The Full Glory of the Setu, and the Closing of the Setu Mahatmya

Verse 1 (skanda.3.52.1)

श्रीसूत उवाच । भूयोऽप्यहं प्रवक्ष्यामि सेतुमुद्दिश्य वैभवम् । युष्माकमादरेणाहं शृणुध्वं मुनिपुंगवाः

śrīsūta uvāca bhūyo'py ahaṁ pravakṣyāmi setum uddiśya vaibhavam yuṣmākam ādareṇāhaṁ śṛṇudhvaṁ munipuṅgavāḥ

Shri Suta said: Once again I shall speak, concerning the majesty of the Setu. Out of regard for you, O foremost of sages, listen.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.52.2)

स्थानानामपि सर्वेषामेतत्स्थानं महत्तरम् । अत्र जप्तं हुतं तप्तं दत्तं चाक्षयमुच्यते

sthānānām api sarveṣām etat sthānaṁ mahattaram atra japtaṁ hutaṁ taptaṁ dattaṁ cākṣayam ucyate

Among all places, this place is the greatest. What is muttered in prayer, offered in fire, undertaken in austerity, or given in gift here, is declared imperishable.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.52.3)

अस्मिन्नेव महास्थाने धनुष्कोटौ निमज्जनात् । वाराणस्यां दशसमावासपुण्यफलं भवेत्

asminn eva mahāsthāne dhanuṣkoṭau nimajjanāt vārāṇasyāṁ daśasamāvāsapuṇyaphalaṁ bhavet

By immersion here, at this very great place, at Dhanushkoti, one obtains the meritorious fruit of dwelling ten years at Varanasi.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.52.4)

तस्मिंस्थले धनुष्कोटौ स्नात्वा रामेश्वरं शिवम् । दृष्ट्वा नरो भक्तियुक्तस्त्रिदिनानि वसेद्द्विजाः

tasmiṁsthale dhanuṣkoṭau snātvā rāmeśvaraṁ śivam dṛṣṭvā naro bhaktiyuktas tridināni vased dvijāḥ

Having bathed at that place, Dhanushkoti, and beheld Shiva as Rameshvara, a devoted man, O brahmins, should dwell there for three days.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.52.5)

पुण्डरीकपुरे तेन दशवत्सरवासजम् । पुण्यं भवति विप्रेंद्रा महापातकनाशनम्

puṇḍarīkapure tena daśavatsaravāsajam puṇyaṁ bhavati viprendrā mahāpātakanāśanam

O foremost of brahmins, by that he obtains the merit born of dwelling ten years at Pundarikapura, which destroys the greatest sins.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.52.6)

अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं तु मंत्रमाद्यं षडक्षरम् । अत्र जप्त्वा नरो भक्त्या शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

aṣṭottarasahasraṁ tu mantram ādyaṁ ṣaḍakṣaram atra japtvā naro bhaktyā śivasāyujyam āpnuyāt

Having recited here, with devotion, the primal six-syllabled mantra one thousand and eight times, a man attains union with Shiva.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.52.7)

मध्यार्जुने कुंभकोणे मायूरे श्वेतकानने । हालास्ये च गजारण्ये वेदारण्ये च नैमिषे

madhyārjune kumbhakoṇe māyūre śvetakānane hālāsye ca gajāraṇye vedāraṇye ca naimiṣe

At Madhyarjuna, Kumbhakona, Mayura, Shvetakanana, Halasya, Gajaranya, Vedaranya, and Naimisha,

Verse 8 (skanda.3.52.8)

श्रीपर्वते च श्रीरंगे श्रीमद्वृद्धगिरौ तथा । चिदंबरे च वल्मीके शेषाद्रावरुणाचले

śrīparvate ca śrīraṅge śrīmadvṛddhagirau tathā cidambare ca valmīke śeṣādrāv aruṇācale

at Shriparvata, Shrirangam, glorious Vriddhagiri, Chidambaram, Valmika, Sheshadri, and Arunachala,

Verse 9 (skanda.3.52.9)

