Narration of the Fruits of Bathing in Narmada, as Heard from Tradition

Verse 1 (skanda.5.165.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कस्मिन्कल्पे महाभागा नर्मदेयं द्विजोत्तम। विभक्ता ऋषिभिः सर्वैस्तपोयुक्तैर्महात्मभिः॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kasminkalpe mahābhāgā narmadeyaṁ dvijottama| vibhaktā ṛṣibhiḥ sarvaistapoyuktairmahātmabhiḥ||

Yudhishthira said: In which kalpa, O best of brahmins, was this greatly fortunate Narmada divided by all the great-souled sages endowed with austerity?

Verse 2 (skanda.5.165.2)

एतद्विस्तरतः सर्वं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर। कल्पान्ते यद्भवेत्कष्टं लोकानां तत्त्वमेव च॥

etadvistarataḥ sarvaṁ brūhi me vadatāṁ vara| kalpānte yadbhavetkaṣṭaṁ lokānāṁ tattvameva ca||

Tell me all this in detail, O best of speakers — the hardship that occurs to the worlds at the end of a kalpa, and its true nature.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.165.3)

अतीते तु पुरा कल्पे यथेयं वर्ततेऽनघ। अस्यान्त्यस्य च कल्पस्य व्यवस्थां कथय प्रभो। एवमुक्तः सभामध्ये मार्कण्डो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

atīte tu purā kalpe yatheyaṁ vartate'nagha| asyāntyasya ca kalpasya vyavasthāṁ kathaya prabho| evamuktaḥ sabhāmadhye mārkaṇḍo vākyamabravīt||

How did she fare in the kalpa that has now passed, O sinless one? And tell me too, O lord, the order of events of this last kalpa. Thus addressed, in the midst of the assembly, Markandeya spoke these words.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.165.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। वक्ष्येऽहं श्रूयतां सर्वैः कथेयं पूर्वतः श्रुता॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| vakṣye'haṁ śrūyatāṁ sarvaiḥ katheyaṁ pūrvataḥ śrutā||

Markandeya said: I shall tell it; let all listen — this account, as it was heard by me before.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.165.5)

महत्कथेयं वैशिष्टी कल्पादस्मात्परं तु या। लोकक्षयकरो घोर आसीत्कालः सुदारुणः॥

mahatkatheyaṁ vaiśiṣṭī kalpādasmātparaṁ tu yā| lokakṣayakaro ghora āsītkālaḥ sudāruṇaḥ||

This is a great and special account, of what happened after this kalpa — there was a terrible, most dreadful time that brought destruction to the worlds.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.165.6)

तस्मिन्नपि महाघोरे यथेयं वा मृता सती। परितुष्टैर्विभक्ता च शृणुध्वं तां कथामिमाम्॥

tasminnapi mahāghore yatheyaṁ vā mṛtā satī| parituṣṭairvibhaktā ca śṛṇudhvaṁ tāṁ kathāmimām||

Even in that great terror, how she, though seemingly dying, was in fact divided by the well-pleased sages — hear this account.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.165.7)

युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते पितामहदिनत्रये। मानसा ब्रह्मणः पुत्राः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मेव सत्तमाः॥

yugānte samanuprāpte pitāmahadinatraye| mānasā brahmaṇaḥ putrāḥ sākṣādbrahmeva sattamāḥ||

When the end of the age had come, in the third day of the Grandsire, the mind-born sons of Brahma, themselves like Brahma, the most excellent,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.165.8)

सनकाद्या महात्मानो ये च वैमानिका गणाः। यमेन्द्रवरुणाद्याश्च लोकपाला दिनत्रये॥

sanakādyā mahātmāno ye ca vaimānikā gaṇāḥ| yamendravaruṇādyāśca lokapālā dinatraye||

the great souls beginning with Sanaka, and the hosts who move in celestial cars, and the guardians of the world beginning with Yama, Indra, and Varuna, on that third day —

Verse 9 (skanda.5.165.9)

कालापेक्षास्तु तिष्ठन्ति लोकवृत्तान्ततत्पराः। ततः कल्पक्षये प्राप्ते तेषां ज्ञानमनुत्तमम्॥

kālāpekṣāstu tiṣṭhanti lokavṛttāntatatparāḥ| tataḥ kalpakṣaye prāpte teṣāṁ jñānamanuttamam||

—remain watching for the arrival of time, intent upon the world's final course. Then, when the destruction of the kalpa arrives, their supreme knowledge...

