The Origin of Kshirakunda

Verse 1 (skanda.3.37.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच भोभोस्तपोधनाः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः यावद्रामधनुष्कोटिचक्रतीर्थमुखानि वः

śrīsūta uvāca bhobhostapodhanāḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ yāvadrāmadhanuṣkoṭicakratīrthamukhāni vaḥ

Suta said: O all you rich in austerity, dwellers of Naimisharanya, thus far I have told you of the sacred fords beginning with Rama's Dhanushkoti and Chakratirtha.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.37.2)

चतुर्विंशतितीर्थानि कथितानि मयाधुना इतोऽन्यदद्भुतं यूयं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छथ

caturviṁśatitīrthāni kathitāni mayādhunā ito'nyadadbhutaṁ yūyaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchatha

I have now told of twenty-four sacred fords. Do you wish to hear yet more wonders beyond these?

Verse 3 (skanda.3.37.3)

मुनय ऊचुः क्षीरकुंडस्य माहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामहे मुने यत्समीपे त्वया चक्रतीर्थमित्युदितं पुरा

munaya ūcuḥ kṣīrakuṁḍasya māhātmyaṁ śrotumicchāmahe mune yatsamīpe tvayā cakratīrthamityuditaṁ purā

The sages said: O sage, we wish to hear the greatness of Kshirakunda, near which you earlier spoke of Chakratirtha.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.37.4)

क्षीरकुंडं च तत्कुत्र कीदृशं तस्य वैभवम् क्षीरकुण्डमिति ख्यातिः कथं वास्य समागता

kṣīrakuṁḍaṁ ca tatkutra kīdṛśaṁ tasya vaibhavam kṣīrakuṇḍamiti khyātiḥ kathaṁ vāsya samāgatā

Where is this Kshirakunda, and what is its greatness? And how did it come to be known by the name Kshirakunda?

Verse 5 (skanda.3.37.5)

एतन्नः श्रद्दधानानां विस्तराद्वक्तुमर्हसि श्रीसूत उवाच ब्रवीमि मुनयः सर्वे शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः

etannaḥ śraddadhānānāṁ vistarādvaktumarhasi śrīsūta uvāca bravīmi munayaḥ sarve śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ

'You should tell this to us, who are full of faith, in detail.' Suta said: 'I shall tell it; O sages all, listen with full attention.'

Verse 6 (skanda.3.37.6)

देवीपुरान्महापुण्यात्प्रतीच्यां दिश्यदूरतः फुल्लग्राममिति ख्यातं स्थानमस्ति महत्तरम्

devīpurānmahāpuṇyātpratīcyāṁ diśyadūrataḥ phullagrāmamiti khyātaṁ sthānamasti mahattaram

'Far to the west of the greatly sacred Devipura, there is a great place known as Phullagrama.'

Verse 7 (skanda.3.37.7)

यत आरभ्य रामेण सेतुबन्धो महार्णवे तद्धि पुण्यतमं क्षेत्रं फुल्लग्रामाभिधं पुरम्

yata ārabhya rāmeṇa setubandho mahārṇave taddhi puṇyatamaṁ kṣetraṁ phullagrāmābhidhaṁ puram

'That most sacred place, the town called Phullagrama, is the very place from which Rama began the bridge across the great ocean.'

Verse 8 (skanda.3.37.8)

क्षीरकुण्डं तु तत्रैव महापातकनाशनम् दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाद्ध्यानात्कीर्तनाच्चापि मोक्षदम्

kṣīrakuṇḍaṁ tu tatraiva mahāpātakanāśanam darśanātsparśanāddhyānātkīrtanāccāpi mokṣadam

'There indeed is Kshirakunda, the destroyer of great sins, which grants liberation through mere sight, touch, meditation, or even mere utterance of its name.'

