The Glory of the Four Oceans

Verse 1 (skanda.5.14.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। स्नात्वा चतुःसमुद्रे तु पश्येद्राजस्थलं शिवम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पुत्रवाञ्जायते नरः

sanatkumāra uvāca| snātvā catuḥsamudre tu paśyedrājasthalaṁ śivam| yasya darśanamātreṇa putravāñjāyate naraḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having bathed in the four oceans, one should behold auspicious Rajasthala; by the mere sight of which a man becomes blessed with a son.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.14.2)

समुद्राः संति चत्वारः क्षारक्षीरदधीक्षवः। समीपे तस्य देवस्य सुद्युम्नेन प्रतिष्ठिताः

samudrāḥ saṁti catvāraḥ kṣārakṣīradadhīkṣavaḥ| samīpe tasya devasya sudyumnena pratiṣṭhitāḥ

There are four oceans: of salt, of milk, of curd, and of sugarcane-juice; they were established near that god by Sudyumna.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.14.3)

व्यास उवाच। राजस्थल समीपे तु समुद्राः केन हेतुना। कथय त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुद्युम्नेन प्रतिष्ठिताः

vyāsa uvāca| rājasthala samīpe tu samudrāḥ kena hetunā| kathaya tvaṁ muniśreṣṭha sudyumnena pratiṣṭhitāḥ

Vyasa said: For what reason, O best of sages, were the oceans established near Rajasthala by Sudyumna? Tell me this.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.14.4)

लक्षयोजनपर्यंतं जंबुद्वीपं सुशोभनम्। मर्यादायां स्थापितोऽयं समुद्रः क्षारसंज्ञितः

lakṣayojanaparyaṁtaṁ jaṁbudvīpaṁ suśobhanam| maryādāyāṁ sthāpito'yaṁ samudraḥ kṣārasaṁjñitaḥ

Extending a hundred thousand yojanas, the beautiful Jambudvipa has, established at its boundary, this ocean called the Salt Ocean.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.14.5)

शाकद्वीपे द्विलक्षे तु क्षीराब्धिः संप्रतिष्ठितः। दध्यब्धिस्तु कुशद्वीपे चतुर्लक्षः प्रतिष्ठितः। शाल्मले त्विक्षुजलधिर्ह्यष्टलक्षः प्रतिष्ठितः

śākadvīpe dvilakṣe tu kṣīrābdhiḥ saṁpratiṣṭhitaḥ| dadhyabdhistu kuśadvīpe caturlakṣaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ| śālmale tvikṣujaladhirhyaṣṭalakṣaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

In Shakadvipa, across two hundred thousand yojanas, the Ocean of Milk is established; the Ocean of Curd, across four hundred thousand, in Kushadvipa; and in Shalmala, the Ocean of Sugarcane-juice, across eight hundred thousand.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.14.6)

चत्वारस्ते समाख्याताः समुद्रा भूमिमंडले। राजस्थलसमीपे तु कथमेकत्र संगताः

catvāraste samākhyātāḥ samudrā bhūmimaṁḍale| rājasthalasamīpe tu kathamekatra saṁgatāḥ

These four oceans have thus been declared as existing on the circle of the earth; how did they come to be gathered together in one place, near Rajasthala?

Verse 7 (skanda.5.14.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। सुद्युम्नो नाम राजासीत्पुरा कल्पे सुधार्मिकः। तस्य पत्नी वरारोहा नाम्ना ख्याता सुदर्शना

sanatkumāra uvāca| sudyumno nāma rājāsītpurā kalpe sudhārmikaḥ| tasya patnī varārohā nāmnā khyātā sudarśanā

Sanatkumara said: Formerly, in a past age, there was a king named Sudyumna, of righteous conduct; his wife, of excellent form, was celebrated by the name Sudarshana.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.14.8)

मुनिं दाल्भ्यं च सा दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ सुतकाम्यया। भगवन्केन दानेन स्नानेन विधिनाऽथवा

muniṁ dālbhyaṁ ca sā dṛṣṭvā papraccha sutakāmyayā| bhagavankena dānena snānena vidhinā'thavā

Having seen the sage Dalbhya, she asked him, out of a desire for a son: 'O Lord, by what gift, what bathing, or what rite...'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.14.9)

सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णः पुत्रो लभ्यो मया कथम्। एतदाख्याहि विप्रर्षे याथातथ्यं सविस्तरम्

sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpūrṇaḥ putro labhyo mayā katham| etadākhyāhi viprarṣe yāthātathyaṁ savistaram

'...may I obtain a son endowed with every auspicious mark? Tell me this, O sage among Brahmins, truly and in full detail.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.14.10)

दाल्भ्य उवाच। विहितास्ते पुरा पुत्र्यब्धयः पुत्रेप्सयोत्तमाः। स्वयंभुवेन देवेन ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा

dālbhya uvāca| vihitāste purā putryabdhayaḥ putrepsayottamāḥ| svayaṁbhuvena devena brahmaṇā lokakāriṇā

