The Supremacy of Badarikashrama Over All Sacred Fords

Verse 1 (skanda.2.90.1)

शौनक उवाच । सूतसूत महाभाग सर्वधर्मविदां वर । सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञ पुराणे परिनिष्ठित ।

śaunaka uvāca sūtasūta mahābhāga sarvadharmavidāṁ vara sarvaśāstrārthatattvajña purāṇe pariniṣṭhita

Shaunaka said: O Suta, best among Sutas, most fortunate one, foremost among the knowers of all dharma, versed in the true meaning of every scripture, firmly grounded in the Puranas —

Verse 2 (skanda.2.90.2)

व्यासः सत्यवतीपुत्रो भगवान्विष्णुरव्ययः । तस्य यत्प्रियशिष्यस्त्वं त्वत्तो वेत्ता न कश्चन ।

vyāsaḥ satyavatīputro bhagavānviṣṇuravyayaḥ tasya yatpriyaśiṣyastvaṁ tvatto vettā na kaścana

Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, is none other than the imperishable Lord Vishnu himself — and you are his beloved disciple; no one knows more than you.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.90.3)

प्राप्ते कलियुगे घोरे सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृते । जना वै दुष्टकर्माणः सर्वधर्मविवर्जिताः ।

prāpte kaliyuge ghore sarvadharmabahiṣkṛte janā vai duṣṭakarmāṇaḥ sarvadharmavivarjitāḥ

Now that the terrible Kali Yuga has come, in which every dharma is cast aside, people have become wicked in their deeds and utterly bereft of all dharma.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.90.4)

क्षुद्रायुषः क्षुद्रप्राणबलवीर्यतपःक्रियाः । अधर्मनिरताः सर्वे वेदशास्त्रविवर्जिताः ।

kṣudrāyuṣaḥ kṣudraprāṇabalavīryatapaḥkriyāḥ adharmaniratāḥ sarve vedaśāstravivarjitāḥ

Their lifespans are short, their vital strength, vigor, and capacity for austerity all diminished; all are devoted to unrighteousness and cut off from the Vedas and scriptures.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.90.5)

तीर्थाटनतपोदानहरिभक्तिविवर्जिताः । कथमेषामल्पकानामुद्धारोऽल्पप्रयत्नतः ।

tīrthāṭanatapodānaharibhaktivivarjitāḥ kathameṣāmalpakānāmuddhāro'lpaprayatnataḥ

Bereft of pilgrimage, austerity, charity, and devotion to Hari — how can these feeble people be redeemed through only a little effort?

Verse 6 (skanda.2.90.6)

तीर्थानामुत्तमं तीर्थं क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं तथा । मुमुक्षूणां कुतः सिद्धिः कुत्र वा ऋषिसंचयः ।

tīrthānāmuttamaṁ tīrthaṁ kṣetrāṇāmuttamaṁ tathā mumukṣūṇāṁ kutaḥ siddhiḥ kutra vā ṛṣisaṁcayaḥ

Which is the foremost of all sacred fords, and which the foremost of all sacred fields? Where is liberation attained by seekers of freedom, and where do the sages gather?

Verse 7 (skanda.2.90.7)

कुत्र वाल्पप्रयत्नेन तपो मन्त्राश्च सिद्धिदाः । कुत्र वा वसति श्रीमाञ्जगतामीश्वरेश्वरः । भक्तानामनुरक्तानामनुग्रहकृपालयः ।

kutra vālpaprayatnena tapo mantrāśca siddhidāḥ kutra vā vasati śrīmāñjagatāmīśvareśvaraḥ bhaktānāmanuraktānāmanugrahakṛpālayaḥ

Where do austerities and mantras bestow success even with little effort? And where does the glorious Lord dwell, the Lord of the very lords of the universe, the abode of grace and compassion for his devoted followers?