Verse 9 (skanda.3.37.9)

तस्य तीर्थस्य पुण्यस्य क्षीरकुण्डमिति प्रथाम् भवतां सादरं वक्ष्ये शृणुध्वं श्रद्धया सह

tasya tīrthasya puṇyasya kṣīrakuṇḍamiti prathām bhavatāṁ sādaraṁ vakṣye śṛṇudhvaṁ śraddhayā saha

'I shall respectfully tell you the fame of this sacred and meritorious ford called Kshirakunda; listen with faith.'

Verse 10 (skanda.3.37.10)

पुरा हि मुद्गलोनाम मुनिर्वेदोक्तमार्गकृत् दक्षिणांबुनिधेस्तीरे फुल्लग्रामेतिपावने

purā hi mudgalonāma munirvedoktamārgakṛt dakṣiṇāṁbunidhestīre phullagrāmetipāvane

'Formerly, a sage named Mudgala, who followed the path taught by the Veda, on the shore of the southern ocean, in the sacred Phullagrama,'

Verse 11 (skanda.3.37.11)

नारायणप्रीतिकरम करोद्यज्ञमुत्तमम् तस्य विष्णुः प्रसन्नात्मा यागेन परितोषितः

nārāyaṇaprītikarama karodyajñamuttamam tasya viṣṇuḥ prasannātmā yāgena paritoṣitaḥ

'performed a supreme sacrifice pleasing to Narayana; Vishnu, his heart gladdened, was thoroughly satisfied by that sacrifice.'

Verse 12 (skanda.3.37.12)

प्रादुर्बभूव पुरतो यज्ञवाटे द्विजोत्तमाः तं दृष्ट्वा मुद्गलो विष्णुं लक्ष्मीशोभितविग्रहम्

prādurbabhūva purato yajñavāṭe dvijottamāḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā mudgalo viṣṇuṁ lakṣmīśobhitavigraham

'He appeared before him in the sacrificial enclosure, O best of brahmins. Seeing Vishnu, his form adorned by Lakshmi,'

Verse 13 (skanda.3.37.13)

कालमेघतनुं कांत्या पीतांबरविराजितम् विनतानंदनारूढं कौस्तुभालंकृतोरसम्

kālameghatanuṁ kāṁtyā pītāṁbaravirājitam vinatānaṁdanārūḍhaṁ kaustubhālaṁkṛtorasam

'his body dark as a rain-cloud in radiance, resplendent in yellow silk, mounted upon Garuda, his chest adorned with the Kaustubha jewel,'

Verse 14 (skanda.3.37.14)

शंखचक्रगदापद्मराजद्बाहुचतु ष्टयम् भक्त्या परवशो दृष्ट्वा पुलकांकुरमंडितः मुद्गलः परितुष्टाव शब्दैः श्रोत्रसुखावहैः

śaṁkhacakragadāpadmarājadbāhucatu ṣṭayam bhaktyā paravaśo dṛṣṭvā pulakāṁkuramaṁḍitaḥ mudgalaḥ parituṣṭāva śabdaiḥ śrotrasukhāvahaiḥ

'his four arms shining with conch, discus, mace and lotus - overwhelmed with devotion at that sight, his body thrilling with joy, Mudgala praised him with words pleasing to the ear.'

Verse 15 (skanda.3.37.15)

मुद्गल उवाच प्रथमं जगतः स्रष्ट्रे पालकाय ततः परम्

mudgala uvāca prathamaṁ jagataḥ sraṣṭre pālakāya tataḥ param

Mudgala said: 'First, salutation to the Creator of the universe; then next, to its Sustainer;'

Verse 16 (skanda.3.37.16)

संहर्त्रे च ततः पश्चान्नमो नारायणाय ते नमः शफररूपाय कमठाय चिदात्मने

saṁhartre ca tataḥ paścānnamo nārāyaṇāya te namaḥ śaphararūpāya kamaṭhāya cidātmane

'and then, thereafter, to its Destroyer - salutation to you, O Narayana! Salutation to you in the form of the fish and the tortoise, O consciousness itself!'

