Description of the Glory of Sri Narmada

Verse 1 (skanda.5.166.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। अहो महत्पुण्यतमा विशिष्टा क्षयं न याता इह या युगान्ते। तस्मात्सदा सेव्यतमा मुनीन्द्रैर्ध्यानार्चनस्नानपरायणैश्च॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| aho mahatpuṇyatamā viśiṣṭā kṣayaṁ na yātā iha yā yugānte| tasmātsadā sevyatamā munīndrairdhyānārcanasnānaparāyaṇaiśca||

Yudhishthira said: Ah, this most greatly holy, distinguished one, who did not go to destruction here even at the end of the age! Therefore she is ever to be resorted to by the foremost of sages, devoted to meditation, worship, and bathing.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.166.2)

यामाश्रित्य गता मोक्षमृषयो धर्मवत्सलाः। ये त्वयोक्तास्तु नियमा ऋषीणां वेदनिर्मिताः॥

yāmāśritya gatā mokṣamṛṣayo dharmavatsalāḥ| ye tvayoktāstu niyamā ṛṣīṇāṁ vedanirmitāḥ||

Resorting to whom, the dharma-loving sages attained liberation. Those vows of the sages that you have told, fashioned from the Vedas —

Verse 3 (skanda.5.166.3)

मोक्षावाप्तिर्भवेद्येषां नियमैश्च पृथग्विधैः। दशद्वादशभिर्वापि षड्भिरष्टाभिरेव वा॥

mokṣāvāptirbhavedyeṣāṁ niyamaiśca pṛthagvidhaiḥ| daśadvādaśabhirvāpi ṣaḍbhiraṣṭābhireva vā||

—by which, through their various rules, the attainment of liberation comes, whether in ten or twelve years, or six, or eight,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.166.4)

त्रिभिस्तथा चतुर्भिर्वा वर्षैर्मासैस्तथैव च। मुच्यन्ते कलिदोषैस्ते देवेशानसमर्चनात्॥

tribhistathā caturbhirvā varṣairmāsaistathaiva ca| mucyante kalidoṣaiste deveśānasamarcanāt||

or three or four years, or likewise in months — they are freed from the taints of Kali through the worship of the lord of gods.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.166.5)

ब्रह्माणं वा सुरश्रेष्ठ केशवं वा जगद्गुरुम्। अर्चयन्पापमखिलं जहात्येव न संशयः॥

brahmāṇaṁ vā suraśreṣṭha keśavaṁ vā jagadgurum| arcayanpāpamakhilaṁ jahātyeva na saṁśayaḥ||

Whether worshipping Brahma, O best of gods, or Keshava, the guru of the world, one indeed abandons all sin — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.166.6)

एतद्विस्तरतः सर्वं कथयस्व ममानघ। यस्मिन्संसारगहने निमग्नाः सर्वजन्तवः। ते कथं त्रिदिवं प्राप्ता इति मे संशयो वद॥

etadvistarataḥ sarvaṁ kathayasva mamānagha| yasminsaṁsāragahane nimagnāḥ sarvajantavaḥ| te kathaṁ tridivaṁ prāptā iti me saṁśayo vada||

Tell me all this in detail, O sinless one. All creatures are sunk in this deep forest of samsara — how do they reach the third heaven? Tell me, resolving my doubt.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.166.7)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। जन्मान्तरैरनेकैस्तु मानुष्यमुपलभ्यते। भक्तिरुत्पद्यते चात्र कथंचिदपि शङ्करे॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| janmāntarairanekaistu mānuṣyamupalabhyate| bhaktirutpadyate cātra kathaṁcidapi śaṅkare||

Sri Markandeya said: Through many other births, the human state is obtained; and here, somehow, devotion to Shankara arises.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.166.8)

तीर्थदानोपवासानां यज्ञैर्देवद्विजार्चनैः। अवाप्तिर्जायते पुंसां श्रद्धया परया नृप॥

tīrthadānopavāsānāṁ yajñairdevadvijārcanaiḥ| avāptirjāyate puṁsāṁ śraddhayā parayā nṛpa||

O king, through pilgrimages, gifts, fasts, sacrifices, and the worship of gods and brahmins, attainment comes to men through supreme faith.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.166.9)

तस्माच्छ्रद्धा प्रकर्तव्या मानवैर्धर्मवत्सलैः। ईशोऽपि श्रद्धया साध्यस्तेन श्रद्धा विशिष्यते॥

tasmācchraddhā prakartavyā mānavairdharmavatsalaiḥ| īśo'pi śraddhayā sādhyastena śraddhā viśiṣyate||