Verse 8 (skanda.2.90.8)

एतदन्यच्च सर्वं मे परार्थैकप्रयोजनम् । ब्रूहि भद्राय लोकानामनुग्रहविचक्षण ।

etadanyacca sarvaṁ me parārthaikaprayojanam brūhi bhadrāya lokānāmanugrahavicakṣaṇa

Tell me all this, and whatever else serves the good of others alone — speak it, O one skilled in showing grace, for the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.90.9)

सूत उवाच । साधु साधु महाभाग भवान्परहिते रतः । हरिभक्तिकृतासक्तिप्रक्षालितमनोमलः ।

sūta uvāca sādhu sādhu mahābhāga bhavānparahite rataḥ haribhaktikṛtāsaktiprakṣālitamanomalaḥ

Suta said: Well said, well said, O most fortunate one! You are devoted to the good of others; the attachment born of devotion to Hari has washed away the impurity of your mind.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.90.10)

अथ मे देवकीपुत्रो हृत्पद्ममधिरोहति । प्रसंगात्तव विप्रर्षे दुर्ल्लभः साधुसंगमः ।

atha me devakīputro hṛtpadmamadhirohati prasaṅgāttava viprarṣe durllabhaḥ sādhusaṅgamaḥ

Now, through this conversation with you, the son of Devaki rises to seat himself in the lotus of my heart — for, O sage among the twice-born, the company of the virtuous is truly hard to find.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.90.11)

हरति दुष्कृतसंचयमुत्तमां गतिमलं तनुते तनुमानिनाम् । अधिकपुण्यवशादवशात्मनां जगति दुर्लभः साधुसमागमः ।

harati duṣkṛtasaṁcayamuttamāṁ gatimalaṁ tanute tanumāninām adhikapuṇyavaśādavaśātmanāṁ jagati durlabhaḥ sādhusamāgamaḥ

It carries away the accumulated wrongs of embodied beings and is fully capable of granting the highest state; it comes to those of unsteady mind only through the force of great merit — in this world, the company of the virtuous is truly rare.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.90.12)

हरति हृदयबन्धं कर्मपाशार्दितानां वितरति पदमुच्चैरल्पजल्पैकभाजाम् । जननमरणकर्मश्रांतविश्रांतिहेतुस्त्रिजगति मनुजानां दुर्ल्लभः सत्प्रसंगः ।

harati hṛdayabandhaṁ karmapāśārditānāṁ vitarati padamuccairalpajalpaikabhājām jananamaraṇakarmaśrāntaviśrāntihetustrijagati manujānāṁ durllabhaḥ satprasaṅgaḥ

It dissolves the bondage of the heart for those afflicted by the noose of karma, and grants the highest state even to those who share in only a little conversation with the good; it is the sole cause of rest for those wearied by the round of birth and death — in the three worlds, true company is exceedingly hard for mortals to find.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.90.13)

सूत उवाच । अयं प्रश्नः पुरा साधो स्कन्देनाकारि सर्वतः । कैलासशिखरे रम्य ऋषीणां परिशृण्वताम् । पुरतो गिरिजाभर्तुः कर्तुं निःश्रेयसं सताम् ।

sūta uvāca ayaṁ praśnaḥ purā sādho skandenākāri sarvataḥ kailāsaśikhare ramya ṛṣīṇāṁ pariśṛṇvatām purato girijābhartuḥ kartuṁ niḥśreyasaṁ satām

Suta said: O virtuous one, this very question was once asked in full by Skanda, on the lovely peak of Kailasa, in the hearing of the sages, before Girija's Lord, for the sake of the highest good of the righteous.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.90.14)

स्कंद उवाच । भगवन्सर्वलोकानां कर्त्ता हर्त्ता पिता गुरुः । क्षेमाय सर्वजंतूनां तपसे कृतनिश्चयः ।

skanda uvāca bhagavansarvalokānāṁ karttā harttā pitā guruḥ kṣemāya sarvajantūnāṁ tapase kṛtaniścayaḥ

Skanda said: O Lord, you are the creator, destroyer, father, and teacher of all worlds; it is for the welfare of all creatures that you have resolved upon austerity.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.90.15)

कलिकाले ह्यनुप्राप्ते वेदशास्त्रविवर्जिते । कुत्र वा वसति श्रीमान्भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः ।

kalikāle hyanuprāpte vedaśāstravivarjite kutra vā vasati śrīmānbhagavānsātvatāṁ patiḥ

Now that the age of Kali has arrived, devoid of Veda and scripture, where does the glorious Lord, the master of the Sātvatas, dwell?