Verse 17 (skanda.3.37.17)

नमो वराहवपुषे नमः पंचास्यरूपिणे वामनाय नमस्तुभ्यं जमदग्निसुताय ते

namo varāhavapuṣe namaḥ paṁcāsyarūpiṇe vāmanāya namastubhyaṁ jamadagnisutāya te

'Salutation to your boar form, salutation to your five-faced (man-lion) form; salutation to you as the Dwarf, and to you as the son of Jamadagni.'

Verse 18 (skanda.3.37.18)

राघवाय नमस्तुभ्यं बलभद्राय ते नमः कृष्णाय कल्कये तुभ्यं नमो विज्ञानरूपिणे

rāghavāya namastubhyaṁ balabhadrāya te namaḥ kṛṣṇāya kalkaye tubhyaṁ namo vijñānarūpiṇe

'Salutation to you as Raghava; salutation to you as Balabhadra; to you as Krishna, and to you as Kalki - salutation to you in the form of pure knowledge.'

Verse 19 (skanda.3.37.19)

रक्ष मां करुणासिंधो नारायण जगत्पते निर्लज्जं कृपणं क्रूरं पिशुनं दांभिकं कृशम्

rakṣa māṁ karuṇāsiṁdho nārāyaṇa jagatpate nirlajjaṁ kṛpaṇaṁ krūraṁ piśunaṁ dāṁbhikaṁ kṛśam

'Protect me, O ocean of compassion, Narayana, lord of the world - me, who am shameless, wretched, cruel, slanderous, hypocritical, and weak;'

Verse 20 (skanda.3.37.20)

परदारपरद्रव्यपरक्षेत्रैकलो लुपम् असूयाविष्टमनसं मां रक्ष कृपया हरे

paradāraparadravyaparakṣetraikalo lupam asūyāviṣṭamanasaṁ māṁ rakṣa kṛpayā hare

'greedy solely for others' wives, others' wealth and others' land, my mind possessed by envy - protect me out of compassion, O Hari.'

Verse 21 (skanda.3.37.21)

इति स्तुतो हरिः साक्षान्मुद्गलेन द्विजोत्तमाः तमाह मुद्गलमुनिं मेघगंभीरया गिरा

iti stuto hariḥ sākṣānmudgalena dvijottamāḥ tamāha mudgalamuniṁ meghagaṁbhīrayā girā

Thus praised directly by Mudgala, O best of brahmins, Hari spoke to the sage Mudgala in a voice deep as thunder.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.37.22)

श्रीहरिरुवाच प्रीतोऽस्म्यनेन स्तोत्रेण मुद्गल क्रतुना च ते प्रत्यक्षेण हविर्भोक्तुमहं ते क्रतुमागतः

śrīhariruvāca prīto'smyanena stotreṇa mudgala kratunā ca te pratyakṣeṇa havirbhoktumahaṁ te kratumāgataḥ

Sri Hari said: 'I am pleased, Mudgala, by this hymn and by your sacrifice; I have come here in person to partake of the offering at your rite.'

Verse 23 (skanda.3.37.23)

इत्युक्तो हरिणा तत्र मुद्गलस्तुष्टमानसः उवाचाधोक्षजं विप्रो भक्त्या परमया युतः

ityukto hariṇā tatra mudgalastuṣṭamānasaḥ uvācādhokṣajaṁ vipro bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ

Thus addressed by Hari, Mudgala, his heart filled with joy, spoke to Adhokshaja, filled with supreme devotion.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.37.24)

मुद्गल उवाच कृतार्थोऽस्मि हृषीकेश पत्नी मे धन्यतां ययौ अद्य मे सफलं जन्म ह्यद्य मे सफलं तपः

mudgala uvāca kṛtārtho'smi hṛṣīkeśa patnī me dhanyatāṁ yayau adya me saphalaṁ janma hyadya me saphalaṁ tapaḥ