श्रीमद्दक्षिणकैलासे वेंकटाद्रौ हरिस्थले । कांचीपुरे ब्रह्मपुरे वैद्येश्वरपुरे तथा

śrīmaddakṣiṇakailāse veṅkaṭādrau haristhale kāñcīpure brahmapure vaidyeśvarapure tathā

at the glorious southern Kailasa, Venkatadri, Haristhala, Kanchipuram, Brahmapura, and Vaidyeshvarapura,

Verse 10 (skanda.3.52.10)

अन्यत्रापि शिवस्थाने विष्णुस्थाने च सत्तमाः । वर्षवासभवं पुण्यं धनुष्कोटौ नरो मुदा

anyatrāpi śivasthāne viṣṇusthāne ca sattamāḥ varṣavāsabhavaṁ puṇyaṁ dhanuṣkoṭau naro mudā

O most excellent ones, whatever merit arises from a year's residence at any other place sacred to Shiva or Vishnu, that merit a man joyfully obtains at Dhanushkoti,

Verse 11 (skanda.3.52.11)

माघमासे यदि स्नायादाप्नोत्येव न संशयः । इमं सेतुं समुद्दिश्य द्वौ समुद्राविति श्रुतिः

māghamāse yadi snāyād āpnoty eva na saṁśayaḥ imaṁ setuṁ samuddiśya dvau samudrāv iti śrutiḥ

if he bathes in the month of Magha — of this there is no doubt. Concerning this very Setu, the scripture says "the two oceans" —

Verse 12 (skanda.3.52.12)

विद्यते ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा मातृभूता सनातनी । अदो यद्दारुरित्यन्या यत्रास्ति मुनिपुंगवाः

vidyate brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā mātṛbhūtā sanātanī ado yaddārur ity anyā yatrāsti munipuṅgavāḥ

O foremost brahmins, this eternal, mother-like scriptural verse exists. O foremost of sages, there is another, "That which is wood yonder,"

Verse 13 (skanda.3.52.13)

विष्णोः कर्माणि पश्यंती सेतुवैभवशंसिनी । श्रुतिरस्ति तथान्यापि तद्विष्णोरिति चापरा

viṣṇoḥ karmāṇi paśyantī setuvaibhavaśaṁsinī śrutir asti tathānyāpi tadviṣṇor iti cāparā

which, beholding the deeds of Vishnu, proclaims the majesty of the Setu. And there is yet another scriptural verse, "That of Vishnu" —

Verse 14 (skanda.3.52.14)

इतिहासपुराणानि स्मृतयश्च तपोधनाः । एकवाक्यतया सेतुमाहात्म्यं प्रबुवंति हि

itihāsapurāṇāni smṛtayaś ca tapodhanāḥ ekavākyatayā setumāhātmyaṁ pravadanti hi

O treasuries of austerity, the Itihasas, the Puranas, and the Smritis, with one voice, indeed declare the greatness of the Setu.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.52.15)

चंद्रसूर्योपरागेषु कुर्वन्सेत्ववगाहनम् । अविमुक्ते दशाब्दं तु गंगास्नानफलं लभेत्

candrasūryoparāgeṣu kurvan setvavagāhanam avimukte daśābdaṁ tu gaṅgāsnānaphalaṁ labhet

bathing at the Setu during eclipses of the moon and the sun, one obtains the fruit of ten years of bathing in the Ganga at Avimukta (Kashi).