Verse 10 (skanda.5.165.10)

सर्वेषां नश्यते चायुर्युगरूपानुसारतः। भूर्लोकं ते परित्यज्य अगमंश्च भुवं तदा॥

sarveṣāṁ naśyate cāyuryugarūpānusārataḥ| bhūrlokaṁ te parityajya agamaṁśca bhuvaṁ tadā||

...and the lifespan of all beings perishes, in accordance with the nature of the age. Abandoning the Bhurloka, they then went to the Bhuvarloka,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.165.11)

स्वर्लोकं च महश्चैव जनश्चैव तपस्तदा। आश्रयं सत्यलोकं च सर्वलोकमनुत्तमम्॥

svarlokaṁ ca mahaścaiva janaścaiva tapastadā| āśrayaṁ satyalokaṁ ca sarvalokamanuttamam||

and then to Svarloka, and Maharloka, and Janaloka, and Tapoloka, taking refuge then in Satyaloka, the highest of all worlds.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.165.12)

कालं युगसहस्रान्तं पुत्रपौत्रसमन्विताः। सत्यलोके च तिष्ठन्ति यावत्संजायते जगत्॥

kālaṁ yugasahasrāntaṁ putrapautrasamanvitāḥ| satyaloke ca tiṣṭhanti yāvatsaṁjāyate jagat||

For the span of a thousand ages, together with their sons and grandsons, they remain in Satyaloka, until the world is created anew.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.165.13)

ब्रह्मपुत्राश्च ये केचित्कल्पादौ न भवन्ति ह। त्रैलोक्यं ते परित्यज्य अनाधारं भवन्ति च॥

brahmaputrāśca ye kecitkalpādau na bhavanti ha| trailokyaṁ te parityajya anādhāraṁ bhavanti ca||

But those sons of Brahma who did not come into being at the beginning of the kalpa — abandoning the three worlds, they become without support.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.165.14)

तैः सार्धं ये तु ते विप्रा अन्ये चापि तपोधनाः। यक्षरक्षःपिशाचाश्च अन्ये वैमानिका गणाः॥

taiḥ sārdhaṁ ye tu te viprā anye cāpi tapodhanāḥ| yakṣarakṣaḥpiśācāśca anye vaimānikā gaṇāḥ||

Together with them, those brahmins, and other ascetics rich in austerity, and yakshas, rakshasas, and pishachas, and other hosts moving in celestial cars,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.165.15)

ऋषयश्च महाभागा वर्णाश्चान्ये पृथग्विधाः। सीदन्ति भूम्यां सहिता ये चान्ये तलवासिनः॥

ṛṣayaśca mahābhāgā varṇāścānye pṛthagvidhāḥ| sīdanti bhūmyāṁ sahitā ye cānye talavāsinaḥ||

and the greatly fortunate sages, and the other various castes, together with those who dwell beneath the earth — all these suffer, remaining upon the earth.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.165.16)

अनावृष्टिरभूत्तत्र महती शतवार्षिकी। लोकक्षयकरी रौद्रा वृक्षवीरुद्विनाशिनी॥

anāvṛṣṭirabhūttatra mahatī śatavārṣikī| lokakṣayakarī raudrā vṛkṣavīrudvināśinī||

There occurred a great drought, lasting a hundred years, terrible, bringing destruction to the worlds, destroying trees and plants,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.165.17)

त्रैलोक्यसंक्षोभकरी सप्तार्णवविशोषणी। ततो लोकाः क्षुधाविष्टा भ्रमन्तीव दिशो दश॥

trailokyasaṁkṣobhakarī saptārṇavaviśoṣaṇī| tato lokāḥ kṣudhāviṣṭā bhramantīva diśo daśa||

agitating the three worlds, drying up the seven oceans. Then the people, overcome with hunger, wandered about, as it were, in the ten directions,

Verse 18 (skanda.5.165.18)

कंदैर्मूलैः फलैर्वापि वर्तयन्ते सुदुःखिताः। सरितः सागराः कूपाः सेवन्ते पावनानि च॥

kaṁdairmūlaiḥ phalairvāpi vartayante suduḥkhitāḥ| saritaḥ sāgarāḥ kūpāḥ sevante pāvanāni ca||

sustaining themselves, greatly afflicted, on bulbs, roots, or fruits; they resorted to rivers, oceans, wells, and other pure waters.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.165.19)

तत्रापि सर्वे शुष्यन्ति सरिद्भिः सह सागराः। ततो यान्यल्पसाराणि सत्त्वानि पृथिवीतले॥

tatrāpi sarve śuṣyanti saridbhiḥ saha sāgarāḥ| tato yānyalpasārāṇi sattvāni pṛthivītale||

But even these all dried up, the oceans together with the rivers. Then those creatures on the surface of the earth that had little vital strength —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.165.20)