Mudgala said: 'I am fulfilled, O Hrishikesha! My wife has attained blessedness. Today my birth has borne fruit, today my austerity has borne fruit;'

Verse 25 (skanda.3.37.25)

अदय मे सफलो वंशो ह्यद्य मे सफलाः सुताः आश्रमः सफलोऽद्यैव सर्वं सफलमद्य मे

adaya me saphalo vaṁśo hyadya me saphalāḥ sutāḥ āśramaḥ saphalo'dyaiva sarvaṁ saphalamadya me

'today my lineage has borne fruit, today my sons have borne fruit; today my hermitage has borne fruit - today everything of mine has borne fruit,'

Verse 26 (skanda.3.37.26)

यद्भवान्यज्ञवाटं मे हविर्भोक्तुमिहागतः योगिनो योगनिरता हृदये मृगयंति यम्

yadbhavānyajñavāṭaṁ me havirbhoktumihāgataḥ yogino yoganiratā hṛdaye mṛgayaṁti yam

'since you have come here to my sacrificial enclosure to partake of the offering - you whom yogis, absorbed in yoga, seek within their hearts.'

Verse 27 (skanda.3.37.27)

तमद्य साक्षात्त्वां पश्ये सफ लोऽयं मम क्रतुः इतीरयित्वा तं विष्णुमर्चयित्वाऽऽसनादिभिः

tamadya sākṣāttvāṁ paśye sapha lo'yaṁ mama kratuḥ itīrayitvā taṁ viṣṇumarcayitvā''sanādibhiḥ

'Him I now behold directly before me - fruitful indeed is this sacrifice of mine.' Having said this, he worshipped Vishnu with a seat and other offerings,

Verse 28 (skanda.3.37.28)

चंदनैः कुसुमैरन्यैर्दत्त्वा चार्घ्यं स विष्णवे प्रददौ विष्णवे प्रीत्या पुरो डाशादिकं हविः

caṁdanaiḥ kusumairanyairdattvā cārghyaṁ sa viṣṇave pradadau viṣṇave prītyā puro ḍāśādikaṁ haviḥ

with sandal-paste and flowers, and, giving Vishnu the ritual water-offering, presented before him with love the sacrificial cake and other oblations.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.37.29)

स्वयमेव समादाय पाणिना लोकभावनः हविस्तद्बुभुजे विष्णुर्मुद्गलेन समर्पितम्

svayameva samādāya pāṇinā lokabhāvanaḥ havistadbubhuje viṣṇurmudgalena samarpitam

Vishnu, the sustainer of the worlds, himself took up with his own hand and ate that oblation offered by Mudgala.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.37.30)

तस्मिन्हविषि भुक्ते तु विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना साग्नयस्त्रिदशाः सर्वे तृप्ताः समभवन्द्विजाः

tasminhaviṣi bhukte tu viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā sāgnayastridaśāḥ sarve tṛptāḥ samabhavandvijāḥ

When that oblation was eaten by the mighty Vishnu, all the thirty gods, together with Agni, became satisfied, O brahmins.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.37.31)

ऋत्विजो यजमानश्च तत्रत्या ब्राह्मणास्तथा यत्किंचित्प्राणिलोकेऽ स्मिंश्चरं वा यदि वाऽचरम्

ṛtvijo yajamānaśca tatratyā brāhmaṇāstathā yatkiṁcitprāṇiloke' smiṁścaraṁ vā yadi vā'caram

The officiating priests, the patron of the sacrifice, and the brahmins present there - and whatever moving or unmoving being exists in this world of living creatures -

Verse 32 (skanda.3.37.32)

सर्वमेव जगत्तृप्तं भुक्ते हविषि विष्णुना ततो हरिः प्रसन्नात्मा मुद्गलं प्रत्यभाषत

sarvameva jagattṛptaṁ bhukte haviṣi viṣṇunā tato hariḥ prasannātmā mudgalaṁ pratyabhāṣata

the entire universe became satisfied when Vishnu ate the oblation. Then Hari, his heart pleased, spoke to Mudgala.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.37.33)