Verse 16 (skanda.3.52.16)

कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणेनैव नश्यति । अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्

koṭijanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tatkṣaṇenaiva naśyati aśvamedhasahasrasya phalam āpnoty anuttamam

sin accumulated across ten million births is destroyed in that very instant, and he obtains the unsurpassed fruit of a thousand horse-sacrifices.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.52.17)

विषुवायनसंक्रांतौ शशिवारे च पर्वणि । सेतुदर्शनमात्रेण सप्तजन्मार्जिताशुभम्

viṣuvāyanasaṅkrāntau śaśivāre ca parvaṇi setudarśanamātreṇa saptajanmārjitāśubham

at the equinox and solstice transitions, on a Monday, and on festival days, merely by the sight of the Setu, the misfortune accumulated over seven births,

Verse 18 (skanda.3.52.18)

नश्यते स्वर्गतिं चैव प्रयांति द्विजपुंगवाः । मकरस्थे रवौ माघे किंचिदभ्युदिते रवौ

naśyate svargatiṁ caiva prayānti dvijapuṅgavāḥ makarasthe ravau māghe kiṁcid abhyudite ravau

is destroyed, and, O foremost brahmins, they attain passage to heaven. When the sun is in Capricorn, in the month of Magha, just as the sun has slightly risen,

Verse 19 (skanda.3.52.19)

स्नात्वा दिनत्रयं मर्त्यो धनुष्कोटौ विपातकः । गंगादिसर्वतीर्थेषु स्नानपुण्यमवाप्नुयात्

snātvā dinatrayaṁ martyo dhanuṣkoṭau vipātakaḥ gaṅgādisarvatīrtheṣu snānapuṇyam avāpnuyāt

a mortal, bathing for three days at Dhanushkoti, freed from sin, obtains the merit of bathing in the Ganga and all other tirthas.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.52.20)

धनुष्कोटौ नरः कुर्यात्स्नानं पंचदिनेषु यः । अश्वमेधादिपुण्यं च प्राप्नुयाद्ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः

dhanuṣkoṭau naraḥ kuryāt snānaṁ pañcadineṣu yaḥ aśvamedhādipuṇyaṁ ca prāpnuyād brāhmaṇottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, the man who bathes at Dhanushkoti for five days obtains the merit of the horse-sacrifice and the others.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.52.21)

चांद्रायणादिकृच्छ्राणामनुष्ठानफलं लभेत् । चतुर्णामपि वेदानां पारायणफलं तथा

cāndrāyaṇādikṛcchrāṇām anuṣṭhānaphalaṁ labhet caturṇām api vedānāṁ pārāyaṇaphalaṁ tathā

he obtains the fruit of performing the Chandrayana and other penances, and likewise the fruit of the complete recitation of all four Vedas.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.52.22)

माघमासे दशाहःसु धनुष्कोटौ निमज्जनात् । ब्रह्महत्यायुतं नश्येन्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

māghamāse daśāhaḥsu dhanuṣkoṭau nimajjanāt brahmahatyāyutaṁ naśyen nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

by immersion at Dhanushkoti for ten days in the month of Magha, ten thousand brahmin-slayings are destroyed; there is no need for doubt on this matter.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.52.23)

माघमासे धनुष्कोटौ दशपंचदिनानि यः । स्नानं करोति मनुजः स वैकुंठमवाप्नुयात्

māghamāse dhanuṣkoṭau daśapañcadināni yaḥ snānaṁ karoti manujaḥ sa vaikuṇṭham avāpnuyāt

the man who bathes at Dhanushkoti for fifteen days in the month of Magha attains Vaikuntha.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.52.24)

माघमासे रामसेतौ स्नानं विंशद्दिनं चरन् । शिवसामीप्यमाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते

māghamāse rāmasetau snānaṁ viṁśaddinaṁ caran śivasāmīpyam āpnoti śivena saha modate

performing the bath at Ramasetu for twenty days in the month of Magha, he attains proximity to Shiva and rejoices in Shiva's company.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.52.25)

पंचविंशद्दिनं स्नानं कुर्वन्सारूप्यमाप्नुयात् । स्नानं त्रिंशद्दिनं कुर्वन्सायुज्यं लभते ध्रुवम्

pañcaviṁśaddinaṁ snānaṁ kurvan sārūpyam āpnuyāt snānaṁ triṁśaddinaṁ kurvan sāyujyaṁ labhate dhruvam

performing the bath for twenty-five days, he attains sarupya (likeness of form); performing the bath for thirty days, he certainly attains sayujya (union).