तान्येवाग्रे प्रलीयन्ते भिन्नान्युरुजलेन वै। अथ संक्षीयमाणासु सरित्सु सह सागरैः॥

tānyevāgre pralīyante bhinnānyurujalena vai| atha saṁkṣīyamāṇāsu saritsu saha sāgaraiḥ||

—those first perished, their bodies broken by the loss of abundant water. Then, as the rivers were being dried up, along with the oceans,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.165.21)

ऋषीणां षष्टिसाहस्रं कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनाम्। ये च वैखानसा विप्रा दन्तोलूखलिनस्तथा॥

ṛṣīṇāṁ ṣaṣṭisāhasraṁ kurukṣetranivāsinām| ye ca vaikhānasā viprā dantolūkhalinastathā||

sixty thousand sages dwelling in Kurukshetra, and those Vaikhanasa brahmins, and those who used only their teeth as a mortar,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.165.22)

हिमाचलगुहागुह्ये ये वसन्ति तपोधनाः। सर्वे ते मामुपागम्य क्षुत्तृषार्तास्तपोधनाः॥

himācalaguhāguhye ye vasanti tapodhanāḥ| sarve te māmupāgamya kṣuttṛṣārtāstapodhanāḥ||

and those ascetics rich in austerity who dwelt in the secret caves of the Himalaya — all these ascetics, tormented by hunger and thirst, came to me.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.165.23)

ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सीदयामो महामुने। सरित्सागरशैलान्तं जगत्संशुष्यते द्विज॥

ūcuḥ prāñjalayaḥ sarve sīdayāmo mahāmune| saritsāgaraśailāntaṁ jagatsaṁśuṣyate dvija||

All of them, with joined palms, said: 'We are perishing, O great sage. The whole world, to the very limit of its rivers, oceans, and mountains, is drying up, O brahmin.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.165.24)

कुत्र यास्याम सहिता यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः। दीर्घायुरसि विप्रेन्द्र न मृतस्त्वं युगक्षये॥

kutra yāsyāma sahitā yāvatkālasya paryayaḥ| dīrghāyurasi viprendra na mṛtastvaṁ yugakṣaye||

'Where shall we go together until the change of this age? You are of long life, O foremost of brahmins; you did not perish at the destruction of the previous age.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.165.25)

भूतं भव्यं भविष्यच्च सर्वं तव हृदि स्थितम्। तस्मात्त्वं वेत्सि सर्वं च कथयस्व महाव्रत॥

bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhaviṣyacca sarvaṁ tava hṛdi sthitam| tasmāttvaṁ vetsi sarvaṁ ca kathayasva mahāvrata||

'The past, present, and future — all abide in your heart. Therefore you know everything; tell us, O one of great vows.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.165.26)

कीदृक्कालं महाभाग क्षपिष्यामोऽथ सुव्रत। अनावृष्टिहतं सर्वं सीदते सचराचरम्॥

kīdṛkkālaṁ mahābhāga kṣapiṣyāmo'tha suvrata| anāvṛṣṭihataṁ sarvaṁ sīdate sacarācaram||

'How long a time, O greatly fortunate, one of good vows, must we spend in this state? Everything, moving and unmoving, is perishing, stricken by the drought.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.165.27)

परित्राहि महाभाग न यथा याम संक्षयम्। ततः संचिन्त्य मनसा त्वरन्विप्रानथाब्रवम्॥

paritrāhi mahābhāga na yathā yāma saṁkṣayam| tataḥ saṁcintya manasā tvaranviprānathābravam||

'Save us, O greatly fortunate one, so that we do not go to utter destruction.' Then, having reflected in my mind, hastening, I said to the brahmins:

Verse 28 (skanda.5.165.28)

कुरुक्षेत्रं त्यजध्वं च पुत्रदारसमन्विताः। त्यक्त्वोदीचीं दिशं सर्वे यामो याम्यामनुत्तमाम्॥

kurukṣetraṁ tyajadhvaṁ ca putradārasamanvitāḥ| tyaktvodīcīṁ diśaṁ sarve yāmo yāmyāmanuttamām||

'Abandon Kurukshetra, together with your sons and wives. Let us all abandon the northern direction and go to the excellent southern one.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.165.29)

नगरग्रामघोषाढ्यां पुरपत्तनशोभिताम्। गच्छामो नर्मदातीरं बहुसिद्धनिषेवितम्॥

nagaragrāmaghoṣāḍhyāṁ purapattanaśobhitām| gacchāmo narmadātīraṁ bahusiddhaniṣevitam||

'Rich with cities, villages, and cowherd-settlements, adorned with towns and ports — let us go to the bank of Narmada, resorted to by many Siddhas,'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.165.30)