प्रीतोऽहं वरदोऽस्म्येष वरं वरय सुव्रत इत्युक्ते केशवेनाथ महर्षिस्तमभाषत

prīto'haṁ varado'smyeṣa varaṁ varaya suvrata ityukte keśavenātha maharṣistamabhāṣata

'I am pleased, and I now grant you a boon; choose your boon, O one of good vows.' When Keshava had said this, the great sage spoke to him.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.37.34)

मुद्गल उवाच यत्त्वया मे हविर्भुक्तं यागे प्रत्यक्षरूपिणा अनेनैव कृतार्थोऽस्मि किमस्मादधिकं वरम्

mudgala uvāca yattvayā me havirbhuktaṁ yāge pratyakṣarūpiṇā anenaiva kṛtārtho'smi kimasmādadhikaṁ varam

Mudgala said: 'By this alone - that you, in your visible form, have eaten my offering at this sacrifice - I am fulfilled. What boon could be greater than this?'

Verse 35 (skanda.3.37.35)

तथापि भगवन्विष्णो त्वयि मे निश्चला सदा भक्तिर्निष्कपटा भूयादिदं मे प्रथमं वरम्

tathāpi bhagavanviṣṇo tvayi me niścalā sadā bhaktirniṣkapaṭā bhūyādidaṁ me prathamaṁ varam

'Yet still, O blessed Vishnu, may my devotion to you be ever unwavering and free of deceit - this is my first boon.'

Verse 36 (skanda.3.37.36)

माधवाहं प्रतिदिनं सायंप्रातरिहाग्नये त्वद्रूपाय तव प्रीत्यै सुरभेः पयसा हरे

mādhavāhaṁ pratidinaṁ sāyaṁprātarihāgnaye tvadrūpāya tava prītyai surabheḥ payasā hare

'O Madhava, I wish, every day, morning and evening, here, to offer oblation into the fire, which is your very form, for your pleasure, with the milk of Surabhi -'

Verse 37 (skanda.3.37.37)

होतुमिच्छामि वरद तन्मे देहि वरांतरम् पयसा नित्यहोमो हि द्विकालं श्रुतिचोदितः

hotumicchāmi varada tanme dehi varāṁtaram payasā nityahomo hi dvikālaṁ śruticoditaḥ

'grant me, O giver of boons, this further boon. For a daily oblation of milk, twice a day, is indeed enjoined by the scriptures;'

Verse 38 (skanda.3.37.38)

न मे सुरभयः संति तापसस्याधनस्य च इत्युक्ते मुद्गलेनाथ देवो नारायणो हरिः

na me surabhayaḥ saṁti tāpasasyādhanasya ca ityukte mudgalenātha devo nārāyaṇo hariḥ

'but I, a penniless ascetic, possess no wish-cows.' When Mudgala had said this, the god Narayana Hari,

Verse 39 (skanda.3.37.39)

आहूय विश्वकर्माणं त्वष्टारममृताशिनम् एकं सरः कारयित्वा शिल्पिना तेन शोभनम्

āhūya viśvakarmāṇaṁ tvaṣṭāramamṛtāśinam ekaṁ saraḥ kārayitvā śilpinā tena śobhanam

having summoned Vishvakarma, the divine craftsman who partakes of nectar, had him make a single beautiful pond,

Verse 40 (skanda.3.37.40)

स्फटिकादि शिलाभेदैस्तेनासौ विश्वकर्मणा समीचकार च पुनस्तत्प्राकाराद्यलंकृतम् तत आहूय भगवान्सुरभिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

sphaṭikādi śilābhedaistenāsau viśvakarmaṇā samīcakāra ca punastatprākārādyalaṁkṛtam tata āhūya bhagavānsurabhiṁ vākyamabravīt

fashioned by Vishvakarma with slabs of crystal and other stones, and further adorned it with an enclosing wall and the like. Then the Lord summoned Surabhi and spoke these words.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.37.41)