Verse 26 (skanda.3.52.26)

अतोऽवश्यं रामसेतौ माघमासे द्विजोत्तमाः । स्नानं समाचरेद्विद्वान्किंचिदभ्युदिते रवौ

ato'vaśyaṁ rāmasetau māghamāse dvijottamāḥ snānaṁ samācared vidvān kiṁcid abhyudite ravau

therefore, O best of brahmins, the wise man should certainly perform the bath at Ramasetu in the month of Magha, just as the sun has slightly risen.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.52.27)

चंद्रसूर्योपरागे च तथैवार्द्धोदये द्विजाः । महोदये रामसेतौ स्नानं कुर्वन्द्विजोत्तमाः

candrasūryoparāge ca tathaivārddhodaye dvijāḥ mahodaye rāmasetau snānaṁ kurvan dvijottamāḥ

O brahmins, at a lunar or solar eclipse, and likewise at the conjunctions called Ardhodaya and Mahodaya, performing the bath at Ramasetu, O best of brahmins,

Verse 28 (skanda.3.52.28)

अनेकक्लेशसंयुक्तं गर्भवासं न पश्यति । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां नाशकं च प्रकीर्तितम्

anekakleśasaṁyuktaṁ garbhavāsaṁ na paśyati brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ nāśakaṁ ca prakīrtitam

one does not experience dwelling in the womb, filled with manifold suffering. This has been declared the destroyer of the sin of brahmin-slaying and the rest.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.52.29)

सर्वेषां नरकाणां च बाधकं परिकीर्तितम् । संपदामपि सर्वासां निदानं परिकीर्तितम्

sarveṣāṁ narakāṇāṁ ca bādhakaṁ parikīrtitam sampadām api sarvāsāṁ nidānaṁ parikīrtitam

it has been proclaimed as the obstructer of all the hells, and it has been proclaimed as the very source of all prosperity as well.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.52.30)

इन्द्रादिसर्वलोकानां सालोक्यादिप्रदं तथा । चंद्रसूर्योपरागे च तथैवार्द्धोदये द्विजाः

indrādisarvalokānāṁ sālokyādipradaṁ tathā candrasūryoparāge ca tathaivārddhodaye dvijāḥ

it likewise grants sharing the world with Indra and all the other gods. O brahmins, at a lunar or solar eclipse, and likewise at Ardhodaya,

Verse 31 (skanda.3.52.31)

महोदये धनुष्कोटौ मज्जनं त्वतिनिश्चितम् । रावणस्य विनाशार्थं पुरा रामेण निर्मितम्

mahodaye dhanuṣkoṭau majjanaṁ tv atiniścitam rāvaṇasya vināśārthaṁ purā rāmeṇa nirmitam

and at Mahodaya, immersion at Dhanushkoti is exceedingly certain in its fruit. It was built long ago by Rama for the destruction of Ravana.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.52.32)

सिद्धचारणगंधर्वकिन्नरोरगसेवितम् । ब्रह्मदेवर्षिराजर्षिपितृसंघनिषेवितम्

siddhacāraṇagandharvakinnaroragasevitam brahmadevarṣirājarṣipitṛsaṅghaniṣevitam

it is attended by Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and serpents; it is attended by hosts of Brahmarshis, Devarshis, Rajarshis, and ancestors.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.52.33)

ब्रह्मादिदेवतावृंदैस्सेवितं भक्तिपूर्वकम् । पुण्यं यो रामसेतुं वै संस्मरन्पुरुषो द्विजाः

brahmādidevatāvṛndaiḥ sevitaṁ bhaktipūrvakam puṇyaṁ yo rāmasetuṁ vai saṁsmaran puruṣo dvijāḥ

it is served, with devotion, by hosts of gods beginning with Brahma. O brahmins, whatever man remembers this meritorious Ramasetu,

Verse 34 (skanda.3.52.34)