रुद्राङ्गीं तां महापुण्यां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्। पश्यामस्तां महाभागां न्यग्रोधावारसंकुलाम्॥

rudrāṅgīṁ tāṁ mahāpuṇyāṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm| paśyāmastāṁ mahābhāgāṁ nyagrodhāvārasaṁkulām||

'—sprung from Rudra's body, greatly holy, the destroyer of all sin. Let us behold that greatly fortunate one, thronged with banyan groves,'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.165.31)

माहेश्वरैर्भागवतैः सांख्यैः सिद्धैः सुसेविताम्। अनावृष्टिभयाद्भीताः कूलयोरुभयोरपि॥

māheśvarairbhāgavataiḥ sāṁkhyaiḥ siddhaiḥ susevitām| anāvṛṣṭibhayādbhītāḥ kūlayorubhayorapi||

'—well resorted to by Maheshvara-devotees, Bhagavatas, Sankhyas, and Siddhas. Frightened by fear of the drought, on both her banks,'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.165.32)

आश्रमे ह्याश्रमान्दिव्यान्कारयामो जितव्रताः। एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे समेतानुचरैः सह॥

āśrame hyāśramāndivyānkārayāmo jitavratāḥ| evamuktāstu te sarve sametānucaraiḥ saha||

'—let us, our vows fulfilled, build divine hermitages, one hermitage after another.' Thus addressed, all of them, together with their assembled followers,

Verse 33 (skanda.5.165.33)

नर्मदातीरमासाद्य स्थिताः सर्वेऽकुतोभयाः। किंचित्पूर्वमनुस्मृत्य पुरा कल्पादिभिर्भयम्॥

narmadātīramāsādya sthitāḥ sarve'kutobhayāḥ| kiṁcitpūrvamanusmṛtya purā kalpādibhirbhayam||

having reached the bank of Narmada, all remained there, free from every fear, having recalled a little the earlier terror of the kalpa's beginning.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.165.34)

प्राप्तास्तु नर्मदातीरमादावेव कलौ युगे। ततो वर्षशतं पूर्णं दिव्यं रेवातटेऽवसन्॥

prāptāstu narmadātīramādāveva kalau yuge| tato varṣaśataṁ pūrṇaṁ divyaṁ revātaṭe'vasan||

They reached the bank of Narmada right at the beginning of the Kali age; then they dwelt on the bank of the Reva for a full hundred divine years,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.165.35)

षड्विंशच्च सहस्राणि वर्षाणां मानुषाणि च। तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टमृषीणां वसतां नृप॥

ṣaḍviṁśacca sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṁ mānuṣāṇi ca| tatrāścaryaṁ mayā dṛṣṭamṛṣīṇāṁ vasatāṁ nṛpa||

that is, twenty-six thousand years of men. There, O king, I beheld a wonder, while the sages dwelt there.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.165.36)

अनावृष्टिहते लोके संशुष्के स्थावरे चरे। भिन्ने युगादिकलने हाहाभूते विचेतने॥

anāvṛṣṭihate loke saṁśuṣke sthāvare care| bhinne yugādikalane hāhābhūte vicetane||

In a world stricken by drought, in which the moving and unmoving had dried up, when the reckoning of the age's beginning was disrupted, when there was a cry of woe, when all was senseless,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.165.37)

चातुर्वर्णे प्रलीने तु नष्टे होमबलिक्रमे। निःस्वाहे निर्वषट्कारे शौचाचारविवर्जिते॥

cāturvarṇe pralīne tu naṣṭe homabalikrame| niḥsvāhe nirvaṣaṭkāre śaucācāravivarjite||

when the four castes had dissolved, when the order of fire-oblations and offerings was destroyed, when there was no 'svaha', no 'vashat', when purity and right conduct were abandoned —

Verse 38 (skanda.5.165.38)

इयमेका सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा ऋषिकोटिनिषेविता। नान्या काचित्त्रिलोकेऽपि रमणीया नरेश्वर॥

iyamekā saricchreṣṭhā ṛṣikoṭiniṣevitā| nānyā kācittriloke'pi ramaṇīyā nareśvara||

—this one river alone, best among rivers, resorted to by crores of sages, remained; no other in the three worlds was so lovely, O lord of men.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.165.39)

यथेयं पुण्यसलिला इन्द्रस्येवामरावती। देवतायतनैः शुभ्रैराश्रमैश्च सुकल्पितैः॥

yatheyaṁ puṇyasalilā indrasyevāmarāvatī| devatāyatanaiḥ śubhrairāśramaiśca sukalpitaiḥ||

As holy as her waters were, she was like Amaravati, Indra's city; with bright temples of the gods and well-appointed hermitages,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.165.40)

