The Establishment of Meru and the Lokapalas, and the Sacred Fords Closing the Badrikashrama Mahatmya

Verse 1 (skanda.2.97.1)

शिव उवाच । ब्रह्मकुण्डाद्दक्षिणतो नरावासगिरिर्महान् । यत्र भगवता मेरुः स्थापितो लोकसुन्दरः ।

śiva uvāca brahmakuṇḍāddakṣiṇato narāvāsagirirmahān yatra bhagavatā meruḥ sthāpito lokasundaraḥ

Shiva said: To the south of Brahma-kunda is the great mountain called Naravasa, where the Lord established Meru, beautiful to all the worlds.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.97.2)

स्कन्द उवाच । कथं भगवता मेरुः स्थापितो नरसन्निधौ । महत्कौतूहलं तात कथ्यतां यदि रोचते ।

skanda uvāca kathaṁ bhagavatā meruḥ sthāpito narasannidhau mahatkautūhalaṁ tāta kathyatāṁ yadi rocate

Skanda said: How did the Lord establish Meru near Nara? Great is my curiosity, father; tell me, if it pleases you.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.97.3)

महादेव उवाच । यदा भगवतो वासो विशालायां समागतः । देवा महर्षयः सिद्धाः सविद्याधरचारणाः ।

mahādeva uvāca yadā bhagavato vāso viśālāyāṁ samāgataḥ devā maharṣayaḥ siddhāḥ savidyādharacāraṇāḥ

Mahadeva said: When the Lord came to dwell in Vishala, the gods, great sages, siddhas, together with the Vidyadharas and Charanas,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.97.4)

विहाय मेरुशृंगाणि भगवद्दर्शनोत्सुकाः । भगवद्दर्शनाह्लादतिरस्कृतसुरालयाः ।

vihāya meruśṛṁgāṇi bhagavaddarśanotsukāḥ bhagavaddarśanāhlādatiraskṛtasurālayāḥ

abandoned the peaks of Meru, eager for the Lord's darshan; through the joy of beholding the Lord, they came to despise even the abodes of the gods.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.97.5)

तदा तु भगवांस्तेषां सुखहेतोः षडानन । उत्पाद्य मेरुशृंगाणि करेणैकेन लीलया । स्थापयामास सर्वेषां भगवान्प्रीतिवर्द्धनः ।

tadā tu bhagavāṁsteṣāṁ sukhahetoḥ ṣaḍānana utpādya meruśṛṁgāṇi kareṇaikena līlayā sthāpayāmāsa sarveṣāṁ bhagavānprītivarddhanaḥ

Then the Lord, O Six-Faced One, for the sake of their happiness, having with a single hand playfully lifted up the peaks of Meru, established them there, increasing the joy of all.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.97.6)

ततः सर्वे समालोक्य गिरिं कांचननिर्मितम् । प्रसन्नास्तुष्टुवुः सर्वे नारायणमनामयम् ।

tataḥ sarve samālokya giriṁ kāṁcananirmitam prasannāstuṣṭuvuḥ sarve nārāyaṇamanāmayam

Then all of them, beholding the mountain fashioned of gold, were delighted, and all praised the unailing Narayana.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.97.7)

देवा ऊचुः । योस्मत्सुखाय भवविश्रमणाय बिभ्रल्लीलातनूः कनकशैलमिहानिनाय । जेता सुरार्द्दनशतं त्रिदशैकपक्षस्तस्मै विधेम नम उग्रतपःश्रियाय ।

devā ūcuḥ yosmatsukhāya bhavaviśramaṇāya bibhrallīlātanūḥ kanakaśailamihānināya jetā surārddanaśataṁ tridaśaikapakṣastasmai vidhema nama ugratapaḥśriyāya

The gods said: He who, assuming a form of play, brought this golden mountain here for our happiness and for rest from worldly existence; the conqueror of a hundred oppressors of the gods, the sole ally of the thirty gods — to him, resplendent with fierce austerity, let us offer our salutation.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.97.8)

यद्यत्करोति कृपया कृपणार्तितूलशैलाग्निराश्रितकृदेकविदां वरिष्ठः । स्वेनैव तेन करणेन स तुष्यतां नो यस्यान्वकारि पुरुषेण न केनचिद्वै ।

yadyatkaroti kṛpayā kṛpaṇārtitūlaśailāgnirāśritakṛdekavidāṁ variṣṭhaḥ svenaiva tena karaṇena sa tuṣyatāṁ no yasyānvakāri puruṣeṇa na kenacidvai