Verse 16 (skanda.2.90.16)

क्षेत्राणि कानि पुण्यानि तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा । केन वा प्राप्यते साक्षाद्भगवान्मधुसूदनः । श्रद्दधानाय भगवन्कृपया वद मे पितः ।

kṣetrāṇi kāni puṇyāni tīrthāni saritastathā kena vā prāpyate sākṣādbhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ śraddadhānāya bhagavankṛpayā vada me pitaḥ

Which sacred fields, which sacred fords and rivers are holy? By what means is the Lord Madhusudana attained in person? O father, tell me this out of grace, for I ask with faith.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.90.17)

श्रीमहादेव उवाच । बहूनि संति तीर्थानि क्षेत्राणि च षडानन । हरिवासनिवासैकपराणि परमार्थिनाम् ।

śrīmahādeva uvāca bahūni santi tīrthāni kṣetrāṇi ca ṣaḍānana harivāsanivāsaikaparāṇi paramārthinām

Shri Mahadeva said: O six-faced one, there are many sacred fords and fields, which, being the dwelling-places of Hari, are the sole refuge of those who seek the highest good.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.90.18)

काम्यानि कानिचित्संति कानिचिन्मुक्तिदान्यपि । इहामुत्रार्थदान्येव बहुपुण्यप्रदानि वै ।

kāmyāni kānicitsanti kānicinmuktidānyapi ihāmutrārthadānyeva bahupuṇyapradāni vai

Some of these grant desired objects, some bestow liberation itself, and others confer benefit both here and hereafter, bringing abundant merit.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.90.19)

गंगा गोदावरी रेवा तपती यमुना सरित् । क्षिप्रा सरस्वती पुण्या गौतमी कौशिकी तथा ।

gaṅgā godāvarī revā tapatī yamunā sarit kṣiprā sarasvatī puṇyā gautamī kauśikī tathā

The Ganga, Godavari, Reva, Tapati, the river Yamuna, the Kshipra, the sacred Sarasvati, the Gautami, and the Kaushiki —

Verse 20 (skanda.2.90.20)

कावेरी ताम्रपर्णी च चंद्रभागा महेंद्रजा । चित्रोत्पला वेत्रवती सरयूः पुण्यवाहिनी ।

kāverī tāmraparṇī ca candrabhāgā mahendrajā citrotpalā vetravatī sarayūḥ puṇyavāhinī

The Kaveri, Tamraparni, Chandrabhaga, Mahendraja, Chitrotpala, Vetravati, and the sacred-flowing Sarayu —

Verse 21 (skanda.2.90.21)

चर्मण्वती शतद्रूश्च पयस्विन्यत्रिसंभवा । गंडिका बाहुदा सर्वाः पुण्याः सिंधुः सरस्वती ।

carmaṇvatī śatadrūśca payasvinyatrisaṁbhavā gaṇḍikā bāhudā sarvāḥ puṇyāḥ sindhuḥ sarasvatī

The Charmanvati, Shatadru, the Payasvini born of Atri, the Gandaki, the Bahuda — all these, along with the Sindhu and Sarasvati, are sacred.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.90.22)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाश्चैताः सेव्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः । अयोध्या द्वारका काशी मधुरावंतिका तथा ।

bhuktimuktipradāścaitāḥ sevyamānā muhurmuhuḥ ayodhyā dvārakā kāśī madhurāvantikā tathā

When repeatedly resorted to, all these rivers grant both enjoyment and liberation. So too Ayodhya, Dwaraka, Kashi, Mathura, and Avantika —

Verse 23 (skanda.2.90.23)

