The Glory of Agastya-tirtha and Other Tirthas

Verse 1 (skanda.2.34.1)

अर्जुन उवाच । श्रोत्राञ्जलिभ्यां पीत्वापि भवद्वाक्यामृतं मुहुः । मनो नोपैति मे तृप्तिं भूयः श्रवणकाङ्क्षया ।

arjuna uvāca śrotrāñjalibhyāṁ pītvāpi bhavadvākyāmṛtaṁ muhuḥ mano nopaiti me tṛptiṁ bhūyaḥ śravaṇakāṅkṣayā

Arjuna said: "Even though I have drunk again and again, with the joined cupped hands of my ears, the nectar of your speech, my mind does not attain satisfaction, but longs to hear yet more.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.34.2)

क्रियासमभिहारो मे त्वद्वाक्याकर्णनैषिणः । मनः खेदाय मा भूत्ते करुणाभरितात्मनः ।

kriyāsamabhihāro me tvadvākyākarṇanaiṣiṇaḥ manaḥ khedāya mā bhūtte karuṇābharitātmanaḥ

Let there be a repeated performance of this act for me, who seeks to hear your words; let it not become a source of weariness for your mind, filled as it is with compassion.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.34.3)

इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि नद्यामस्यां महामुने । कुत्र कुत्र समर्थानि तीर्थान्यघनिबर्हणे ।

idānīṁ śrotumicchāmi nadyāmasyāṁ mahāmune kutra kutra samarthāni tīrthānyaghanibarhaṇe

Now, O great sage, I wish to hear — in this river, where and where are the tirthas capable of destroying sin?

Verse 4 (skanda.2.34.4)

काः काः पुण्यतरंगिण्यः सङ्गता अनया मुने । कुत्र स्नानेन कृत्ताघा नोपयांति यमाद्भयम् ।

kāḥ kāḥ puṇyataraṁgiṇyaḥ saṅgatā anayā mune kutra snānena kṛttāghā nopayāṁti yamādbhayam

What sacred streams, O sage, have joined with her? Where, having had their sins cut away by bathing, do people no longer approach the fear of Yama?

Verse 5 (skanda.2.34.5)

हराच्युतादिदेवानां पुण्यान्यायतनानि च । यानियानि च पुण्यानि तिष्ठन्त्यस्यास्तटद्वये ।

harācyutādidevānāṁ puṇyānyāyatanāni ca yāniyāni ca puṇyāni tiṣṭhantyasyāstaṭadvaye

And the sacred abodes of the gods, of Hara, Achyuta, and the rest, and whatever other merits reside on her two banks —

Verse 6 (skanda.2.34.6)

तेषु क्षेत्रेषु मनुजैर्यत्फलं समवाप्यते । विहितैर्विधिवत्स्नानदानादिशुभकर्मभिः ।

teṣu kṣetreṣu manujairyatphalaṁ samavāpyate vihitairvidhivatsnānadānādiśubhakarmabhiḥ

what fruit is obtained by men in those sacred fields, through duly performed auspicious acts such as bathing, giving, and the like?

Verse 7 (skanda.2.34.7)

सोपाख्यानमिदं सर्वं वेदितं वेदवित्तम । संजाता महती प्रीतिर्विस्तार्याचक्ष्व मे क्रमात् ।

sopākhyānamidaṁ sarvaṁ veditaṁ vedavittama saṁjātā mahatī prītirvistāryācakṣva me kramāt

All this, together with its accompanying legends, O most learned in the Vedas, tell me in full and in due order — a great delight has arisen in me."

Verse 8 (skanda.2.34.8)

भरद्वाज उवाच । यत्पृष्टं भवता पार्थ क्रमाद्विस्तार्य कथ्यते । आरभ्यागस्त्यतीर्थेन्द्रादस्यास्तीर्थौघवैभवम् ।

bharadvāja uvāca yatpṛṣṭaṁ bhavatā pārtha kramādvistārya kathyate ārabhyāgastyatīrthendrādasyāstīrthaughavaibhavam

Bharadvaja said: "What you have asked, O Partha, shall be told in full and in due order — beginning from this foremost of tirthas, Agastya-tirtha, the glory of the host of tirthas upon this river.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.34.9)