श्रीहरिरुवाच मुद्गलो मम भक्तोऽयं सुरभे प्रत्यहं मुदा

śrīhariruvāca mudgalo mama bhakto'yaṁ surabhe pratyahaṁ mudā

Sri Hari said: 'This Mudgala is my devotee, O Surabhi; he wishes each day, with joy -'

Verse 42 (skanda.3.37.42)

मत्प्रीत्यर्थं पयोहोमं कर्तुमिच्छति सांप्रतम् मत्प्रीत्यर्थमितो देवि त्वमतो मत्प्रचोदिता

matprītyarthaṁ payohomaṁ kartumicchati sāṁpratam matprītyarthamito devi tvamato matpracoditā

'to perform a milk-oblation for my pleasure. For my pleasure, O goddess, being thus commanded by me,'

Verse 43 (skanda.3.37.43)

सायंप्रातरिहागत्य प्रत्यहं सुरभे शुभे पयसा त्वत्प्रसूतेन सर एतत्प्रपूरय

sāyaṁprātarihāgatya pratyahaṁ surabhe śubhe payasā tvatprasūtena sara etatprapūraya

'come here every day, morning and evening, O auspicious Surabhi, and fill this pond with your milk.'

Verse 44 (skanda.3.37.44)

तेनासौ पयसा नित्यं सायंप्रातश्च होष्यति ओमित्युक्त्वाथ सुरभिरेवं नारयणेरिता

tenāsau payasā nityaṁ sāyaṁprātaśca hoṣyati omityuktvātha surabhirevaṁ nārayaṇeritā

'With that milk he shall then daily make oblation, morning and evening.' Having said 'Om,' Surabhi, thus commanded by Narayana, did so.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.37.45)

अथ नारायणो देवो मुद्गलं प्रत्यभाषत सुरभेः पयसा नित्यमस्मिन्सरसि तिष्ठता

atha nārāyaṇo devo mudgalaṁ pratyabhāṣata surabheḥ payasā nityamasminsarasi tiṣṭhatā

And then the god Narayana spoke to Mudgala: 'With the milk of Surabhi, ever present in this pond,'

Verse 46 (skanda.3.37.46)

सायंप्रातः प्रतिदिनं मत्प्रीत्यर्थमिहाग्नये जुहुधि त्वं महाभाग तेन प्रीणाम्यहं तव

sāyaṁprātaḥ pratidinaṁ matprītyarthamihāgnaye juhudhi tvaṁ mahābhāga tena prīṇāmyahaṁ tava

'offer oblation every day, morning and evening, into this fire for my pleasure, O fortunate one; by that I shall be pleased with you.'

Verse 47 (skanda.3.37.47)

मत्प्रीत्या तेऽखिला सिद्धिर्भविष्यति च मुद्गल इदं क्षीरसरोनाम तीर्थं ख्यातं भविष्यति

matprītyā te'khilā siddhirbhaviṣyati ca mudgala idaṁ kṣīrasaronāma tīrthaṁ khyātaṁ bhaviṣyati

'By my pleasure, all success shall be yours, O Mudgala; and this pond shall become famous under the name Kshirasaras.'

Verse 48 (skanda.3.37.48)

अस्मिन्क्षीरसरस्तीर्थे स्नातानां पंचपातकम् अन्यान्यपि च पापानि नाशं यास्यंति तत्क्षणात्

asminkṣīrasarastīrthe snātānāṁ paṁcapātakam anyānyapi ca pāpāni nāśaṁ yāsyaṁti tatkṣaṇāt

'For those who bathe in this Kshirasaras ford, the five great sins, and other sins as well, shall be destroyed that very instant.'