कुरुक्षेत्रं रामतीर्थं कांची च पुरुषोत्तमम् । पुष्करं दर्दुरं क्षेत्रं वाराहं विधिनिर्मितम् । बदर्य्याख्यं महापुण्यं क्षेत्रं सर्वार्थसाधनम् ।

kurukṣetraṁ rāmatīrthaṁ kāñcī ca puruṣottamam puṣkaraṁ dardura kṣetraṁ vārāhaṁ vidhinirmitam badaryākhyaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ kṣetraṁ sarvārthasādhanam

Kurukshetra, Ramatirtha, Kanchi, Purushottama, Pushkara, the field of Dardura, Varaha-kshetra fashioned by Brahma, and the supremely sacred field named Badari, which accomplishes every human aim.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.90.24)

अयोध्यां विधिवद्दृष्ट्वा पुरीं मुक्त्येकसाधनीम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः प्रयांति हरिमंदिरम् ।

ayodhyāṁ vidhivaddṛṣṭvā purīṁ muktyekasādhanīm sarvapāpavinirmuktāḥ prayānti harimandiram

Having beheld Ayodhya, the city that alone accomplishes liberation, according to the proper rite, one is freed of all sin and journeys to the abode of Hari.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.90.25)

विविधविष्णुनिषेवणपूर्वकाचरितपूजननर्तनकीर्तनाः । गृहमपास्य हरेरनुचिंतनाज्जितगृहार्जितमृत्युपराक्रमाः ।

vividhaviṣṇuniṣevaṇapūrvakācaritapūjananartanakīrtanāḥ gṛhamapāsya hareranucintanājjitagṛhārjitamṛtyuparākramāḥ

Those who serve Vishnu in manifold ways through worship, dance, and chant, and who — abandoning household life for constant remembrance of Hari — conquer the power of death that householding accrues,

Verse 26 (skanda.2.90.26)

स्वर्गद्वारे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा रामालयं शुचिः । न तस्य कृत्यं पश्यामि कृतकृत्यो भवेद्यतः ।

svargadvāre naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā rāmālayaṁ śuciḥ na tasya kṛtyaṁ paśyāmi kṛtakṛtyo bhavedyataḥ

For the man who bathes at Svargadvara and, purified, beholds the temple of Rama, I see nothing left for him to accomplish — for he has attained all that is to be attained.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.90.27)

द्वारिकायां हरिः साक्षात्स्वालयं नैव मुंचति । अद्यापि भवनं कैश्चित्पुण्यवद्भिः प्रदृश्यते ।

dvārikāyāṁ hariḥ sākṣātsvālayaṁ naiva muñcati adyāpi bhavanaṁ kaiścitpuṇyavadbhiḥ pradṛśyate

At Dwaraka, Hari in person never abandons his own dwelling; even today that dwelling is beheld by certain fortunate, meritorious souls.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.90.28)

गोमत्यां तु नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमुखांबुजम् । मुक्तिः प्रजायते शेषो विना सांख्यं षडानन ।

gomatyāṁ tu naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇamukhāmbujam muktiḥ prajāyate śeṣo vinā sāṅkhyaṁ ṣaḍānana

O six-faced one, by bathing in the Gomati and beholding the lotus face of Krishna, a man attains liberation as the residue of his acts, even without the path of Sankhya.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.90.29)

असीवरुणयोर्मध्ये पंचक्रोश्यां महाफलम् । अमरा मृत्युमिच्छंति का कथा इतरे जनाः ।

asīvaruṇayormadhye pañcakrośyāṁ mahāphalam amarā mṛtyumicchanti kā kathā itare janāḥ

Between the Asi and the Varana, within the Panchakroshi, death itself yields so great a fruit that even the immortals desire it — what then to say of ordinary mortals?