अखण्डज्ञानरूपेण सर्वलोकहितैषिणा । सुरासुराणां संभाव्येनागस्त्येन महात्मना ।

akhaṇḍajñānarūpeṇa sarvalokahitaiṣiṇā surāsurāṇāṁ saṁbhāvyenāgastyena mahātmanā

By the great-souled Agastya — of the very form of unbroken knowledge, seeking the welfare of all worlds, honoured by gods and demons alike —

Verse 10 (skanda.2.34.10)

वसुधामवतीर्णायां प्रथमं तद्धराधरात् । स्नात्वा यत्र महानद्यां संप्राप्नोति कृतार्थताम् ।

vasudhāmavatīrṇāyāṁ prathamaṁ taddharādharāt snātvā yatra mahānadyāṁ saṁprāpnoti kṛtārthatām

when the great river first descended to the earth from that mountain, there is a place where, bathing in the great river, one attains fulfilment;

Verse 11 (skanda.2.34.11)

अगस्त्यतीर्थमित्युक्तं पावनं तज्जगत्त्रये । तत्र स्नानेन शुद्धिः स्यान्महापातकिनामपि ।

agastyatīrthamityuktaṁ pāvanaṁ tajjagattraye tatra snānena śuddhiḥ syānmahāpātakināmapi

that is called Agastya-tirtha, purifying in the three worlds; bathing there brings purity even to the greatest of sinners.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.34.12)

अनेकजन्माचरितमहापातकसंहतिम् । निरस्य दिवि मोदन्ते तत्र स्नानरता जनाः ।

anekajanmācaritamahāpātakasaṁhatim nirasya divi modante tatra snānaratā janāḥ

Casting away the accumulated mass of great sins committed through many births, the people devoted to bathing there rejoice in heaven.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.34.13)

ये तत्र तीर्थे यतिनः कृतस्नाना यतेन्द्रियाः । गोभूतिलहिरण्यादिमहादानानि कुर्वते ।

ye tatra tīrthe yatinaḥ kṛtasnānā yatendriyāḥ gobhūtilahiraṇyādimahādānāni kurvate

Those ascetics of controlled senses who, having bathed at that tirtha, perform great gifts of cows, land, sesame, gold, and the like,

Verse 14 (skanda.2.34.14)

ते प्राप्नुवन्ति संपूर्णं गंगाद्वारे समाहितैः । विहितानां शतगुणं दानानां फलमर्जुन ।

te prāpnuvanti saṁpūrṇaṁ gaṁgādvāre samāhitaiḥ vihitānāṁ śataguṇaṁ dānānāṁ phalamarjuna

obtain the complete fruit — a hundredfold, O Arjuna, of the fruit of gifts duly given with concentrated mind at Gangadwar.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.34.15)

अत्रास्ति भगवानीशः ख्यातोऽगस्त्येशसंज्ञया । स्थापितोऽगस्त्यमुनिना लोकानन्दविधायिना ।

atrāsti bhagavānīśaḥ khyāto'gastyeśasaṁjñayā sthāpito'gastyamuninā lokānandavidhāyinā

Here stands the Lord God, renowned by the name Agastyesha, established by the sage Agastya, the bringer of joy to all the worlds.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.34.16)

स्नात्वा तस्यां महानद्यां तल्लिंगं पूजयन्ति ये । दशानामश्वमेधानां फलं संप्राप्नुवंति ते ।

snātvā tasyāṁ mahānadyāṁ talliṁgaṁ pūjayanti ye daśānāmaśvamedhānāṁ phalaṁ saṁprāpnuvaṁti te

Those who, having bathed in that great river, worship that linga, obtain the fruit of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.34.17)

धनूराशिं परित्यज्य यदा मकरमंशुमान् । विशेत्तदयनं पुण्यमुत्तरं परिकीर्तितम् ।

dhanūrāśiṁ parityajya yadā makaramaṁśumān viśettadayanaṁ puṇyamuttaraṁ parikīrtitam

When the sun, leaving the sign of Sagittarius, enters Capricorn, that is proclaimed as the sacred northern solstice.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.34.18)

तस्मिन्दिने ये नियता नद्यां स्नात्वा समाहिताः । पश्यन्ति पार्वतीनाथमगस्त्येशं सुरार्चितम् ।

tasmindine ye niyatā nadyāṁ snātvā samāhitāḥ paśyanti pārvatīnāthamagastyeśaṁ surārcitam