स्नायाच्च यत्र कुत्रापि तटाकादौ जलाशये । न तस्य दुष्कृतं किंचिद्भविष्यति कदाचन

snāyāc ca yatra kutrāpi taṭākādau jalāśaye na tasya duṣkṛtaṁ kiṁcid bhaviṣyati kadācana

and bathes anywhere at all, even in a pond or any other body of water, no evil deed of his shall ever come to be.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.52.35)

सेतुमध्यस्थतीर्थेषु मुष्टिमात्रप्रदानतः । नश्यंति सकला रोगा भ्रूणहत्यादयस्तथा

setumadhyasthatīrtheṣu muṣṭimātrapradānataḥ naśyanti sakalā rogā bhrūṇahatyādayas tathā

by giving merely a handful in gift at the tirthas situated within the Setu, all diseases, and sins such as the killing of an embryo, are destroyed.

Verse 36 (skanda.3.52.36)

रामेण धनुषः पुण्यां यो रेखां पश्यते कृताम् । न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिर्वैकुंठात्स्यात्कदाचन

rāmeṇa dhanuṣaḥ puṇyāṁ yo rekhāṁ paśyate kṛtām na tasya punarāvṛttir vaikuṇṭhāt syāt kadācana

whoever beholds the sacred line drawn by Rama's bow, for him there is never any return from Vaikuntha.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.52.37)

धनुष्कोटिरिति ख्याता या लोके पापनाशिनी । विभीषणप्रार्थनया कृता रामेण धीमता

dhanuṣkoṭir iti khyātā yā loke pāpanāśinī vibhīṣaṇaprārthanayā kṛtā rāmeṇa dhīmatā

that which is famed in the world as "Dhanushkoti," the destroyer of sin, was made by the wise Rama at the entreaty of Vibhishana.

Verse 38 (skanda.3.52.38)

धनुष्कोटिर्महापुण्या तस्यां स्नात्वा सभक्तिकम् । दद्याद्दानानि वित्तानां क्षेत्राणां च गवां तथा

dhanuṣkoṭir mahāpuṇyā tasyāṁ snātvā sabhaktikam dadyād dānāni vittānāṁ kṣetrāṇāṁ ca gavāṁ tathā

Dhanushkoti is of great merit; having bathed there with devotion, one should give gifts of wealth, of land, and of cows,

Verse 39 (skanda.3.52.39)

तिलानां तंडुलानां च धान्यानां पयसां तथा । वस्त्राणां भूषणानां च माषाणामोदनस्य च

tilānāṁ taṇḍulānāṁ ca dhānyānāṁ payasāṁ tathā vastrāṇāṁ bhūṣaṇānāṁ ca māṣāṇām odanasya ca

of sesame, of rice, of grain, and of milk, of garments, of ornaments, of black gram, and of cooked rice,

Verse 40 (skanda.3.52.40)

दध्नां घृतानां वारीणां शाकानामप्युदश्विताम् । शुद्धानां शर्कराणां च सस्यानां मधुनां तथा

dadhnāṁ ghṛtānāṁ vārīṇāṁ śākānām apy udaśvitām śuddhānāṁ śarkarāṇāṁ ca sasyānāṁ madhunāṁ tathā

of curds, of ghee, of water, of vegetables and buttermilk, of pure sugar, of grain, and of honey,

Verse 41 (skanda.3.52.41)

मोदकानामपूपानामन्येषां दानमेव च । रामसेतौ द्विजाः प्रोक्तं सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायकम्

modakānām apūpānām anyeṣāṁ dānam eva ca rāmasetau dvijāḥ proktaṁ sarvābhīṣṭapradāyakam

and of sweetmeats, of cakes, and of others — O brahmins, at Ramasetu this has been declared to grant every desire.