शोभते नर्मदा देवी स्वर्गे मन्दाकिनी यथा। यावद्वृक्षा महाशैला यावत्सागरसंभवा॥

śobhate narmadā devī svarge mandākinī yathā| yāvadvṛkṣā mahāśailā yāvatsāgarasaṁbhavā||

the goddess Narmada shone, like the Mandakini in heaven; as far as her trees and great mountains extend, as far as her origin from the ocean —

Verse 41 (skanda.5.165.41)

उभयोः कूलयोस्तावन्मण्डितायतनैः शुभैः। हूयद्भिरग्निहोत्रैश्च हविर्धूमसमाकुला॥

ubhayoḥ kūlayostāvanmaṇḍitāyatanaiḥ śubhaiḥ| hūyadbhiragnihotraiśca havirdhūmasamākulā||

on both her banks, that far, she was adorned with auspicious temples; thronged with the smoke of oblations from the fire-sacrifices being offered,

Verse 42 (skanda.5.165.42)

बभूव नर्मदा देवी प्रावृट्काल इव शर्वरी। देवतायतनैर्नैकैः पूजासंस्कारशोभिता॥

babhūva narmadā devī prāvṛṭkāla iva śarvarī| devatāyatanairnaikaiḥ pūjāsaṁskāraśobhitā||

the goddess Narmada became like a night in the rainy season; adorned with the worship-rites of countless temples of the gods,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.165.43)

सरिद्भिर्भ्राजते श्रेष्ठा पुरी शाक्री च भास्करी। केचित्पञ्चाग्नितपसः केचिदप्यग्निहोत्रिणः॥

saridbhirbhrājate śreṣṭhā purī śākrī ca bhāskarī| kecitpañcāgnitapasaḥ kecidapyagnihotriṇaḥ||

she shone, best among rivers, like the city of Indra or of the Sun. Some sages practiced the austerity of the five fires, others were performers of the fire-oblation,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.165.44)

केचिद्धूमकमश्नन्ति तपस्युग्रे व्यवस्थिताः। आत्मयज्ञरताः केचिदपरे भक्तिभागिनः॥

keciddhūmakamaśnanti tapasyugre vyavasthitāḥ| ātmayajñaratāḥ kecidapare bhaktibhāginaḥ||

some ate only smoke, established in fierce austerity; some were devoted to the sacrifice of the self, others were partakers of devotion,

Verse 45 (skanda.5.165.45)

वैष्णवज्ञानमासाद्य केचिच्छैवं व्रतं तथा। एकरात्रं द्विरात्रं च केचित्षष्ठाहभोजनाः॥

vaiṣṇavajñānamāsādya kecicchaivaṁ vrataṁ tathā| ekarātraṁ dvirātraṁ ca kecitṣaṣṭhāhabhojanāḥ||

some had attained the knowledge of Vishnu, others the vow of Shiva; some fasted for one night, or two, some ate only once every six days,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.165.46)

चान्द्रायणविधानैश्च कृच्छ्रिणश्चातिकृच्छ्रिणः। एवंविधैस्तपोभिश्च नर्मदातीरशोभितैः॥

cāndrāyaṇavidhānaiśca kṛcchriṇaścātikṛcchriṇaḥ| evaṁvidhaistapobhiśca narmadātīraśobhitaiḥ||

some observed the Chandrayana rites, enduring penances and severer penances. With austerities of this kind, Narmada's bank was made beautiful,

Verse 47 (skanda.5.165.47)

यजद्भिः शंकरं देवं केशवं भाति नित्यदा। एकत्वे च पृथक्त्वे च यजतां च महेश्वरम्॥

yajadbhiḥ śaṁkaraṁ devaṁ keśavaṁ bhāti nityadā| ekatve ca pṛthaktve ca yajatāṁ ca maheśvaram||

by those sacrificing to the god Shankara, or to Keshava — it ever shone. Whether worshipping Maheshvara as one with Vishnu or as separate,

Verse 48 (skanda.5.165.48)

कलौ युगे महाघोरे प्राप्ताः सिद्धिमनुत्तमाम्। यस्य यस्य हि या भक्तिर्विज्ञानं यस्य यादृशम्॥

kalau yuge mahāghore prāptāḥ siddhimanuttamām| yasya yasya hi yā bhaktirvijñānaṁ yasya yādṛśam||

in that most terrible Kali age, they attained the highest perfection. Whatever devotion, whatever kind of understanding each one had,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.165.49)

यस्मिन्यस्मिंश्च देवे तु तांतामीशोऽददात्प्रभुः। स्वभावैकतया भक्त्या तामेत्यान्तः प्रलीयते॥

yasminyasmiṁśca deve tu tāṁtāmīśo'dadātprabhuḥ| svabhāvaikatayā bhaktyā tāmetyāntaḥ pralīyate||

and in whichever deity each placed his faith, to each the Lord granted that very state; through devotion in the oneness of his own nature, he attains it and finally dissolves therein.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.165.50)