On that day, those disciplined ones who, with concentrated mind, bathe in the river and behold Agastyesha, the Lord of Parvati, worshipped by the gods,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.34.19)

अग्निष्टोमसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च । फलं संप्राप्य मोदन्ते दिवि देवगणार्चिताः ।

agniṣṭomasahasrasya vājapeyaśatasya ca phalaṁ saṁprāpya modante divi devagaṇārcitāḥ

obtain the fruit of a thousand Agnishtoma sacrifices and a hundred Vajapeya sacrifices, and rejoice in heaven, worshipped by the hosts of gods.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.34.20)

मृगसंक्रमवेलायां पुरुषैर्मंगलार्थिभिः । अवश्यमेव कर्तव्यमगस्त्येशस्य दर्शनम् ।

mṛgasaṁkramavelāyāṁ puruṣairmaṁgalārthibhiḥ avaśyameva kartavyamagastyeśasya darśanam

At the time of the sun's entry into Capricorn, men seeking auspiciousness must without fail have the darshan of Agastyesha.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.34.21)

ऐशान्यां तस्य तीर्थस्य देशे क्रोशमितेऽर्जुन । अस्ति तीर्थत्रयं ख्यातं देवर्षिपितृनामभिः ।

aiśānyāṁ tasya tīrthasya deśe krośamite'rjuna asti tīrthatrayaṁ khyātaṁ devarṣipitṛnāmabhiḥ

To the northeast of that tirtha, O Arjuna, at a distance of one krosha, there is a renowned triad of tirthas bearing the names Deva, Rishi, and Pitri.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.34.22)

देवर्षिपितरस्तत्र मुनिना तेन पूजिताः । प्रददुर्हृष्टमनसः सर्वान्समभिवाञ्छितान् ।

devarṣipitarastatra muninā tena pūjitāḥ pradadurhṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarvānsamabhivāñchitān

The gods, sages, and ancestors, worshipped there by that sage, delighted in mind, granted him all that he desired.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.34.23)

तदा देवर्षिपितृभिरिदं तीर्थत्रयं क्रमात् । अस्मन्नामभिरीड्यं स्यादित्युक्तं तस्य सन्निधौ ।

tadā devarṣipitṛbhiridaṁ tīrthatrayaṁ kramāt asmannāmabhirīḍyaṁ syādityuktaṁ tasya sannidhau

Then it was declared in his presence by the gods, sages, and ancestors that this triad of tirthas should, in due order, be venerated under their own names.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.34.24)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थत्रये ये तु स्नात्वा विहिततर्पणाः । ऋणत्रयविनिर्मुक्तास्ते यान्ति दिवमक्षयाम् ।

tasmiṁstīrthatraye ye tu snātvā vihitatarpaṇāḥ ṛṇatrayavinirmuktāste yānti divamakṣayām

Those who bathe in that triad of tirthas and perform the prescribed tarpana offerings are freed from the three debts and go to the imperishable heaven.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.34.25)

ततः प्रागुत्तरक्षोण्यां योजनद्वयसीमनि । प्राप्ता सुवर्णमुखरी वेणानाम महानदी ।

tataḥ prāguttarakṣoṇyāṁ yojanadvayasīmani prāptā suvarṇamukharī veṇānāma mahānadī

Then, at a distance of two yojanas in the northeastern region, the Suvarnamukhari met the great river named Vena,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.34.26)

समुदग्ररयाघातनिपातिततटद्रुमा । कुल्यानिर्गतवाःपूरसमाप्लावितकानना ।

samudagrarayāghātanipātitataṭadrumā kulyānirgatavāḥpūrasamāplāvitakānanā

whose bank-side trees were felled by the force of her surging blows, whose forests were flooded by the streams issuing from her channels,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.34.27)

उत्तुङ्गपुलिनोत्संगखेलत्कोककुलाकुला । अम्बुजामोदलोलालिमालालीलारवान्विता ।

uttuṅgapulinotsaṁgakhelatkokakulākulā ambujāmodalolālimālālīlāravānvitā

thronged with flocks of ruddy geese sporting on her lofty sandbanks, accompanied by the playful hum of bee-swarms restless with the fragrance of her lotuses,

Verse 28 (skanda.2.34.28)