Dalbhya said: Formerly these supreme, son-bestowing oceans were fashioned, out of a wish for offspring, by the self-born god Brahma, the maker of the worlds.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.14.11)

तेषु राज्ञा कृते स्नाने तव पुत्रो भविष्यति। शंकराराधने पुत्रि तस्मात्प्रेरय वल्लभम्

teṣu rājñā kṛte snāne tava putro bhaviṣyati| śaṁkarārādhane putri tasmātpreraya vallabham

By the king's bathing in them, a son shall be born to you; therefore, O daughter, urge your beloved husband toward the worship of Shankara.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.14.12)

दाल्भ्यस्यैव तु वाक्येन विचित्राख्यानकेन च। प्रस्थापयामास पतिं शंकराराधने द्रुतम्

dālbhyasyaiva tu vākyena vicitrākhyānakena ca| prasthāpayāmāsa patiṁ śaṁkarārādhane drutam

By this very word of Dalbhya, and by that wondrous account, she sent her husband forth swiftly to the worship of Shankara.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.14.13)

स गत्वा तोषयामास शंकरं गंधमादने। संतुष्टः शंकरः प्राह शशिसूर्याग्निलोचनः

sa gatvā toṣayāmāsa śaṁkaraṁ gaṁdhamādane| saṁtuṣṭaḥ śaṁkaraḥ prāha śaśisūryāgnilocanaḥ

He went and set about pleasing Shankara on Mount Gandhamadana; and, pleased, Shankara, whose eyes are the moon, the sun, and fire, spoke.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.14.14)

अवंतीं गच्छ राजेद्र पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि शोभनम्। मच्छासनाज्जलधयो गमिष्यंति कुशस्थलीम्

avaṁtīṁ gaccha rājedra putraṁ prāpsyasi śobhanam| macchāsanājjaladhayo gamiṣyaṁti kuśasthalīm

'Go to Avanti, O king; you shall obtain a fine son. By my command the oceans shall proceed to Kushasthali.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.14.15)

मेरुरूपे स्थले राजन्समीपे शंकरस्य च। द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं नरश्रेष्ठ जलधींस्तत्र संगतान्। अभ्यर्थितास्त्वया तत्र स्थास्यंति कलया सदा

merurūpe sthale rājansamīpe śaṁkarasya ca| drakṣyasi tvaṁ naraśreṣṭha jaladhīṁstatra saṁgatān| abhyarthitāstvayā tatra sthāsyaṁti kalayā sadā

'At the place shaped like Meru, O king, near Shankara, you, O best of men, shall behold the oceans gathered there; entreated by you, they shall remain there forever, with a portion of themselves.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.14.16)

एवमुक्त्वा महादेवो जगामादर्शनं विभुः। सुद्युम्नो भार्यया सार्धमाजगाम कुशस्थलीम्

evamuktvā mahādevo jagāmādarśanaṁ vibhuḥ| sudyumno bhāryayā sārdhamājagāma kuśasthalīm

Having said this, the mighty Mahadeva vanished from sight; and Sudyumna, together with his wife, came to Kushasthali.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.14.17)

आगतस्तु कुशस्थल्यां समुद्रांश्च ददर्श ह। तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा नमश्चक्रे राजस्थलसमीपतः

āgatastu kuśasthalyāṁ samudrāṁśca dadarśa ha| tāṁstu dṛṣṭvā namaścakre rājasthalasamīpataḥ

Having arrived at Kushasthali, he beheld the oceans; and, seeing them, made obeisance from near Rajasthala.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.14.18)

ते वै दृष्ट्वा च सुद्युम्नं प्रणतं भक्तवत्सलम्। प्रोचुर्वारिधयः सर्वे वरं वरय सुव्रत

te vai dṛṣṭvā ca sudyumnaṁ praṇataṁ bhaktavatsalam| procurvāridhayaḥ sarve varaṁ varaya suvrata

Seeing Sudyumna, gracious to his devotees, bowed before them, all the oceans said: 'Choose a boon, O one of good vows.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.14.19)

स वव्रे मनसा पुत्रं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्। उवाच च पुना राजा यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी। तावदत्रैव स्थातव्यं राजस्थलसमीपतः

sa vavre manasā putraṁ sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutam| uvāca ca punā rājā yāvattiṣṭhati medinī| tāvadatraiva sthātavyaṁ rājasthalasamīpataḥ

He desired in his heart a son endowed with every auspicious mark; and the king said further: 'For as long as this earth endures, remain here, near Rajasthala.'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.14.20)

समुद्रा ऊचुः। तावत्स्थास्यामहेऽत्रैव यावत्कल्पावसानकम्

samudrā ūcuḥ| tāvatsthāsyāmahe'traiva yāvatkalpāvasānakam

The oceans said: We shall remain right here until the very end of the aeon.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.14.21)

भविष्यति च ते पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः। अत्र ते स्नानमात्रेण तस्मात्स्नानं समाचर

bhaviṣyati ca te putraḥ sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutaḥ| atra te snānamātreṇa tasmātsnānaṁ samācara