Whatever he does, out of compassion — he who is fire to the mountain of cotton that is the suffering of the wretched, foremost among those skilled in making beings their own — by that very act of his may he be pleased with us, he whom no other person has ever truly imitated.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.97.9)

अस्माकमुन्नतधियां विदधाति सम्यक्छिक्षां पितेव करुणो निजलाभपूर्णः । त्रैलोक्यरक्षणविचक्षणदृष्टिपातपूर्णामृतांबुधिरसौ विपदः प्रपायात् ।

asmākamunnatadhiyāṁ vidadhāti samyakchikṣāṁ piteva karuṇo nijalābhapūrṇaḥ trailokyarakṣaṇavicakṣaṇadṛṣṭipātapūrṇāmṛtāṁbudhirasau vipadaḥ prapāyāt

He, compassionate like a father, himself ever fulfilled, imparts right instruction to us who consider ourselves exalted; may he, whose very glance — skilled in protecting the three worlds — is a full ocean of nectar, drink away our calamities.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.97.10)

ऋषय ऊचुः । येनाध्यस्तं भाति समस्तं जगदेकं क्रीडाभांडं सत्यतयाऽजस्य विभूम्नः । भानां वृदं यद्वदनेप्याश्रितमूर्तिस्तस्मै नित्यं शाश्वत तुभ्यं प्रणमाम ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yenādhyastaṁ bhāti samastaṁ jagadekaṁ krīḍābhāṁḍaṁ satyatayā'jasya vibhūmnaḥ bhānāṁ vṛdaṁ yadvadanepyāśritamūrtistasmai nityaṁ śāśvata tubhyaṁ praṇamāma

The sages said: By whom this entire universe, superimposed upon reality, shines as a single toy of play, through the truth of the unborn, all-pervading one; whose form, resorted to, is present as the multitude of lights even within his own face — to you, the eternal, everlasting one, we ever bow.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.97.11)

सिद्धा ऊचुः । यत्कृपालवत एव महांतः सिद्धिमीयुरितरे भवभाजः । तेऽचिरेण भवभीमपयोधिं तीर्णवंत इति नः सुमनीषा ।

siddhā ūcuḥ yatkṛpālavata eva mahāṁtaḥ siddhimīyuritare bhavabhājaḥ te'cireṇa bhavabhīmapayodhiṁ tīrṇavaṁta iti naḥ sumanīṣā

The Siddhas said: By whose compassion alone even the great attained success, while others remain bound to worldly existence; that they crossed the fearsome ocean of becoming swiftly — such is our firm conviction.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.97.12)

विद्याधरा ऊचुः । विभो सद्गुणग्राम कल्याणमूर्ते परेशान संमानसंतानहेतो । भवत्पादपद्मासवस्वादमत्ताः कृतार्था न चित्रं भवत्यत्र किंचित् ।

vidyādharā ūcuḥ vibho sadguṇagrāma kalyāṇamūrte pareśāna saṁmānasaṁtānaheto bhavatpādapadmāsavasvādamattāḥ kṛtārthā na citraṁ bhavatyatra kiṁcit

The Vidyadharas said: O Lord, abode of every good quality, embodiment of blessing, supreme ruler, cause of the lineage of honor — intoxicated by tasting the nectar of your lotus feet, we have become fulfilled; nothing here is any wonder at all.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.97.13)

ततस्तुष्टोऽथ भगवांस्तेषामासीद्दिवौकसाम् । वरं वृणुध्वमित्युक्तास्ते प्रोचुर्वरदर्षभम् ।

tatastuṣṭo'tha bhagavāṁsteṣāmāsīddivaukasām varaṁ vṛṇudhvamityuktāste procurvaradarṣabham

Then the Lord, pleased, appeared before those dwellers of heaven; and when told 'Choose a boon,' they spoke to the foremost of boon-givers.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.97.14)

परितुष्टो भवान्साक्षाद्देवदेवो रमापतिः । बदरी न त्वया त्याज्या न च मेरुः कदाचन ।

parituṣṭo bhavānsākṣāddevadevo ramāpatiḥ badarī na tvayā tyājyā na ca meruḥ kadācana

'If you, the very God of gods, the Lord of Lakshmi, are truly pleased, then never abandon Badari, nor Meru either.'