अतिक्रम्य समुत्तुंगाननेकान्धरणीधरान् । प्रभूततोयरुचिरा सुवर्णमुखरीं गता ।

atikramya samuttuṁgānanekāndharaṇīdharān prabhūtatoyarucirā suvarṇamukharīṁ gatā

passing beyond many towering mountains, lovely with her abundant waters, that river Vena joined the Suvarnamukhari.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.34.29)

नदीद्वयव्यतिकरे कृतस्नाना यथाविधि । दशानामश्वमेधानामखण्डं प्राप्नुयुः फलम् ।

nadīdvayavyatikare kṛtasnānā yathāvidhi daśānāmaśvamedhānāmakhaṇḍaṁ prāpnuyuḥ phalam

Those who bathe duly at the meeting-place of the two rivers obtain the unbroken fruit of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.34.30)

संगता वेणया पुण्या सुवर्णमुखरी नदी । गिरिदुर्गममार्गेण ययावुत्तरवाहिनी ।

saṁgatā veṇayā puṇyā suvarṇamukharī nadī giridurgamamārgeṇa yayāvuttaravāhinī

The sacred Suvarnamukhari, joined by the Vena, went on flowing northward by a mountainous, difficult path,

Verse 31 (skanda.2.34.31)

मध्यगेन महीध्राणां मार्गेण विषमेण सा । गत्वा विरेजे तटिनी योजनानां चतुष्टयम् ।

madhyagena mahīdhrāṇāṁ mārgeṇa viṣameṇa sā gatvā vireje taṭinī yojanānāṁ catuṣṭayam

and, going by an uneven path through the midst of the mountains, that river shone forth for a stretch of four yojanas.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.34.32)

पूर्वतस्तस्य देशस्य विषये सार्धयोजने । उदक्कूले महानद्याः प्राग्वाहिन्या मनोहरे ।

pūrvatastasya deśasya viṣaye sārdhayojane udakkūle mahānadyāḥ prāgvāhinyā manohare

To the east of that region, within a distance of one and a half yojanas, on the northern bank of the great river flowing eastward, in a lovely place,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.34.33)

अगस्त्येश्वर नामास्ते ख्यातं लिंगं पुरद्विषः । स्मरणं देवमर्त्यानां समस्ताघनिवारणम् ।

agastyeśvara nāmāste khyātaṁ liṁgaṁ puradviṣaḥ smaraṇaṁ devamartyānāṁ samastāghanivāraṇam

stands the renowned linga named Agastyeshvara, of the Enemy of the triple city; the mere remembrance of it, for gods and mortals, wards off every sin.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.34.34)

तत्र स्नात्वा महानद्यां ये नरा नियतेन्द्रियाः । पश्यन्ति पार्वतीनाथमगस्त्येन प्रतिष्ठितम् ।

tatra snātvā mahānadyāṁ ye narā niyatendriyāḥ paśyanti pārvatīnāthamagastyena pratiṣṭhitam

Those men of disciplined senses who bathe there in the great river and behold the Lord of Parvati, established there by Agastya,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.34.35)

अनेकैः पूर्वजननैरर्जितं पापसञ्चयम् । ते निरस्य सुरावासे मोदन्ते कालमक्षयम् ।

anekaiḥ pūrvajananairarjitaṁ pāpasañcayam te nirasya surāvāse modante kālamakṣayam

casting away the accumulation of sin acquired through many former births, rejoice for an endless span of time in the abode of the gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.34.36)

ततः सोदङ्मुखी भूत्वा सुवर्णमुखरी ययौ । योजनार्धमिदं देशं तीर्थसंघसमन्विता ।

tataḥ sodaṅmukhī bhūtvā suvarṇamukharī yayau yojanārdhamidaṁ deśaṁ tīrthasaṁghasamanvitā

Then, turning northward, the Suvarnamukhari flowed on for half a yojana through that region, accompanied by a host of tirthas.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.34.37)

तस्मिन्देशे तु हिन्तालतालसालमनोरमे । गता सुवर्णमुखरी नदी व्याघ्रपदाह्वया ।

tasmindeśe tu hintālatālasālamanorame gatā suvarṇamukharī nadī vyāghrapadāhvayā

In that region, lovely with hintala, tala, and sala trees, the river Suvarnamukhari met the river named Vyaghrapada,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.34.38)