'And through mere bathing here, a son endowed with every auspicious mark shall be born to you; therefore observe this bathing.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.14.22)

स्थले चात्र शुभे राजन्स्थास्यामः कलया सह। एवं व्यास समुद्रास्तु सुद्युम्नेनावतारिताः

sthale cātra śubhe rājansthāsyāmaḥ kalayā saha| evaṁ vyāsa samudrāstu sudyumnenāvatāritāḥ

'And, O king, in this auspicious place we shall abide together with a portion of ourselves.' Thus, O Vyasa, were the oceans brought down here by Sudyumna.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.14.23)

कुरुते तेषु यो यात्रां तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु। स्नानं कृत्वा महापुण्ये समुद्रे क्षारसंज्ञके

kurute teṣu yo yātrāṁ tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu| snānaṁ kṛtvā mahāpuṇye samudre kṣārasaṁjñake

Whoever undertakes pilgrimage to them, hear the meritorious fruit that is his: having bathed in the greatly sacred ocean called the Salt Ocean...

Verse 24 (skanda.5.14.24)

कुर्याच्छाद्धं ततो व्यास पितॄणां भक्तितत्परः। पूजयेच्च महादेवं स्थलस्थं पार्वतीपतिम्

kuryācchāddhaṁ tato vyāsa pitṝṇāṁ bhaktitatparaḥ| pūjayecca mahādevaṁ sthalasthaṁ pārvatīpatim

...he should then, O Vyasa, devoutly perform the ancestral rite; and worship Mahadeva, the consort of Parvati, present in that place.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.14.25)

मंडकांश्च ततो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे। पात्रं ताम्रमयं कार्यं लवणेन प्रपूरितम्

maṁḍakāṁśca tato dadyādbrāhmaṇe vedapārage| pātraṁ tāmramayaṁ kāryaṁ lavaṇena prapūritam

Thereafter one should give sweet cakes to a Brahmin versed in the Vedas; a copper vessel should be made and filled with salt.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.14.26)

सहिरण्यं च दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे। सप्तधान्यसमायुक्तं वेणुजं वस्त्रवेष्टितम्

sahiraṇyaṁ ca dātavyaṁ brāhmaṇe vedapārage| saptadhānyasamāyuktaṁ veṇujaṁ vastraveṣṭitam

This should be given, together with gold, to the Brahmin versed in the Vedas; joined with the seven grains, made of bamboo, and wrapped in cloth.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.14.27)

सदक्षिणं फलैर्युक्तमर्घ्यं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः। क्षीराब्धिं च ततो गत्वा स्नानं कुर्याच्च पूर्ववत्

sadakṣiṇaṁ phalairyuktamarghyaṁ dadyātprayatnataḥ| kṣīrābdhiṁ ca tato gatvā snānaṁ kuryācca pūrvavat

One should diligently offer the arghya together with the priestly fee and fruits; and then, having gone to the Ocean of Milk, bathe there as before.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.14.28)

क्षीरं तत्र प्रदातव्यं ताम्रपात्रेण पूरितम्। दध्यब्धौ च तथा कृत्वा दद्याद्दध्योदनं शुभम्

kṣīraṁ tatra pradātavyaṁ tāmrapātreṇa pūritam| dadhyabdhau ca tathā kṛtvā dadyāddadhyodanaṁ śubham

There one should give milk, filled in a copper vessel; and, having done likewise at the Ocean of Curd, give auspicious curd-rice.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.14.29)

इक्ष्वब्धौ च तथा कृत्वा दद्याद्विप्रे गुडं शुभम्। यात्रां कृत्वा तु वै व्यास गां च दद्यात्पयस्विनीम्

ikṣvabdhau ca tathā kṛtvā dadyādvipre guḍaṁ śubham| yātrāṁ kṛtvā tu vai vyāsa gāṁ ca dadyātpayasvinīm

And, having done likewise at the Ocean of Sugarcane-juice, one should give auspicious jaggery to a Brahmin; and, O Vyasa, having completed the pilgrimage, give a milch-cow as well.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.14.30)

एवं यः कुरुते यात्रां राजस्थलसमीपतः। भव्यां हि लभते लक्ष्मीं पुत्रांश्चापि मनोरमान्

evaṁ yaḥ kurute yātrāṁ rājasthalasamīpataḥ| bhavyāṁ hi labhate lakṣmīṁ putrāṁścāpi manoramān

Thus whoever undertakes this pilgrimage near Rajasthala obtains splendid fortune, and also sons who delight the heart.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.14.31)

मृते स्वर्गमवाप्नोति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश। तावत्स्वर्गफलं भुक्त्वा पश्चान्मोक्षं प्रयास्यति

mṛte svargamavāpnoti yāvadiṁdrāścaturdaśa| tāvatsvargaphalaṁ bhuktvā paścānmokṣaṁ prayāsyati

Upon death he attains heaven for as long as fourteen Indras reign; and having enjoyed the fruit of heaven for that span, he afterward attains liberation.