संसारे परिवर्तन्ते ये पृथग्भाजिनो नराः। ये महावृक्षमीशानं त्यक्त्वा शाखावलम्बिनः॥

saṁsāre parivartante ye pṛthagbhājino narāḥ| ye mahāvṛkṣamīśānaṁ tyaktvā śākhāvalambinaḥ||

Those men who take separate portions revolve in samsara — those who, abandoning Ishana, the great tree itself, cling instead to its branches;

Verse 51 (skanda.5.165.51)

पुनरावर्तमानास्ते जायन्ते हि चतुर्युगे। देवान्ते स्थावरान्ते च संसारे चाभ्रमन्क्रमात्॥

punarāvartamānāste jāyante hi caturyuge| devānte sthāvarānte ca saṁsāre cābhramankramāt||

they, ever returning, are born again in the cycle of the four ages; passing in due course through the ranks of gods and the ranks of the unmoving, they wander in samsara,

Verse 52 (skanda.5.165.52)

पुनर्जन्म पुनः स्वर्गे पुनर्घोरे च रौरवे। ये पुनर्देवमीशानं भवं भक्तिसुसंस्थिताः॥

punarjanma punaḥ svarge punarghore ca raurave| ye punardevamīśānaṁ bhavaṁ bhaktisusaṁsthitāḥ||

birth again, again in heaven, again in the terrible hell of Raurava. But those who, on the other hand, well established in devotion, worship the god Ishana, Bhava,

Verse 53 (skanda.5.165.53)

यजन्ति नर्मदातीरे न पुनस्ते भवन्ति च। आ देहपतनात्केचिदुपासन्तः परं गताः॥

yajanti narmadātīre na punaste bhavanti ca| ā dehapatanātkecidupāsantaḥ paraṁ gatāḥ||

and sacrifice to him on the bank of Narmada — they are not born again. Some, worshipping until the fall of the body, attained the Supreme.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.165.54)

केचिद्द्वादशभिर्वर्षैः षड्भरन्ये तपोधनाः। त्रिभिः संवत्सरैः केचित्केचित्संवत्सरेण तु॥

keciddvādaśabhirvarṣaiḥ ṣaḍbharanye tapodhanāḥ| tribhiḥ saṁvatsaraiḥ kecitkecitsaṁvatsareṇa tu||

Some ascetics, in twelve years; others in six; some in three years; some, again, in a single year;

Verse 55 (skanda.5.165.55)

षड्भिर्मासैस्तु संसिद्धास्त्रिभिर्मासैस्तथापरे। मुनयो देवमाश्रित्य नर्मदां च यशस्विनीम्॥

ṣaḍbhirmāsaistu saṁsiddhāstribhirmāsaistathāpare| munayo devamāśritya narmadāṁ ca yaśasvinīm||

some attained perfection in six months, others again in three months — sages who resorted to the god and to the glorious Narmada.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.165.56)

छित्त्वा संसारदोषांश्च अगमन्ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्। एवं कलियुगे घोरे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥

chittvā saṁsāradoṣāṁśca agamanbrahma śāśvatam| evaṁ kaliyuge ghore śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ||

Having cut away the taints of samsara, they went to the eternal Brahman. Thus, in the terrible Kali age, by the hundreds and by the thousands,

Verse 57 (skanda.5.165.57)

नर्मदातीरमाश्रित्य मुनयो रुद्रमाविशन्॥

narmadātīramāśritya munayo rudramāviśan||

sages, resorting to the bank of Narmada, entered into Rudra.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.165.58)

ये नर्मदातीरमुपेत्य विप्राः शैवे व्रते यत्नमुपप्रपन्नाः। त्रिकालमम्भः प्रविगाह्य भक्त्या देवं समभ्यर्च्य शिवं व्रजन्ति॥

ye narmadātīramupetya viprāḥ śaive vrate yatnamupaprapannāḥ| trikālamambhaḥ pravigāhya bhaktyā devaṁ samabhyarcya śivaṁ vrajanti||

Those brahmins who, having come to the bank of Narmada, undertake diligent effort in the Shaiva vow, and, plunging into her waters at the three times of day with devotion, worship the god — they go to Shiva.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.165.59)

ध्यानार्चनैर्जाप्यमहाव्रतैश्च नारायणं वा सततं स्मरन्ति। ते धौतपाण्डुरपटा इव राजहंसाः संसारसागरजलस्य तरन्ति पारम्॥

dhyānārcanairjāpyamahāvrataiśca nārāyaṇaṁ vā satataṁ smaranti| te dhautapāṇḍurapaṭā iva rājahaṁsāḥ saṁsārasāgarajalasya taranti pāram||