Verse 15 (skanda.2.97.15)

मेरुशृंगं प्रपश्यंति ये जनाः पुण्यभागिनः । तेषां वै त्वत्प्रसादेन मेरौ वासः प्रजायताम् ।

meruśṛṁgaṁ prapaśyaṁti ye janāḥ puṇyabhāginaḥ teṣāṁ vai tvatprasādena merau vāsaḥ prajāyatām

'Let those meritorious people who behold the peak of Meru be granted, by your grace, a dwelling upon Meru itself.'

Verse 16 (skanda.2.97.16)

तत्र भुक्त्वा चिराद्भोगान्भूयादन्ते लयस्त्वयि । एवमस्त्विति चाभाष्य तत्रैवांतर्हितो हरिः ।

tatra bhuktvā cirādbhogānbhūyādante layastvayi evamastviti cābhāṣya tatraivāṁtarhito hariḥ

'Having enjoyed pleasures there for a long time, may there be, at the end, dissolution into you.' 'So be it,' said Hari, and vanished from there.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.97.17)

ततः प्रभृति ते सर्वे मेरुशृंगविहारिणः । नरनारायणस्यांते पाल्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ।

tataḥ prabhṛti te sarve meruśṛṁgavihāriṇaḥ naranārāyaṇasyāṁte pālyamānā muhurmuhuḥ

From then on, all of them dwelt playing upon the peaks of Meru, ever protected, again and again, near Nara-Narayana.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.97.18)

कदाचिद्दिवि तिष्ठंति कदाचिन्मेरुमध्यतः । निर्विशंका निरुद्वेगा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ।

kadāciddivi tiṣṭhaṁti kadācinmerumadhyataḥ nirviśaṁkā nirudvegā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ

Sometimes they abide in heaven, sometimes in the midst of Meru, free of doubt and free of anxiety — the sages too, rich in austerity.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.97.19)

भगवानपि तत्रैव नररूपेण तिष्ठति । धनुर्बाणधरः श्रीमांस्तपसा पावकोपमः । आनंदमृषिवृंदस्य जनयंस्तप आस्थितः ।

bhagavānapi tatraiva nararūpeṇa tiṣṭhati dhanurbāṇadharaḥ śrīmāṁstapasā pāvakopamaḥ ānaṁdamṛṣivṛṁdasya janayaṁstapa āsthitaḥ

The Lord too abides there in the form of Nara, bearing bow and arrow, glorious, blazing like fire through his austerity, engaged in tapas, generating joy in the host of sages.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.97.20)

ततस्तु परमं तीर्थं लोकपालाभिवंदितम् । यत्र संस्थापयामास लोकपालान्हरिः स्वयम् ।

tatastu paramaṁ tīrthaṁ lokapālābhivaṁditam yatra saṁsthāpayāmāsa lokapālānhariḥ svayam

Then there is the supreme tirtha, honored by the guardians of the world, where Hari himself established the Lokapalas.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.97.21)

स्कंद उवाच । कथं भगवता तत्र लोकपालाश्च स्थापिताः । महत्कौतूहलं तात कथयस्व महामते ।

skaṁda uvāca kathaṁ bhagavatā tatra lokapālāśca sthāpitāḥ mahatkautūhalaṁ tāta kathayasva mahāmate

Skanda said: How did the Lord establish the Lokapalas there? Great is my curiosity, O father of great wisdom; tell me.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.97.22)

शिव उवाच । एकदा मेरुमध्यस्थाश्रयानिह हरन्हरिः । देवानामृषिमुख्यानां चरितं द्रष्टुमुद्यतः ।

śiva uvāca ekadā merumadhyasthāśrayāniha haranhariḥ devānāmṛṣimukhyānāṁ caritaṁ draṣṭumudyataḥ

Shiva said: Once, Hari, roaming through the dwellings situated within Meru, set out to observe the conduct of the gods and the foremost sages.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.97.23)

तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय नमस्कृत्य दिवौकसः । ऊचुस्ते विनयात्सर्वे प्रसीद भगवन्विभो ।

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya namaskṛtya divaukasaḥ ūcuste vinayātsarve prasīda bhagavanvibho

Seeing him, the dwellers of heaven rose up at once, bowed, and all humbly said: 'Be gracious, O Lord, O mighty one.'