Verse 30 (skanda.2.90.30)

मणिकर्ण्यां ज्ञानवाप्यां विष्णुपादोदके तथा । ह्रदे पंचनदे स्नात्वा न मातुः स्तनपो भवेत् ।

maṇikarṇyāṁ jñānavāpyāṁ viṣṇupādodake tathā hrade pañcanade snātvā na mātuḥ stanapo bhavet

By bathing at Manikarnika, Jnanavapi, Vishnupadodaka, and the Panchanada tank, a person will never again suckle at a mother's breast — that is, will never be reborn.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.90.31)

प्रसंगेनापि विश्वेशं दृष्ट्वा काश्यां षडानन । मुक्तिः प्रजायते पुंसां जन्ममृत्युविवर्जिता ।

prasaṅgenāpi viśveśaṁ dṛṣṭvā kāśyāṁ ṣaḍānana muktiḥ prajāyate puṁsāṁ janmamṛtyuvivarjitā

O six-faced one, at Kashi, merely beholding Vishveshvara even in passing grants men liberation free from birth and death.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.90.32)

बहुना किमिहोक्तेन नैतत्क्षेत्रसमं क्वचित् । तपोपवासनिरतो मथुरायां षडानन । जन्मस्थानं समासाद्य सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

bahunā kimihoktena naitatkṣetrasamaṁ kvacit tapopavāsanirato mathurāyāṁ ṣaḍānana janmasthānaṁ samāsādya sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

What more need be said here? No field anywhere equals this one. O six-faced one, a man devoted to austerity and fasting at Mathura, upon reaching that birthplace, is freed from all sins.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.90.33)

विश्रांतितीर्थे विधिवत्स्नात्वा कृत्वा तिलोदकम् । पितॄनुद्धृत्य नरकाद्विष्णुलोकं प्रगच्छति ।

viśrāntitīrthe vidhivatsnātvā kṛtvā tilodakam pitṝnuddhṛtya narakādviṣṇulokaṁ pragacchati

By bathing properly at Vishranti-tirtha and offering sesame-water libations, one rescues one's ancestors from hell and proceeds to the realm of Vishnu.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.90.34)

यदि कुर्यात्प्रमादेन पातकं तत्र मानवः । विश्रांते स्नानमासाद्य भस्मीभवति तत्क्षणात् ।

yadi kuryātpramādena pātakaṁ tatra mānavaḥ viśrānte snānamāsādya bhasmībhavati tatkṣaṇāt

If a man should, through carelessness, commit some sin there, that sin turns to ash the very instant he attains a bath at Vishranti.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.90.35)

अवंत्यां विधिवत्स्नात्वा शिप्रायां माधवे नराः । पिशाचत्वं न पश्यंति जन्मांतरशतैरपि ।

avantyāṁ vidhivatsnātvā śiprāyāṁ mādhave narāḥ piśācatvaṁ na paśyanti janmāntaraśatairapi

By bathing properly in the Kshipra at Avanti during the month of Madhava, men will not encounter the state of a ghoul even across a hundred future births.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.90.36)

कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् । महाकालं हरं दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

koṭitīrthe naraḥ snātvā bhojayitvā dvijottamān mahākālaṁ haraṁ dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

By bathing at Koti-tirtha, feeding excellent brahmins, and beholding Mahakala, the form of Hara, one is released from every sin.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.90.37)

मुक्तिक्षेत्रमिदं साक्षान्मम लोकैकसाधनम् । दानाद्दरिद्रताहानिरिह लोके परत्र च ।

muktikṣetramidaṁ sākṣānmama lokaikasādhanam dānāddaridratāhāniriha loke paratra ca

This is in truth a field of liberation, the sole means of reaching my own realm; charity given here destroys poverty both in this world and the next.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.90.38)

कुरुक्षेत्रे रामतीर्थे स्वर्णं दत्त्वा स्वशक्तितः । सूर्योपरागे विधिवत्स नरो मुक्तिभाग्भवेत् ।

kurukṣetre rāmatīrthe svarṇaṁ dattvā svaśaktitaḥ sūryoparāge vidhivatsa naro muktibhāgbhavet

At Kurukshetra's Ramatirtha, during a solar eclipse, a man who gives gold in due measure and by proper rite according to his means becomes a sharer in liberation.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.90.39)

ये तत्र प्रतिगृह्णंति नरा लोभवशंगताः । पुरुषत्वं न तेषां वै कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।

ye tatra pratigṛhṇanti narā lobhavaśaṅgatāḥ puruṣatvaṁ na teṣāṁ vai kalpakoṭiśatairapi