Those who, by meditation, worship, japa, and great vows, ever call to mind Narayana — like royal swans in washed white garments, they cross to the far shore of the waters of the ocean of samsara.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.165.60)

सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यमुत्क्षिप्य भुजमुच्यते। इदमेकं सुनिष्पन्नं ध्येयो नारायणः सदा॥

satyaṁ satyaṁ punaḥ satyamutkṣipya bhujamucyate| idamekaṁ suniṣpannaṁ dhyeyo nārāyaṇaḥ sadā||

Truth, truth, again truth — it is declared, with arms raised: this one thing alone is well-established — Narayana is ever to be meditated upon.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.165.61)

यो वा हरं पूजयते जितात्मा मासं च पक्षं च वसेन्नरेन्द्र। रेवां समाश्रित्य महानुभावः स देवदेवोऽथ भवेत्पिनाकी॥

yo vā haraṁ pūjayate jitātmā māsaṁ ca pakṣaṁ ca vasennarendra| revāṁ samāśritya mahānubhāvaḥ sa devadevo'tha bhavetpinākī||

O lord of men, whoever, self-controlled, worships Hara, and dwells there for a month or even a fortnight, resorting to the Reva, that great-souled one becomes, as it were, one with the wielder of the Pinaka, the god of gods.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.165.62)

कीटाः पतंगाश्च पिपीलिकाश्च ये वै म्रियन्तेऽम्भसि नर्मदायाः। ते दिव्यरूपास्तु कुलप्रसूताः शतं समा धर्मपरा भवन्ति॥

kīṭāḥ pataṁgāśca pipīlikāśca ye vai mriyante'mbhasi narmadāyāḥ| te divyarūpāstu kulaprasūtāḥ śataṁ samā dharmaparā bhavanti||

Insects, moths, and ants that die in the waters of Narmada — they, of divine form, born in noble families, become devoted to dharma for a hundred years.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.165.63)

कालेन वृक्षाः प्रपतन्ति येऽपि महातरंगौघनिकृत्तमूलाः। ते नर्मदांभोभिरपास्तपापा देदीप्यमानास्त्रिदिवं प्रयान्ति॥

kālena vṛkṣāḥ prapatanti ye'pi mahātaraṁgaughanikṛttamūlāḥ| te narmadāṁbhobhirapāstapāpā dedīpyamānāstridivaṁ prayānti||

Even trees that fall over time, their roots cut away by the great floods of her waves — they, their sins washed away by Narmada's waters, go blazing to the third heaven.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.165.64)

अकामकामाश्च तथा सकामा रेवान्तमाश्रित्य म्रियन्ति तीरे। जडान्धमूकास्त्रिदिवं प्रयान्ति किमत्र विप्रा भवभावयुक्ताः॥

akāmakāmāśca tathā sakāmā revāntamāśritya mriyanti tīre| jaḍāndhamūkāstridivaṁ prayānti kimatra viprā bhavabhāvayuktāḥ||

Those free of desire, and those with desire too, who resort to the border of the Reva and die on her bank — even the inert, the blind, and the mute go to the third heaven; what then of brahmins full of devotion to Shiva?

Verse 65 (skanda.5.165.65)

मासोपवासैरपि शोषिताङ्गा न तां गतिं यान्ति विमुक्तदेहाः। म्रियन्ति रेवाजलपूतकायाः शिवार्चने केशवभावयुक्ताः॥

māsopavāsairapi śoṣitāṅgā na tāṁ gatiṁ yānti vimuktadehāḥ| mriyanti revājalapūtakāyāḥ śivārcane keśavabhāvayuktāḥ||

Even those whose bodies are emaciated by month-long fasts do not attain that same state, as those who die with bodies purified by Narmada's waters, engaged in the worship of Shiva or devotion to Keshava.

Verse 66 (skanda.5.165.66)

नीवारश्यामाकयवेङ्गुदाद्यैरन्यैर्मुनीन्द्रा इह वर्तयन्ति। आप्रित्य कूलं त्रिदशानुगीतं ते नर्मदाया न विशन्ति मृत्युम्॥

nīvāraśyāmākayaveṅgudādyairanyairmunīndrā iha vartayanti| āpritya kūlaṁ tridaśānugītaṁ te narmadāyā na viśanti mṛtyum||

Great sages who sustain themselves here on wild rice, shyamaka grain, barley, ingudi seeds, and other such things, resorting to her bank praised by the thirty gods, do not enter into ordinary death, through Narmada.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.165.67)

भ्रमन्ति ये तीरमुपेत्य देव्यास्त्रिकालदेवार्चनसत्यपूताः। विण्मूत्रचर्मास्थितिरोपधानाः कुक्षौ युवत्या न वसन्ति भूयः॥

bhramanti ye tīramupetya devyāstrikāladevārcanasatyapūtāḥ| viṇmūtracarmāsthitiropadhānāḥ kukṣau yuvatyā na vasanti bhūyaḥ||

Those who wander, having come to the bank of the goddess, purified by truth and by worship of the god thrice daily — they, once freed from a body made of filth, urine, skin and bone, do not dwell again in the womb of a young woman.