Verse 24 (skanda.2.97.24)

क्षणं विश्राम्य विधिवद्दृष्ट्वा तां विरलां भुवम् । सान्निध्यमृषिदेवानामयुक्तं भावयन्मिथः ।

kṣaṇaṁ viśrāmya vidhivaddṛṣṭvā tāṁ viralāṁ bhuvam sānnidhyamṛṣidevānāmayuktaṁ bhāvayanmithaḥ

Resting there a moment, and duly observing that secluded region, he reflected to himself that the close proximity of sages and gods together was not fitting.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.97.25)

ततः प्रहस्य भगवानुवाच मधुसूदनः । लोकपालान्समाहूय नात्र स्थेयं भवद्विधैः ।

tataḥ prahasya bhagavānuvāca madhusūdanaḥ lokapālānsamāhūya nātra stheyaṁ bhavadvidhaiḥ

Then, smiling, the Lord Madhusudana summoned the Lokapalas and said: 'Those like yourselves should not dwell in this place.'

Verse 26 (skanda.2.97.26)

ऋषयस्तापसाः सिद्धाः सस्त्रीका निवसंति हि । भवद्विधानामास्थानं पुरेव कल्पितं मया ।

ṛṣayastāpasāḥ siddhāḥ sastrīkā nivasaṁti hi bhavadvidhānāmāsthānaṁ pureva kalpitaṁ mayā

'Sages, ascetics, and siddhas dwell here together with their wives; I have already, as before, prepared a dwelling-place suitable for those like you.'

Verse 27 (skanda.2.97.27)

ततः स त्वरितो गत्वा रम्ये गिरिवरे हरिः । लोकपालान्समाहूय स्थापयामास तान्गुह ।

tataḥ sa tvarito gatvā ramye girivare hariḥ lokapālānsamāhūya sthāpayāmāsa tānguha

Then Hari, going swiftly to a delightful mountain-peak, summoned the Lokapalas and established them there, O Guha.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.97.28)

तत्रैव शैलदंडेन हत्वाग्निं जलकांक्षया । क्रीडापुष्करणीं तेषां निर्ममे सुमनोहराम ।

tatraiva śailadaṁḍena hatvāgniṁ jalakāṁkṣayā krīḍāpuṣkaraṇīṁ teṣāṁ nirmame sumanoharāma

There, striking the ground with a staff of the mountain in his desire for water, he fashioned for them a most delightful pleasure-pool.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.97.29)

सस्त्रीका यत्र गीर्वाणा विचरंति निजेच्छया । गायंति स्वनुमोदंति गंधर्वास्त्रिदिवौकसाम् ।

sastrīkā yatra gīrvāṇā vicaraṁti nijecchayā gāyaṁti svanumodaṁti gaṁdharvāstridivaukasām

There, the gods, together with their wives, wander about as they please; the Gandharvas sing and rejoice, delighting the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.97.30)

वनानि कुसुमामोदरम्याणि परितोषतः । दिनानि यत्र गच्छंति क्षणप्रायाणि देहिनाम् ।

vanāni kusumāmodaramyāṇi paritoṣataḥ dināni yatra gacchaṁti kṣaṇaprāyāṇi dehinām

The forests, delightful with the fragrance of flowers, bring such contentment that, for the embodied beings there, whole days pass as though mere moments.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.97.31)

भगवानपि तत्रैव तेषामानंदमावहन् । द्वादश्यां पौर्णमास्यां च स्वयमायाति मज्जने ।

bhagavānapi tatraiva teṣāmānaṁdamāvahan dvādaśyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ ca svayamāyāti majjane

The Lord himself, bringing joy to them there, comes in person to bathe there on the Dvadashi and on the full-moon day.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.97.32)

तत्पश्चादृषयः सर्वे मुनयश्च तपोधनाः । यत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन गुह मध्याह्नकालतः । असंगं परमं ज्योतिर्जले पश्यंति चक्षुषा ।

tatpaścādṛṣayaḥ sarve munayaśca tapodhanāḥ yatra snātvā vidhānena guha madhyāhnakālataḥ asaṁgaṁ paramaṁ jyotirjale paśyaṁti cakṣuṣā