दुर्वारभूरिदुरितविनिवारणपेशला । नीरंधतीरवानीरवनमण्डलमंडिता ।

durvārabhūriduritavinivāraṇapeśalā nīraṁdhatīravānīravanamaṇḍalamaṁḍitā

skilled in warding off the vast and irresistible mass of sin, adorned with an unbroken circle of forest along her banks,

Verse 39 (skanda.2.34.39)

सिद्धगंधर्वललना लीलागाहनशालिनी । तपस्विकन्यानिःक्षिप्त बलिपुष्पविराजिता ।

siddhagaṁdharvalalanā līlāgāhanaśālinī tapasvikanyāniḥkṣipta balipuṣpavirājitā

delighted in by the playful bathing of Siddha and Gandharva women, resplendent with the offerings of flowers cast in by ascetics' daughters,

Verse 40 (skanda.2.34.40)

हंसकारण्डवक्रौञ्चकुलकोलाहलाकुला । प्राक्प्रवाहा समागत्य शैलान्तरगताध्वना ।

haṁsakāraṇḍavakrauñcakulakolāhalākulā prākpravāhā samāgatya śailāntaragatādhvanā

thronged with the clamour of flocks of swans, karandava ducks, and curlews — that Vyaghrapada, her stream flowing from the east, having come by a path running between mountains —

Verse 41 (skanda.2.34.41)

संगमे सरितोस्तत्र कृतस्नाना नरोत्तमाः । समग्रमश्वमेधानां दशानाप्राप्नुयुः फलम् ।

saṁgame saritostatra kṛtasnānā narottamāḥ samagramaśvamedhānāṁ daśānāprāpnuyuḥ phalam

at the confluence of these two rivers, the best of men, having bathed, obtain the complete fruit of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.34.42)

तत्र व्याघ्रपदाख्यायास्तटे लोकमलापहे । अनघं सर्वपापघ्नं शंखतीर्थं विराजते ।

tatra vyāghrapadākhyāyāstaṭe lokamalāpahe anaghaṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ śaṁkhatīrthaṁ virājate

There, on the bank of the river named Vyaghrapada, which removes the world's impurity, shines the sinless, all-sin-destroying Shankha-tirtha,

Verse 43 (skanda.2.34.43)

ब्रह्मर्षिनियतावासं सुरगन्धर्वसेवितम् । दर्शनस्नानपानाद्यैरमितानन्ददायकम् ।

brahmarṣiniyatāvāsaṁ suragandharvasevitam darśanasnānapānādyairamitānandadāyakam

the fixed abode of Brahmarshis, served by gods and Gandharvas, bestowing immeasurable bliss through darshan, bathing, drinking, and the like.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.34.44)

तत्रास्ते भगवानीशः शंखेशोनाम फाल्गुन । शंखनाम्ना मुनींद्रेण लिंगरूपं प्रतिष्ठितम् ।

tatrāste bhagavānīśaḥ śaṁkheśonāma phālguna śaṁkhanāmnā munīṁdreṇa liṁgarūpaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

There resides the Lord God, O Phalguna, named Shankhesha, established in the form of a linga by the great sage Shankha.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.34.45)

ये तत्र तीर्थे सुस्नाताः पश्यन्ति वृषवाहनम् । दशाश्वमेधजं पुण्यं लब्ध्वा यांति सुरालयम् ।

ye tatra tīrthe susnātāḥ paśyanti vṛṣavāhanam daśāśvamedhajaṁ puṇyaṁ labdhvā yāṁti surālayam

Those who, well bathed at that tirtha, behold the Bull-mounted One, obtain the merit born of ten Ashvamedha sacrifices and go to the abode of the gods.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.34.46)

युक्ता तया व्याघ्रपदाभिधानया गत्वा ततो योजनसंमितां भुवम् । ययौ मुनीन्द्रैर्वृषभाचलांतिकं संसेव्यमाना शुभनिर्मलोदका ।

yuktā tayā vyāghrapadābhidhānayā gatvā tato yojanasaṁmitāṁ bhuvam yayau munīndrairvṛṣabhācalāṁtikaṁ saṁsevyamānā śubhanirmalodakā

Joined by that river called Vyaghrapada, having gone on for a distance of a yojana, that river, of pure and auspicious water, served by the foremost of sages, went on to the vicinity of Vrishabhachala.