Verse 49 (skanda.3.37.49)

मुद्गल त्वं च मां याहि देहांते मुक्तबंधनः इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्विष्णुस्तं समालिंग्य मुद्गलम्

mudgala tvaṁ ca māṁ yāhi dehāṁte muktabaṁdhanaḥ ityuktvā bhagavānviṣṇustaṁ samāliṁgya mudgalam

'And you, Mudgala, shall come to me at the end of your body, freed from all bonds.' Having said this, the blessed Vishnu embraced Mudgala,

Verse 50 (skanda.3.37.50)

नमस्कृतश्च तेनायं तत्रैवांतरधीयत मुद्गलोऽपि गते विष्णावनेकशतवत्सरम्

namaskṛtaśca tenāyaṁ tatraivāṁtaradhīyata mudgalo'pi gate viṣṇāvanekaśatavatsaram

and, having been saluted by him, vanished there itself. And Mudgala too, after Vishnu had departed, for many hundreds of years,

Verse 51 (skanda.3.37.51)

सुरभेः पयसा जुह्वन्नग्नये हरितुष्टये उवास प्रयतो नित्यं फुल्ल ग्रामे विमुक्तिदे देहांते मुक्तिमगमद्विष्णुसायुज्यरूपिणीम्

surabheḥ payasā juhvannagnaye harituṣṭaye uvāsa prayato nityaṁ phulla grāme vimuktide dehāṁte muktimagamadviṣṇusāyujyarūpiṇīm

offering the milk of Surabhi into the fire, for the satisfaction of Hari, dwelt ever purified in the liberation-granting Phullagrama, and at the end of his body attained liberation in union with Vishnu.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.37.52)

श्रीसूत उवाच एवमेतद्द्विजवरा युष्माकं कथितं मया

śrīsūta uvāca evametaddvijavarā yuṣmākaṁ kathitaṁ mayā

Suta said: Thus, O best of brahmins, I have told this to you,

Verse 53 (skanda.3.37.53)

यथा क्षीरसरो नाम तीर्थस्यास्य पुराऽभवत् इदं क्षीरसरः पुण्यं सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्

yathā kṣīrasaro nāma tīrthasyāsya purā'bhavat idaṁ kṣīrasaraḥ puṇyaṁ sarvalokeṣu viśrutam

how this ford formerly came to be named Kshirasaras. This meritorious Kshirasaras is renowned in all the worlds.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.37.54)

काश्यपस्य मुनेः पत्नी कद्रूर्यत्र द्विजोत्तमाः स्नात्वा स्वभर्तृवाक्येन नोदिता नियमान्विता

kāśyapasya muneḥ patnī kadrūryatra dvijottamāḥ snātvā svabhartṛvākyena noditā niyamānvitā

Here, O best of brahmins, Kadru, wife of the sage Kashyapa, urged by the words of her own husband and observing due vows, having bathed,

Verse 55 (skanda.3.37.55)

छलेन मुमुचे सद्यः सपत्नीजयदोषतः अतोऽत्र तीर्थे ये स्नांति मानवाः शुदमानसाः

chalena mumuce sadyaḥ sapatnījayadoṣataḥ ato'tra tīrthe ye snāṁti mānavāḥ śudamānasāḥ

was at once freed from the fault of having deceitfully defeated her co-wife. Therefore those men of pure mind who bathe here -

Verse 56 (skanda.3.37.56)

तेषां विमुक्तबंधानां मुक्तानां पुण्यकर्मिणाम् किं यागैः किमु वा वेदैः किं वा तीर्थनिषेवणैः

teṣāṁ vimuktabaṁdhānāṁ muktānāṁ puṇyakarmiṇām kiṁ yāgaiḥ kimu vā vedaiḥ kiṁ vā tīrthaniṣevaṇaiḥ

for them, freed from bondage, liberated, of meritorious deeds, what further need is there of sacrifices, of Vedas, or of visiting other sacred fords,