But those who, overcome by greed, accept that gift there will not regain human birth even after hundreds of millions of world-ages.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.90.40)

हरिक्षेत्रे हरिं दृष्ट्वा स्नात्वा पादोदके जनः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो हरिणा सह मोदते ।

harikṣetre hariṁ dṛṣṭvā snātvā pādodake janaḥ sarvapāpavinirmukto hariṇā saha modate

By beholding Hari at Hari-kshetra and bathing in the water that has touched his feet, a person is freed from every sin and rejoices in Hari's company.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.90.41)

खगगणा विविधा निवसंत्यहो ऋषिगणाः फलमूलदलाशनाः । पवनसंयमनक्रमनिर्जितेंद्रियपराक्रमणा मुनयस्त्विह ।

khagagaṇā vividhā nivasantyaho ṛṣigaṇāḥ phalamūladalāśanāḥ pavanasaṁyamanakramanirjitendriyaparākramaṇā munayastviha

Ah, here dwell manifold flocks of birds, and companies of sages living on fruit, root, and leaf; and here too live silent seers who, through the discipline of breath-control, have conquered the might of their senses.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.90.42)

विष्णुकांच्यां हरिः साक्षाच्छिवकांच्यां शिवः स्वयम् । अभेदादुभयोर्भक्त्या मुक्तिः करतले स्थिता । विभेदजननात्पुंसां जायते कुत्सिता गतिः ।

viṣṇukāñcyāṁ hariḥ sākṣācchivakāñcyāṁ śivaḥ svayam abhedādubhayorbhaktyā muktiḥ karatale sthitā vibhedajananātpuṁsāṁ jāyate kutsitā gatiḥ

At Vishnu-Kanchi, Hari himself is present; at Shiva-Kanchi, Shiva himself. Worshipping both with the understanding that they are not different brings liberation into the palm of one's hand; but creating a division between the two brings a degraded destiny upon a man.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.90.43)

सकृद्दृष्ट्वा जगन्नाथं मार्कंडेयह्रदे प्लुतः । विना ज्ञानेन योगेन न मातुः स्तनपो भवेत् ।

sakṛddṛṣṭvā jagannāthaṁ mārkaṇḍeyahrade plutaḥ vinā jñānena yogena na mātuḥ stanapo bhavet

By bathing in the Markandeya tank and beholding Jagannatha even once, a person — without any need for knowledge or yoga — will never again suckle at a mother's breast.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.90.44)

रोहिण्यामुदधौ स्नात्वा इंद्रद्युम्नह्रदे तथा । भुक्त्वा निवेदितं विष्णोर्वैकुंठे वसतिं लभेत् ।

rohiṇyāmudadhau snātvā indradyumnahrade tathā bhuktvā niveditaṁ viṣṇorvaikuṇṭhe vasatiṁ labhet

By bathing in the Rohini tank and in the sea, as well as in the Indradyumna tank, and by partaking of food offered to Vishnu, one attains a dwelling in Vaikuntha.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.90.45)

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं क्षेत्रं शंखोपरि स्थितम् । चतुर्भुजत्वमायांति कीटा अपि न संशयः ।

daśayojanavistīrṇaṁ kṣetraṁ śaṅkhopari sthitam caturbhujatvamāyānti kīṭā api na saṁśayaḥ

This field, ten yojanas in extent, rests upon a conch; even worms here attain the four-armed form — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.90.46)

कार्त्तिक्यां पुष्करे स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा सदक्षिणम् । भोजयित्वा द्विजान्भक्त्या ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ।

kārttikyāṁ puṣkare snātvā śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā sadakṣiṇam bhojayitvā dvijānbhaktyā brahmaloke mahīyate

By bathing at Pushkara during Kartika, performing the ancestral rite with due gifts, and devotedly feeding brahmins, a man is glorified in the realm of Brahma.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.90.47)

