The Narrative of Narmadeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.4.92.1)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। नर्मदेशस्य माहात्म्यं कथयामि मुने तव ।। यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण महापातकसंक्षयः

|| skaṁda uvāca || || narmadeśasya māhātmyaṁ kathayāmi mune tava || yasya smaraṇamātreṇa mahāpātakasaṁkṣayaḥ

Skanda said: I shall tell you, O sage, the glory of Narmadesha, by mere remembrance of which great sins are destroyed.

Verse 2 (skanda.4.92.2)

अस्य वाराहकल्पस्य प्रवेशे मुनिपुंगवैः ।। आपृच्छि का सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा वद तां त्वं मृकंडज

asya vārāhakalpasya praveśe munipuṁgavaiḥ || āpṛcchi kā saricchreṣṭhā vada tāṁ tvaṁ mṛkaṁḍaja

At the beginning of this Varaha kalpa, the foremost sages asked: which river is the very best? Tell that to me, O son of Mrikandu.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.92.3)

मार्कंडेय उवाच ।। ।। शृणुध्वं मुनयः सर्वे संति नद्यः परःशतम् ।। सर्वा अप्यघहारिण्यः सर्वा अपि वृषप्रदाः

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca || || śṛṇudhvaṁ munayaḥ sarve saṁti nadyaḥ paraḥśatam || sarvā apyaghahāriṇyaḥ sarvā api vṛṣapradāḥ

Markandeya said: Listen, all sages — there are more than a hundred rivers, all removers of sin, all bestowers of merit.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.92.4)

सर्वाभ्योपि नदीभ्यश्च श्रेष्ठाः सर्वाः समुद्रगाः।। ततोपि हि महाश्रेष्ठाः सरित्सु सरिदुत्तमाः

sarvābhyopi nadībhyaśca śreṣṭhāḥ sarvāḥ samudragāḥ|| tatopi hi mahāśreṣṭhāḥ saritsu sariduttamāḥ

Among all rivers, those flowing to the ocean are the best; and among these, even greater, are the very best among streams —

Verse 5 (skanda.4.92.5)

गंगा च यमुनाचाथ नर्मदा च सरस्वती ।। चतुष्टयमिदं पुण्यं धुनीषु मुनिपुंगवाः

gaṁgā ca yamunācātha narmadā ca sarasvatī || catuṣṭayamidaṁ puṇyaṁ dhunīṣu munipuṁgavāḥ

— Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, and Sarasvati; these four sacred rivers, O foremost sages.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.92.6)

ऋग्वेदमूर्तिर्गंगा स्याद्यमुना च यजुर्ध्रुवम् ।। नर्मदा साममूर्तिस्तु स्यादथर्वा सरस्वती

ṛgvedamūrtirgaṁgā syādyamunā ca yajurdhruvam || narmadā sāmamūrtistu syādatharvā sarasvatī

Ganga is the very embodiment of the Rigveda, Yamuna surely of the Yajurveda; Narmada is the embodiment of the Sama, and Sarasvati of the Atharva.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.92.7)

गंगा सर्वसरिद्योनिः समुद्रस्यापि पूरणी ।। गंगाया न लभेत्साम्यं काचिदत्र सरिद्वरा ।।

gaṁgā sarvasaridyoniḥ samudrasyāpi pūraṇī || gaṁgāyā na labhetsāmyaṁ kācidatra saridvarā ||

Ganga is the source of all rivers, and fills even the ocean; no other excellent river here can attain equality with Ganga.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.92.8)

किंतु पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा रेवया बह्वनेहसम् ।। वरदानोन्मुखो धाता प्रार्थितश्चेति सत्तम

kiṁtu pūrvaṁ tapastaptvā revayā bahvanehasam || varadānonmukho dhātā prārthitaśceti sattama

But formerly, having performed austerity for a long time, Reva prayed to Brahma, who stood ready to grant a boon, O best of sages —

Verse 9 (skanda.4.92.9)

गंगा साम्यं विधे देहि प्रसन्नोसि यदि प्रभो ।। ब्रह्मणाथ ततः प्रोक्ता नर्मदा स्मितपूर्वकम्

gaṁgā sāmyaṁ vidhe dehi prasannosi yadi prabho || brahmaṇātha tataḥ proktā narmadā smitapūrvakam

"O Vidhi, grant me equality with Ganga, if you are pleased, O lord." Then Brahma, smiling, said to Narmada —

Verse 10 (skanda.4.92.10)

यदि त्र्यक्षसमत्वं तु लभ्यतेऽन्येन केनचित् ।। तदा गंगासमत्वं च लभ्यते सरितान्यया

yadi tryakṣasamatvaṁ tu labhyate'nyena kenacit || tadā gaṁgāsamatvaṁ ca labhyate saritānyayā

"If equality with the three-eyed one can be obtained by anyone else, then only can equality with Ganga be obtained by another river."