Verse 57 (skanda.3.37.57)

जपैर्वा नियमैर्वापि क्षीर कुंडविलोकिनाम् क्षीरकुंडस्य वातेन स्पृष्टदेहो नरो द्विजाः

japairvā niyamairvāpi kṣīra kuṁḍavilokinām kṣīrakuṁḍasya vātena spṛṣṭadeho naro dvijāḥ

of muttered prayers or vows, for those who have merely beheld Kshirakunda? O brahmins, the man whose body is touched even by the breeze from Kshirakunda,

Verse 58 (skanda.3.37.58)

ब्रह्मलोकमनुप्राप्य तत्रैव परिमुच्यते निमग्नाः क्षीरकुंडेऽस्मिन्नवमत्यापि भास्करिम्

brahmalokamanuprāpya tatraiva parimucyate nimagnāḥ kṣīrakuṁḍe'sminnavamatyāpi bhāskarim

having attained Brahmaloka, is liberated there itself. Those immersed in this Kshirakunda, even if they have insulted Yama -

Verse 59 (skanda.3.37.59)

तस्य मूर्द्धनि तिष्ठेयुर्ज्वलतः पावकोपमाः मग्नानां क्षीरकुंडेस्मिञ्छीता वैतरणी नदी

tasya mūrddhani tiṣṭheyurjvalataḥ pāvakopamāḥ magnānāṁ kṣīrakuṁḍesmiñchītā vaitaraṇī nadī

would stand blazing like fire upon Yama's very head. For those immersed in this Kshirakunda, the terrible river Vaitarani becomes cool,

Verse 60 (skanda.3.37.60)

सर्वाणि नरकाण्यद्धा व्यर्थानि च भवंति हि कामधेनुसमे तस्मिन्क्षीरकुंडे स्थितेप्यहो

sarvāṇi narakāṇyaddhā vyarthāni ca bhavaṁti hi kāmadhenusame tasminkṣīrakuṁḍe sthitepyaho

and truly all the hells become powerless for them. Ah - it is a wonder that, when this Kshirakunda, equal to the wish-cow, exists here,

Verse 61 (skanda.3.37.61)

योन्यत्र भ्रमते स्नातुं स नरो विप्रसत्तमाः गोक्षीरे विद्यमानेऽपि ह्यर्कक्षीराय गच्छति

yonyatra bhramate snātuṁ sa naro viprasattamāḥ gokṣīre vidyamāne'pi hyarkakṣīrāya gacchati

whatever man wanders elsewhere to bathe, O best of brahmins, is like one who, though cow's milk is available, goes instead to the milky sap of the arka plant.

Verse 62 (skanda.3.37.62)

स्नातानां क्षीरकुंडेऽस्मिन्नालभ्यं किंचिदस्ति हि करप्राप्तैव मुक्तिः स्यात्किमन्यैर्बहुभाषणैः

snātānāṁ kṣīrakuṁḍe'sminnālabhyaṁ kiṁcidasti hi karaprāptaiva muktiḥ syātkimanyairbahubhāṣaṇaiḥ

For those who bathe in this Kshirakunda, there is truly nothing unattainable; liberation itself lies within their very grasp - what need is there of further many words?

Verse 63 (skanda.3.37.63)

ब्रवीमि भुजमुद्धत्य सत्यंसत्यं ब्रवीमि वः यः पठेदिममध्यायं शृणुयाद्वा समाहितः स क्षीरकुंडस्नानस्य लभते फलमुत्तमम्

bravīmi bhujamuddhatya satyaṁsatyaṁ bravīmi vaḥ yaḥ paṭhedimamadhyāyaṁ śṛṇuyādvā samāhitaḥ sa kṣīrakuṁḍasnānasya labhate phalamuttamam

I declare, raising my arm, I speak the truth, the truth alone, to you: whoever reads this chapter, or hears it with full attention, obtains the supreme fruit of bathing at Kshirakunda.