सकृत्स्नात्वा ह्रदे तस्मिन्यूपं दृष्ट्वा समाहितः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो जायते द्विजसत्तमः ।

sakṛtsnātvā hrade tasminyūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā samāhitaḥ sarvapāpavinirmukto jāyate dvijasattamaḥ

By bathing just once in that tank and, with a composed mind, beholding the sacrificial post, one is freed from every sin and is born a most excellent brahmin.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.90.48)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि योगाभ्यासेन यत्फलम् । सौकरे विधिवत्स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा हरिं शुचिः ।

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi yogābhyāsena yatphalam saukare vidhivatsnātvā pūjayitvā hariṁ śuciḥ

Whatever fruit is gained from sixty thousand years of practicing yoga, that same fruit comes from bathing properly at Saukara and, being purified, worshipping Hari.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.90.49)

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । तीर्थराजं महापुण्यं सर्वतीर्थनिषेवितम् ।

saptajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati tīrtharājaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ sarvatīrthaniṣevitam

The sins committed across seven births are destroyed in that very instant. This is the king of sacred fords, supremely holy, honored by every other sacred place —

Verse 50 (skanda.2.90.50)

कामिनां सर्वजंतूनामीप्सितं कर्मभिर्भवेत् । वेण्यां स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कृत्वा माधवदर्शनम् । भुक्त्वा पुण्यवतां भोगानन्ते माधवतां व्रजेत् ।

kāmināṁ sarvajantūnāmīpsitaṁ karmabhirbhavet veṇyāṁ snātvā śucirbhūtvā kṛtvā mādhavadarśanam bhuktvā puṇyavatāṁ bhogānante mādhavatāṁ vrajet

Here the desires of every wishing creature are fulfilled through their own acts. By bathing in the Veni river, becoming pure, beholding Madhava, and enjoying the pleasures reserved for the meritorious, one attains in the end the very state of Madhava.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.90.51)

माघे मासि नरः स्नात्वा त्रिवेण्यां भक्तिभावितः । बदरीकीर्तनात्पुण्यं तत्समाप्नोति मानवः ।

māghe māsi naraḥ snātvā triveṇyāṁ bhaktibhāvitaḥ badarīkīrtanātpuṇyaṁ tatsamāpnoti mānavaḥ

A man who, filled with devotion, bathes at the Triveni in the month of Magha attains the very same merit that comes simply from chanting the name of Badari.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.90.52)

दशाश्वमेधिकं तीर्थं दशयज्ञफलप्रदम् । संक्षेपात्कथितं पुत्र किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ।

daśāśvamedhikaṁ tīrthaṁ daśayajñaphalapradam saṁkṣepātkathitaṁ putra kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

The Dashashvamedhika tirtha bestows the fruit of ten horse-sacrifices. O son, I have told you this in brief — what more do you wish to hear?

Verse 53 (skanda.2.90.53)

स्कंद उवाच । बदर्य्याख्यं हरेः क्षेत्रं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम् । क्षेत्रस्य स्मरणादेव महापातकिनो नराः । विमुक्तकिल्विषाः सद्यो मरणान्मुक्तिभागिनः ।

skanda uvāca badaryākhyaṁ hareḥ kṣetraṁ triṣu lokeṣu durlabham kṣetrasya smaraṇādeva mahāpātakino narāḥ vimuktakilviṣāḥ sadyo maraṇānmuktibhāginaḥ

Skanda said: Hari's field called Badari is rare to find in all three worlds. By merely remembering this field, even the greatest sinners are instantly freed of their sins and, upon death, become sharers in liberation.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.90.54)

अन्यतीर्थे कृतं येन तपः परमदारुणम् । तत्समा बदरीयात्रा मनसापि प्रजायते ।

anyatīrthe kṛtaṁ yena tapaḥ paramadāruṇam tatsamā badarīyātrā manasāpi prajāyate

Whatever fruit is gained from the most extreme austerity performed at another sacred place, an equal fruit arises from a pilgrimage to Badari made even in thought alone.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.90.55)