Verse 11 (skanda.4.92.11)

पुरुषोत्तम तुल्यः स्यात्पुरुषोन्यो यदि क्वचित ।। स्रोतस्विनी तदा साम्यं लभते गंगया परा

puruṣottama tulyaḥ syātpuruṣonyo yadi kvacita || srotasvinī tadā sāmyaṁ labhate gaṁgayā parā

"If any other person could ever be equal to Purushottama, then some other river could attain equality with Ganga."

Verse 12 (skanda.4.92.12)

यदि गौरी समा नारी क्वचिदन्या भवेदिह ।। अन्या धुनीह स्वर्धुन्यास्तदा साम्यमुपैष्यति

yadi gaurī samā nārī kvacidanyā bhavediha || anyā dhunīha svardhunyāstadā sāmyamupaiṣyati

"If any other woman anywhere could be equal to Gauri, then only would some other river here attain equality with the celestial river."

Verse 13 (skanda.4.92.13)

यदि काशीपुरी तुल्या भवेदस्या क्वचित्पुरी ।। तदा स्वर्गतरंगिण्याः साम्यमन्या नदी लभेत्

yadi kāśīpurī tulyā bhavedasyā kvacitpurī || tadā svargataraṁgiṇyāḥ sāmyamanyā nadī labhet

"If any other city could ever be equal to Kashi-puri, then only would some other river attain equality with the heaven-river."

Verse 14 (skanda.4.92.14)

निशम्येति विधेर्वाक्यं नर्मदा सरिदुत्तमा ।। धातुर्वरं परित्यज्य प्राप्ता वाराणसीं पुरीम्

niśamyeti vidhervākyaṁ narmadā sariduttamā || dhāturvaraṁ parityajya prāptā vārāṇasīṁ purīm

Hearing this word of Brahma, Narmada, best among rivers, gave up Brahma's boon and came to the city of Varanasi.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.92.15)

सर्वेभ्योपि हि पुण्येभ्यः काश्यां लिंगप्रतिष्ठितेः ।। अपरा न समुद्दिष्टा कैश्चिच्छ्रेयस्करी क्रिया

sarvebhyopi hi puṇyebhyaḥ kāśyāṁ liṁgapratiṣṭhiteḥ || aparā na samuddiṣṭā kaiścicchreyaskarī kriyā

Because among all meritorious acts, none has ever been declared by anyone as more conducive to welfare than the establishment of a linga in Kashi.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.92.16)

अथ सा नर्मदा पुण्या विधिपूर्वां प्रतिष्ठितिम् ।। व्यधात्पिलिपिलातीर्थे त्रिविषिष्टपसमीपतः

atha sā narmadā puṇyā vidhipūrvāṁ pratiṣṭhitim || vyadhātpilipilātīrthe triviṣiṣṭapasamīpataḥ

Then that holy Narmada performed the proper establishment of a linga at Pilipila-tirtha, near Trivishtapa.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.92.17)

ततः शंभुः प्रसन्नोभूऽत्तस्यै नद्यै शुभात्मने ।। वरं वृणीष्व सुभगे यत्तुभ्यं रोचतेऽनघे

tataḥ śaṁbhuḥ prasannobhū'ttasyai nadyai śubhātmane || varaṁ vṛṇīṣva subhage yattubhyaṁ rocate'naghe

Then Shambhu became pleased with that auspicious-souled river: "Choose a boon, O fortunate, sinless one, whatever pleases you."

Verse 18 (skanda.4.92.18)

सरिद्वरा निशम्येति रेवा प्राह महेश्वरम् ।। किं वरेणेह देवेश भृशं तुच्छेन धूर्जटे ।।

saridvarā niśamyeti revā prāha maheśvaram || kiṁ vareṇeha deveśa bhṛśaṁ tucchena dhūrjaṭe ||

Hearing this, Reva, best of rivers, said to Maheshvara: "What need is there here for a boon, O Dhurjati — that is exceedingly trivial."

Verse 19 (skanda.4.92.19)

निर्द्वंद्वा त्वत्पदद्वंद्वे भक्तिरस्तु महेश्वर ।। श्रुत्वेति नितरां तुष्टो रेवागिरमनुत्तमाम्

nirdvaṁdvā tvatpadadvaṁdve bhaktirastu maheśvara || śrutveti nitarāṁ tuṣṭo revāgiramanuttamām

"Let there be unwavering devotion to your two feet, O Maheshvara." Hearing this most excellent word, exceedingly pleased,

Verse 20 (skanda.4.92.20)

प्रोवाच च सरिच्छेष्ठे त्वयोक्तं यत्तथास्तु तत् ।। गृहाण पुण्यनिलये वितरामि वरांतरम्

provāca ca sariccheṣṭhe tvayoktaṁ yattathāstu tat || gṛhāṇa puṇyanilaye vitarāmi varāṁtaram

he said to that best of rivers: "What you have said, so be it. Accept, O abode of merit — I shall grant you another boon."