Verse 68 (skanda.5.165.68)

किं यज्ञदानैर्बहुभिश्च तेषां निषेवितैस्तीर्थवरैः समस्तैः। रेवातटं दक्षिणमुत्तरं वा सेवन्ति ते रुद्रचरानुपूर्वम्॥

kiṁ yajñadānairbahubhiśca teṣāṁ niṣevitaistīrthavaraiḥ samastaiḥ| revātaṭaṁ dakṣiṇamuttaraṁ vā sevanti te rudracarānupūrvam||

What need have they of many sacrifices and gifts, or of resorting to all the best of fords, who resort, in due order, to the southern or northern bank of Reva, following Rudra's own path?

Verse 69 (skanda.5.165.69)

ते वञ्चिताः पङ्गुजडान्धभूता लोकेषु मर्त्याः पशुभिश्च तुल्याः। ये नाश्रिता रुद्रशरीरभूतां सोपानपङ्क्तिं त्रिदिवस्य रेवाम्॥

te vañcitāḥ paṅgujaḍāndhabhūtā lokeṣu martyāḥ paśubhiśca tulyāḥ| ye nāśritā rudraśarīrabhūtāṁ sopānapaṅktiṁ tridivasya revām||

Those mortals in the world are cheated, become as if lame, dull, and blind, equal to beasts, who have not resorted to the Reva, sprung from Rudra's body, the very stairway to the third heaven.

Verse 70 (skanda.5.165.70)

युगं कलिं घोरमिमं य इच्छेद्द्रष्टुं कदाचिन्न पुनर्द्विजेन्द्रः। स नर्मदातीरमुपेत्य सर्वं सम्पूजयेत्सर्वविमुक्तसंगः॥

yugaṁ kaliṁ ghoramimaṁ ya iccheddraṣṭuṁ kadācinna punardvijendraḥ| sa narmadātīramupetya sarvaṁ sampūjayetsarvavimuktasaṁgaḥ||

Whoever, O foremost of brahmins, wishes never again to see this terrible Kali age — let him, coming to the bank of Narmada, worship all the gods there, free from all attachment.

Verse 71 (skanda.5.165.71)

विघ्नैरनेकैरतियोज्यमाना ये तीरमुझन्ति न नर्मदायाः। ते चैव सर्वस्य हितार्थभूता वन्द्याश्च ते सर्वजनस्य मान्याः॥

vighnairanekairatiyojyamānā ye tīramujhanti na narmadāyāḥ| te caiva sarvasya hitārthabhūtā vandyāśca te sarvajanasya mānyāḥ||

Those who, though beset with many great obstacles, do not abandon the bank of Narmada — they indeed become a source of benefit for all, worthy of veneration, honored by all people.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.165.72)

भृग्वत्रिगार्गेयवशिष्ठकङ्काः शतैः समेतैर्नियतास्त्वसंख्यैः। सिद्धिं परां ते हि जलप्लुताङ्गाः प्राप्तास्तु लोकान्मरुतां न चान्ये॥

bhṛgvatrigārgeyavaśiṣṭhakaṅkāḥ śataiḥ sametairniyatāstvasaṁkhyaiḥ| siddhiṁ parāṁ te hi jalaplutāṅgāḥ prāptāstu lokānmarutāṁ na cānye||

Bhrigu, Atri, Gargeya, Vasishtha, Kanka, together with hundreds and countless others, disciplined, their bodies immersed in her waters — they indeed attained the supreme perfection and the worlds of the Maruts; not so others.

Verse 73 (skanda.5.165.73)

ज्ञानं महत्पुण्यतमं पवित्रं पठन्त्यदो नित्यविशुद्धसत्त्वाः। गतिं परां यान्ति महानुभावा रुद्रस्य वाक्यं हि यथा प्रमाणम्॥

jñānaṁ mahatpuṇyatamaṁ pavitraṁ paṭhantyado nityaviśuddhasattvāḥ| gatiṁ parāṁ yānti mahānubhāvā rudrasya vākyaṁ hi yathā pramāṇam||

Those of ever-pure being who recite this great, most holy and purifying knowledge attain the supreme state, those great souls — for the word of Rudra is indeed authoritative.