बहूनि संति तीर्थानि दिवि भूमौ रसातले । बदरीसदृशं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।

bahūni santi tīrthāni divi bhūmau rasātale badarīsadṛśaṁ tīrthaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

There are many sacred fords in heaven, on earth, and in the netherworld, but a ford equal to Badari has never existed, nor will it ever exist.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.90.56)

अश्वमेध सहस्राणि वायुभोज्ये च यत्फलम् । क्षेत्रांतरे विशालायां तत्फलं क्षणमात्रतः ।

aśvamedha sahasrāṇi vāyubhojye ca yatphalam kṣetrāntare viśālāyāṁ tatphalaṁ kṣaṇamātrataḥ

Whatever fruit comes from a thousand horse-sacrifices, or from austerity sustained on air alone, that same fruit is gained in this field called Vishala in a single moment.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.90.57)

कृते मुक्तिप्रदा प्रोक्ता त्रेतायां योगसिद्धिदा । विशाला द्वापरे प्रोक्ता कलौ बदरिकाश्रमः ।

kṛte muktipradā proktā tretāyāṁ yogasiddhidā viśālā dvāpare proktā kalau badarikāśramaḥ

In the Krita age it is said to grant liberation, in the Treta age to grant the perfection of yoga; in Dvapara it is called Vishala, and in Kali, Badarikashrama.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.90.58)

स्थूलसूक्ष्मशरीरं तु जीवस्य वसतिस्थलम् । तद्विनाशयति ज्ञानाद्विशाला तेन कथ्यते ।

sthūlasūkṣmaśarīraṁ tu jīvasya vasatisthalam tadvināśayati jñānādviśālā tena kathyate

The gross and subtle bodies are the soul's dwelling-place; this field destroys them through knowledge — for that reason it is called Vishala, the Great Dissolver.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.90.59)

अमृतं स्रवते या हि बदरीतरुयोगतः । बदरी कथ्यते प्राज्ञैर्ऋषीणां यत्र संचयः ।

amṛtaṁ sravate yā hi badarītaruyogataḥ badarī kathyate prājñairṛṣīṇāṁ yatra saṁcayaḥ

Where nectar flows through the presence of the badari (jujube) tree, and where the sages gather in great number, that place the wise call Badari.

Verse 60 (skanda.2.90.60)

त्यजेत्सर्वाणि तीर्थानि कालेकाले युगेयुगे । बदरीं भगवान्विष्णुर्न मुञ्चति कदाचन ।

tyajetsarvāṇi tīrthāni kālekāle yugeyuge badarīṁ bhagavānviṣṇurna muñcati kadācana

Age after age, era after era, the Lord Vishnu may abandon every other sacred ford — but Badari he never abandons.

Verse 61 (skanda.2.90.61)

सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन तपोयोगसमाधितः । तत्फलं प्राप्यते सम्यग्बदरीदर्शनाद्गुह ।

sarvatīrthāvagāhena tapoyogasamādhitaḥ tatphalaṁ prāpyate samyagbadarīdarśanādguha

O Guha, whatever fruit is gained from bathing in every sacred ford, and from the practice of austerity, yoga, and meditative absorption, that same fruit is fully obtained simply by the sight of Badari.

Verse 62 (skanda.2.90.62)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि योगाभ्यासेन यत्फलम् । वाराणस्यां दिनैकेन तत्फलं बदरीं गतौ ।

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi yogābhyāsena yatphalam vārāṇasyāṁ dinaikena tatphalaṁ badarīṁ gatau

Whatever fruit is gained from sixty thousand years of practicing yoga, or from a single day at Varanasi, that same fruit comes simply from journeying to Badari.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.90.63)

तीर्थानां वसतिर्यत्र देवानां वसतिस्तथा । ऋषीणां वसतिर्यत्र विशाला तेनकथ्यते ।

tīrthānāṁ vasatiryatra devānāṁ vasatistathā ṛṣīṇāṁ vasatiryatra viśālā tenakathyate

Because it is the dwelling-place of every sacred ford, the dwelling-place of the gods, and the dwelling-place of the sages, it is for that reason called Vishala.