After him, all the sages and silent munis, rich in austerity, having bathed there duly, O Guha, from midday onward, behold with their own eyes the supreme, unattached light within the water.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.97.33)

सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन यत्फलं परिकीर्तितम् । तत्फलं तत्क्षणादेव दण्डपुष्करिणीक्षणात् ।

sarvatīrthāvagāhena yatphalaṁ parikīrtitam tatphalaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva daṇḍapuṣkariṇīkṣaṇāt

Whatever fruit is declared from bathing in all the tirthas, that same fruit is obtained instantly, merely from the sight of Danda-pushkarini.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.97.34)

यत्र काम्यानि कर्माणि सफलानि मनीषिणाम् । यत्र पिंडप्रदानेन गयातोऽष्टगुणं फलम् ।

yatra kāmyāni karmāṇi saphalāni manīṣiṇām yatra piṁḍapradānena gayāto'ṣṭaguṇaṁ phalam

There, the rites performed for the sake of desire become fruitful for the wise; there, by the offering of the pinda, the fruit is eightfold that of Gaya.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.97.35)

यज्ञो दानं तपः कर्म सर्वमक्षयमुच्यते । द्वादश्यां शुक्लपक्षस्य ज्येष्ठे मासि षडानन ।

yajño dānaṁ tapaḥ karma sarvamakṣayamucyate dvādaśyāṁ śuklapakṣasya jyeṣṭhe māsi ṣaḍānana

Sacrifice, charity, and austerity performed there are declared imperishable — especially, O Six-Faced One, on the Dvadashi of the bright fortnight in the month of Jyeshtha.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.97.36)

तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन कृतकृत्यो भवेद्यतः । बदरीतीर्थमध्ये तु गुप्तमेतत्सुरोत्तमैः । न वाच्यं यत्र कुत्रापि तव प्रीत्या मयोदितम् ।

tatra snātvā vidhānena kṛtakṛtyo bhavedyataḥ badarītīrthamadhye tu guptametatsurottamaiḥ na vācyaṁ yatra kutrāpi tava prītyā mayoditam

Bathing there duly, one becomes fulfilled, but among all the tirthas of Badari, this is kept secret by the foremost of gods; it should not be spoken of anywhere — I have told it to you only out of affection.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.97.37)

वक्तव्यं किमिह बहु प्रभूतपुण्याः पश्यंति प्रथितमिदं सुरैकगुप्तम् । नान्येषां कथमपि चेतसि प्रसंगाद्देवैः स्यादनुदिनचिंतितं गुहैतत् ।

vaktavyaṁ kimiha bahu prabhūtapuṇyāḥ paśyaṁti prathitamidaṁ suraikaguptam nānyeṣāṁ kathamapi cetasi prasaṁgāddevaiḥ syādanudinaciṁtitaṁ guhaitat

What more need be said here? Only those of abundant merit come to see this place, renowned yet guarded solely by the gods; by no means does it ever, even by chance, enter the minds of others — it remains, day after day, held secret and cherished only by the gods.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.97.38)

येषां वै भगवति चेत्समग्रकर्म स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनविधिक्रमेण जातम् । पश्यंति त्रिभुवनदुर्ल्लभं सुतीर्थं दंडोदं न भवति चान्यथा सुदृष्टम् ।

yeṣāṁ vai bhagavati cetsamagrakarma svādhyāyābhyasanavidhikrameṇa jātam paśyaṁti tribhuvanadurllabhaṁ sutīrthaṁ daṁḍodaṁ na bhavati cānyathā sudṛṣṭam

Those whose every act has, in due order, become devoted to the Lord through study and practice of the scriptures — they alone behold this excellent tirtha, Dandodaka, so rare in all three worlds; by no other means is it ever truly seen.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.97.39)

दंडोदकात्परं तीर्थं न विष्णोः सदृशोऽमरः । विशालासदृशं क्षेत्रं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।

daṁḍodakātparaṁ tīrthaṁ na viṣṇoḥ sadṛśo'maraḥ viśālāsadṛśaṁ kṣetraṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati

There is no tirtha greater than Dandodaka, no immortal equal to Vishnu; there has never been, nor will there ever be, a sacred field equal to Vishala.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.97.40)