Verse 42 (skanda.3.52.42)

अतो दद्याद्रामसेतौ वित्तलोभविवर्जितः । दत्तं हुतं च तप्तं च जपश्च नियमादिकम्

ato dadyād rāmasetau vittalobhavivarjitaḥ dattaṁ hutaṁ ca taptaṁ ca japaś ca niyamādikam

therefore, free from greed over wealth, one should give at Ramasetu. What is given, offered in fire, undertaken in austerity, recited, or observed as a vow here,

Verse 43 (skanda.3.52.43)

श्रीरामधनुषः कोटावनंतफलदं भवेत् । तेन वेदाश्च तुष्यंति तुष्यंति पितरस्तथा

śrīrāmadhanuṣaḥ koṭāv anantaphaladaṁ bhavet tena vedāś ca tuṣyanti tuṣyanti pitaras tathā

at the tip (Koti) of Shri Rama's bow, becomes bestower of infinite fruit. By it the Vedas are gratified, and the ancestors likewise are gratified.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.52.44)

तुष्यंति मुनयः सर्वे ब्रह्माविष्णुः शिवस्तथा । नागाः किंपुरुषा यक्षाः सर्वे तुष्यंति निश्चितम्

tuṣyanti munayaḥ sarve brahmāviṣṇuḥ śivas tathā nāgāḥ kiṁpuruṣā yakṣāḥ sarve tuṣyanti niścitam

all the sages are gratified, and Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as well. The Nagas, Kimpurushas, Yakshas — all are certainly gratified.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.52.45)

स्वयं च पूतो भवति धनुष्कोट्यवलोकनात् । स्ववंशजान्नरान्सर्वान्पावयेच्च पितामहान्

svayaṁ ca pūto bhavati dhanuṣkoṭyavalokanāt svavaṁśajān narān sarvān pāvayec ca pitāmahān

he himself becomes purified merely by the sight of Dhanushkoti, and purifies all the men born in his own lineage, and his forefathers as well.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.52.46)

तारयेच्च कुलं सर्वं धनुष्कोट्यवलोकनात् । रामस्य धनुषः कोट्या कृतरेवावगाहनात्

tārayec ca kulaṁ sarvaṁ dhanuṣkoṭyavalokanāt rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ koṭyā kṛtareva avagāhanāt

by the sight of Dhanushkoti, he delivers his entire lineage — through immersion made at the tip of Rama's bow alone.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.52.47)

पंचपातककोटीनां नाशः स्यात्तत्क्षणे ध्रुवम् । श्रीरामधनुषः कोट्या रेखां यः पश्यते कृताम्

pañcapātakakoṭīnāṁ nāśaḥ syāt tatkṣaṇe dhruvam śrīrāmadhanuṣaḥ koṭyā rekhāṁ yaḥ paśyate kṛtām

the destruction of ten million instances of the five great sins occurs, without doubt, in that very instant, for whoever beholds the line drawn by the tip of Shri Rama's bow.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.52.48)

अनेकक्लेशसंपूर्णं गर्भवासं न पश्यति । यत्र सीताऽनलं प्राप्ता तस्मिन्कुंडे निमज्जनात्

anekakleśasampūrṇaṁ garbhavāsaṁ na paśyati yatra sītānalaṁ prāptā tasmin kuṇḍe nimajjanāt

he does not experience dwelling in the womb, full of manifold suffering — by immersion in that pool where Sita underwent the ordeal of fire.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.52.49)

भ्रूणहत्याशतं विप्रा नश्यति क्षणमात्रतः । यथा रामस्तथा सेतुर्यथा गंगा तथा हरिः

bhrūṇahatyāśataṁ viprā naśyati kṣaṇamātrataḥ yathā rāmas tathā setur yathā gaṅgā tathā hariḥ

O brahmins, a hundred instances of the killing of an embryo are destroyed in a mere instant. As is Rama, so is the Setu; as is the Ganga, so is Hari.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.52.50)

गंगे हरे रामसेतो त्विति संकीर्तयन्नरः । यत्र क्वापि बहिः स्नायात्तेन याति परां गतिम्

gaṅge hare rāmaseto tv iti saṅkīrtayan naraḥ yatra kvāpi bahiḥ snāyāt tena yāti parāṁ gatim

a man who, chanting thus — "O Ganga! O Hari! O Ramasetu!" — bathes anywhere outside, even by that alone attains the supreme goal.