2.33.67)

इमं मन्त्रं समुच्चार्य धारापूर्वं सदक्षिणम् । दत्त्वा विमुक्तः पापेभ्यो याति ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।

imaṁ mantraṁ samuccārya dhārāpūrvaṁ sadakṣiṇam dattvā vimuktaḥ pāpebhyo yāti brahma sanātanam

Having recited this mantra, and having made the gift with a pouring of water together with the sacrificial fee, one is freed from sins and goes to the eternal Brahman.

Verse 68 (skanda.2.33.68)

जन्मान्तरकृतैर्नूनमिह जन्मकृतैरपि । महापापोपपापौघैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।

janmāntarakṛtairnūnamiha janmakṛtairapi mahāpāpopapāpaughairmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

One is surely freed, without doubt, from the floods of great sins and lesser sins committed both in other births and in this very birth.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.33.69)

ब्रह्माद्याः सकला देवाः सनकाद्या महर्षयः । चराचराणि भूतानि प्रीतिं यांति न संशयः ।

brahmādyāḥ sakalā devāḥ sanakādyā maharṣayaḥ carācarāṇi bhūtāni prītiṁ yāṁti na saṁśayaḥ

All the gods headed by Brahma, the great sages headed by Sanaka, and all moving and unmoving beings, become pleased — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.33.70)

कृत्वा व्रतमिदं पुण्यमगस्त्यस्य च सन्मुनेः । प्रीत्यर्थं भोजयेद्विप्रान्यथाशक्ति सदक्षिणम् ।

kṛtvā vratamidaṁ puṇyamagastyasya ca sanmuneḥ prītyarthaṁ bhojayedviprānyathāśakti sadakṣiṇam

Having performed this meritorious vow, for the pleasure of the virtuous sage Agastya, one should feed Brahmins according to one's means, together with sacrificial fees.

Verse 71 (skanda.2.33.71)

तस्मिन्कर्मणि चाशक्तो यथाशक्ति महीसुरान् । स्वर्णधान्यादिदानेन तोषयेद्भक्तिसंयुतः ।

tasminkarmaṇi cāśakto yathāśakti mahīsurān svarṇadhānyādidānena toṣayedbhaktisaṁyutaḥ

And one unable to perform that rite should, filled with devotion, please the Brahmins according to his means with gifts of gold, grain, and the like.

Verse 72 (skanda.2.33.72)

तिथिं न वितथीकुर्यात्तां यत्नेन समाचरेत् । यत्किञ्चिदपि चावश्यं कर्म कुर्याच्च पूरुषः ।

tithiṁ na vitathīkuryāttāṁ yatnena samācaret yatkiñcidapi cāvaśyaṁ karma kuryācca pūruṣaḥ

One should not let that sacred day pass in vain, but should observe it with effort; a man should certainly perform whatever rite he can, however small.

Verse 73 (skanda.2.33.73)

महामुनेरगस्त्यस्य परिपक्वं तपःफलम् । नदी सुवर्णमुखरी कीर्तनीया सुरासुरैः ।

mahāmuneragastyasya paripakvaṁ tapaḥphalam nadī suvarṇamukharī kīrtanīyā surāsuraiḥ

The river Suvarnamukhari, the ripened fruit of the great sage Agastya's austerity, is to be praised by gods and demons alike.

Verse 74 (skanda.2.33.74)

एवं ते कथितः सम्यङ्महानद्याः समुद्भवः । प्रभावश्च तदाचक्ष्व यद्भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ।

evaṁ te kathitaḥ samyaṅmahānadyāḥ samudbhavaḥ prabhāvaśca tadācakṣva yadbhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Thus have I duly told you the origin and the power of this great river; now tell me what more you wish to hear."