सेवनीया प्रयत्नेन विशाला च विचक्षणैः । य इच्छेत्सततं धाम भगवत्पार्श्ववर्ति वै ।

sevanīyā prayatnena viśālā ca vicakṣaṇaiḥ ya icchetsatataṁ dhāma bhagavatpārśvavarti vai

Vishala should be served with effort by the discerning, by whoever continually desires an abode ever at the Lord's own side.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.97.41)

स्कंद उवाच । गंगामाश्रित्य तीर्थानि कानि संतीह सत्पदे । श्रेयस्कराणि भूरीणि संक्षेपात्तानि मे वद ।

skaṁda uvāca gaṁgāmāśritya tīrthāni kāni saṁtīha satpade śreyaskarāṇi bhūrīṇi saṁkṣepāttāni me vada

Skanda said: What tirthas, resting upon the Ganga, exist here in this sacred abode, bringing manifold blessing? Tell me of them in brief.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.97.42)

महादेव उवाच । गंगायां यत्र संयोगो मानसोद्भेदसन्निधौ । तत्तीर्थं विमलं पुण्यं प्रयागादधिकं महत् ।

mahādeva uvāca gaṁgāyāṁ yatra saṁyogo mānasodbhedasannidhau tattīrthaṁ vimalaṁ puṇyaṁ prayāgādadhikaṁ mahat

Mahadeva said: Where the Ganga meets the waters near Manasodbheda, that tirtha, spotless and meritorious, is greater even than Prayaga.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.97.43)

त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि वायुभोजनतो भवेत् । तत्फलं स्नानमात्रेण गंगायाः संगमे नृणाम् ।

triṁśadvarṣasahasrāṇi vāyubhojanato bhavet tatphalaṁ snānamātreṇa gaṁgāyāḥ saṁgame nṛṇām

The fruit that comes from subsisting on air alone for thirty thousand years — that same fruit comes to men merely by bathing at the confluence of the Ganga there.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.97.44)

संगमाद्दक्षिणे भागे धर्मक्षेत्रं प्रकीर्तितम् । यत्र मूर्त्या श्रुतौ जातौ नरनारायणावृषी ।

saṁgamāddakṣiṇe bhāge dharmakṣetraṁ prakīrtitam yatra mūrtyā śrutau jātau naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī

To the south of the confluence lies the sacred field renowned as Dharmakshetra, where the two sages Nara and Narayana were born of Murti, as declared in the scriptures.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.97.45)

तत्क्षेत्रं पावनं मर्त्ये सर्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमम् । धर्मस्तत्रैव भगवांश्चतुष्पादवतिष्ठति ।

tatkṣetraṁ pāvanaṁ martye sarveṣāmuttamottamam dharmastatraiva bhagavāṁścatuṣpādavatiṣṭhati

That sacred field is the most purifying of all in the world of mortals; there, the Lord Dharma himself abides, standing upon all four feet in his fullness.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.97.46)

यत्र यज्ञास्तपो दानं यत्किंचित्क्रियते नृभिः । तत्पुण्यस्य क्षयो नास्ति कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।

yatra yajñāstapo dānaṁ yatkiṁcitkriyate nṛbhiḥ tatpuṇyasya kṣayo nāsti kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Whatever sacrifices, austerities, or acts of charity are performed there by men — the merit of that never diminishes, even across hundreds of millions of kalpas.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.97.47)

ततो दक्षिणदिग्भाग उर्वशी संगमाभिधम् । सर्वपापहरं पुंसां स्नानमात्रेण देहिनाम् ।

tato dakṣiṇadigbhāga urvaśī saṁgamābhidham sarvapāpaharaṁ puṁsāṁ snānamātreṇa dehinām

Then, in the southern direction, is the confluence named Urvashi-sangama, which removes all sin from embodied men through mere bathing.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.97.48)

कूर्मोद्धारस्ततः साक्षाद्धरिभक्त्येकसाधनम् । स्नानमात्रेण भूतानां सत्त्वशुद्धिः प्रजायते ।

kūrmoddhārastataḥ sākṣāddharibhaktyekasādhanam snānamātreṇa bhūtānāṁ sattvaśuddhiḥ prajāyate

Then there is Kurmoddhara, truly the sole means of devotion to Hari; by mere bathing there, purity of being arises for all creatures.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.97.49)

ब्रह्मावर्त्तस्ततः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मलोकैककारणम् । दर्शनादेव तीर्थस्य सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।

brahmāvarttastataḥ sākṣādbrahmalokaikakāraṇam darśanādeva tīrthasya sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

Then there is Brahmavarta, truly the sole cause of attaining the world of Brahma; by the mere sight of this tirtha, the destruction of all sin comes about.