Verse 21 (skanda.4.92.21)

यावंत्यो दृषदः संति तव रोधसि नर्मदे ।। तावंत्यो लिंगरूपिण्यो भविष्यंति वरान्मम

yāvaṁtyo dṛṣadaḥ saṁti tava rodhasi narmade || tāvaṁtyo liṁgarūpiṇyo bhaviṣyaṁti varānmama

"As many stones as are on your banks, O Narmada, so many shall become linga-formed by my boon."

Verse 22 (skanda.4.92.22)

अन्यं च ते वरं दद्या तमप्याकर्णयोत्तमम् ।। दुष्प्रापं यज्ञतपसां राशिभिः परमार्थतः

anyaṁ ca te varaṁ dadyā tamapyākarṇayottamam || duṣprāpaṁ yajñatapasāṁ rāśibhiḥ paramārthataḥ

"And I shall give you another boon; hear that excellent one too — hard to attain, in the highest sense, even through great masses of sacrifices and austerities."

Verse 23 (skanda.4.92.23)

सद्यः पापहरा गंगा सप्ताहेन कलिंदजा ।। त्र्यहात्सरस्वती रेवे त्वं तु दर्शनमात्रतः ।।

sadyaḥ pāpaharā gaṁgā saptāhena kaliṁdajā || tryahātsarasvatī reve tvaṁ tu darśanamātrataḥ ||

"Ganga removes sin instantly, the daughter of Kalinda in seven days, Sarasvati in three days; but you, O Reva, by mere sight alone."

Verse 24 (skanda.4.92.24)

अपरं च वरं दद्यां नर्मदे दर्शनाघहे ।। भवत्या स्थापितं लिंगं नर्मदेश्वरसंजकम्

aparaṁ ca varaṁ dadyāṁ narmade darśanāghahe || bhavatyā sthāpitaṁ liṁgaṁ narmadeśvarasaṁjakam

"And I shall give one more boon, O Narmada, remover of sin by mere sight: the linga established by you shall be named Narmadeshvara."

Verse 25 (skanda.4.92.25)

यत्तल्लिंगं महापुण्यं मुक्तिं दास्यति शाश्वतीम ।। अस्य लिंगस्य ये भक्तास्तान्दृष्ट्वा सूर्यनंदनः

yattalliṁgaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ muktiṁ dāsyati śāśvatīma || asya liṁgasya ye bhaktāstāndṛṣṭvā sūryanaṁdanaḥ

"That linga, of great merit, shall bestow eternal liberation. Whoever are devotees of this linga, seeing them, the son of the Sun —"

Verse 26 (skanda.4.92.26)

प्रणमिष्यंति यत्नेन महाश्रेयोभिवृद्धये ।। संति लिंगान्यनेकानि काश्यां देवि पदेपदे

praṇamiṣyaṁti yatnena mahāśreyobhivṛddhaye || saṁti liṁgānyanekāni kāśyāṁ devi padepade

"— shall, with effort, bow to them, for the increase of great welfare. There are many lingas at every step in Kashi, O goddess,"

Verse 27 (skanda.4.92.27)

परं हि नर्मदेशस्य महिमा कोपि चाद्भुतः ।। इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशस्तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं ययौ

paraṁ hi narmadeśasya mahimā kopi cādbhutaḥ || ityuktvā devadeveśastasmi~lliṁge layaṁ yayau

"but the glory of Narmadesha is indeed something wonderful." Having said this, the god of gods merged into that linga.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.92.28)

नर्मदापि प्रहृष्टासीत्पावित्र्यं प्राप्य चाद्भुतम् ।। स्वदेशं च परिप्राप्ता दृष्टमात्राघहारिणी

narmadāpi prahṛṣṭāsītpāvitryaṁ prāpya cādbhutam || svadeśaṁ ca pariprāptā dṛṣṭamātrāghahāriṇī

Narmada too became exceedingly delighted, having attained wondrous purity; and, remover of sin by mere sight, she returned to her own country.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.92.29)

वाक्यं मृकंडजमुनेस्तेपि श्रुत्वा मुनीश्वराः ।। प्रहृष्टचेतसो जाताश्चक्रुः स्वं स्वं ततो हितम्

vākyaṁ mṛkaṁḍajamunestepi śrutvā munīśvarāḥ || prahṛṣṭacetaso jātāścakruḥ svaṁ svaṁ tato hitam

Hearing this word of the sage, son of Mrikandu, those lords of sages too became joyful in heart, and each pursued their own welfare.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.92.30)

।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। नर्मदेशस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भक्तियुतो नरः ।। पापकंचुकमुत्सृज्य प्राप्स्यति ज्ञानमुत्तमम्

|| skaṁda uvāca || || narmadeśasya māhātmyaṁ śrutvā bhaktiyuto naraḥ || pāpakaṁcukamutsṛjya prāpsyati jñānamuttamam

Skanda said: A man endowed with devotion, having heard the glory of Narmadesha, casting off the garment of sin, shall attain supreme knowledge.