Verse 50 (skanda.2.97.50)

बहूनि संति तीर्थानि दुर्गम्यानीह देहिनाम् । संक्षेपात्कथितं वत्स तवादरवशादिदम् ।

bahūni saṁti tīrthāni durgamyānīha dehinām saṁkṣepātkathitaṁ vatsa tavādaravaśādidam

Many are the tirthas here, difficult for embodied beings to reach; this has been told to you in brief, my child, only out of regard for your devotion.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.97.51)

य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः पदं विष्णोः प्रपद्यते ।

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ padaṁ viṣṇoḥ prapadyate

Whoever constantly hears this, or, with a composed mind, recites it to others, is freed from all sin and attains the very abode of Vishnu.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.97.52)

राजा विजयमाप्नोति सुतार्थी लभते सुतम् । कन्यार्थी लभते कन्यां कन्या विंदति सत्पतिम् ।

rājā vijayamāpnoti sutārthī labhate sutam kanyārthī labhate kanyāṁ kanyā viṁdati satpatim

A king attains victory; one desiring a son obtains a son; one desiring a daughter obtains a daughter; a maiden finds a worthy husband.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.97.53)

धनार्थी धनमाप्नोति सर्वकामैकसाधनम् ।

dhanārthī dhanamāpnoti sarvakāmaikasādhanam

One desiring wealth obtains wealth — this is the sole means to attain every desire.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.97.54)

मासमात्रं नरो भक्त्या शृणुयाद्यः समाहितः । तस्याभीष्टसमावाप्तिर्दुर्लभोपि न संशयः ।

māsamātraṁ naro bhaktyā śṛṇuyādyaḥ samāhitaḥ tasyābhīṣṭasamāvāptirdurlabhopi na saṁśayaḥ

A man who, with devotion and a composed mind, hears this for merely a month — the attainment of his heart's desire, even if it seemed unreachable, comes to him without doubt.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.97.55)

आधिव्याधिभयं घोरं दारिद्र्य कलहं तथा । यस्य गेहेषु माहात्म्यं तत्रैतानि न कर्हिचित् ।

ādhivyādhibhayaṁ ghoraṁ dāridrya kalahaṁ tathā yasya geheṣu māhātmyaṁ tatraitāni na karhicit

Mental anguish, disease, terrible fear, poverty, and strife — in whosever house this Mahatmya is kept, these never occur there.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.97.56)

नापमृत्युर्न सर्पादि दौर्भाग्यं चापि वर्तते । दुःस्वप्नग्रहपीडा च परराष्ट्रभयं तथा ।

nāpamṛtyurna sarpādi daurbhāgyaṁ cāpi vartate duḥsvapnagrahapīḍā ca pararāṣṭrabhayaṁ tathā

There is neither untimely death nor danger from serpents and the like, nor misfortune; neither the affliction of evil dreams and malefic planets, nor fear from a foreign power.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.97.57)

युद्धे यात्राप्रयाणे च पठनीयं प्रयत्नतः । विवाहे च विवादे च शुभकर्मणि यत्नतः ।

yuddhe yātrāprayāṇe ca paṭhanīyaṁ prayatnataḥ vivāhe ca vivāde ca śubhakarmaṇi yatnataḥ

It should be diligently recited before battle, before setting out on a journey, at a wedding, in a dispute, and before any auspicious undertaking.

Verse 58 (skanda.2.97.58)

पूर्णं वाऽध्यायमात्रं वा तदर्धं वा विचक्षणैः । सर्वकार्यप्रसिद्धिः स्यान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।

pūrṇaṁ vā'dhyāyamātraṁ vā tadardhaṁ vā vicakṣaṇaiḥ sarvakāryaprasiddhiḥ syānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whether in full, or merely half of it, when read by the discerning, success in every undertaking follows — there is no need for doubt in this.