Therefore faith should be cultivated by men devoted to dharma; even Ishvara is attained through faith — therefore faith is supreme.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.166.10)

अन्यथा निष्फलं सर्वं श्रद्धाहीनं तु भारत। तस्मात्समाश्रयेद्भक्तिं रुद्रस्य परमेष्ठिनः॥

anyathā niṣphalaṁ sarvaṁ śraddhāhīnaṁ tu bhārata| tasmātsamāśrayedbhaktiṁ rudrasya parameṣṭhinaḥ||

Otherwise, without faith, everything, O descendant of Bharata, is fruitless. Therefore one should take refuge in devotion to Rudra, the Supreme Lord.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.166.11)

तेषांहि सफलं जन्म येषां भक्तिरचञ्चला। सा चैव त्रिविधा भक्तिः सात्त्विकी राजसी तथा॥

teṣāṁhi saphalaṁ janma yeṣāṁ bhaktiracañcalā| sā caiva trividhā bhaktiḥ sāttvikī rājasī tathā||

Fruitful indeed is the birth of those whose devotion is unwavering. And that devotion is threefold: sattvic, rajasic,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.166.12)

तामसी सर्वलोकस्य त्रिविधं च फलं लभेत्। ते कर्मफलसंयोगादावर्तन्ते पुनःपुनः॥

tāmasī sarvalokasya trividhaṁ ca phalaṁ labhet| te karmaphalasaṁyogādāvartante punaḥpunaḥ||

and tamasic, for all the world; and one obtains a threefold fruit accordingly. Through the connection with the fruit of action, they return again and again.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.166.13)

जन्मान्तरशतैस्तेषां ज्ञानिनां देवयाजिनाम्। देवत्रये भवेद्भक्तिः क्षयात्पापस्य कर्मणः॥

janmāntaraśataisteṣāṁ jñānināṁ devayājinām| devatraye bhavedbhaktiḥ kṣayātpāpasya karmaṇaḥ||

After hundreds of other births, for those knowers who worship the gods, devotion arises toward the triad of gods, through the destruction of the sin of past karma.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.166.14)

ईशानात्तु पुनर्मोक्षो जायते छिन्नसंशयः। ये पुनर्नर्मदातीरमाश्रित्य द्विजपुंगवाः॥

īśānāttu punarmokṣo jāyate chinnasaṁśayaḥ| ye punarnarmadātīramāśritya dvijapuṁgavāḥ||

But from Ishana alone liberation is born, with all doubt cut away. But those best of brahmins who, resorting to the bank of Narmada,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.166.15)

त्रयीमार्गमसन्दिग्धास्ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्। एकाग्रमनसो ये तु शङ्करं शिवमव्ययम्॥

trayīmārgamasandigdhāste yānti paramāṁ gatim| ekāgramanaso ye tu śaṅkaraṁ śivamavyayam||

follow the path of the Vedic triad without doubt — they go to the supreme state. And those, of single-pointed mind, who worship Shankara, the imperishable Shiva,

Verse 16 (skanda.5.166.16)

अर्चयन्तीह निरताः क्षिप्रं सिध्यन्ति ते जनाः। कालेन महता सिद्धिर्जायतेऽन्यत्र देहिनाम्॥

arcayantīha niratāḥ kṣipraṁ sidhyanti te janāḥ| kālena mahatā siddhirjāyate'nyatra dehinām||

—devoted here to his worship — those people quickly attain perfection. Elsewhere, perfection comes to embodied beings only after a great length of time,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.166.17)

नर्मदायाः पुनस्तीरे क्षिप्रं सिद्धिरवाप्यते। षड्भिर्वर्षैस्तु सिध्यन्ति ये तु सांख्यविदो जनाः॥

narmadāyāḥ punastīre kṣipraṁ siddhiravāpyate| ṣaḍbhirvarṣaistu sidhyanti ye tu sāṁkhyavido janāḥ||

but on the bank of Narmada, perfection is obtained quickly. Those people who are knowers of Sankhya attain perfection in six years;

Verse 18 (skanda.5.166.18)

वैष्णवा ज्ञानसम्पन्नास्तेऽपि सिध्यन्ति चाग्रतः। सर्वयोगविदो ये च समुद्रमिव सिन्धवः॥

vaiṣṇavā jñānasampannāste'pi sidhyanti cāgrataḥ| sarvayogavido ye ca samudramiva sindhavaḥ||

the Vaishnavas endowed with knowledge, they too attain perfection even sooner. And those who are knowers of all yoga, like rivers merging into the ocean,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.166.19)

एकीभवन्ति कल्पान्ते योगे माहेश्वरे गताः। सर्वेषामेव योगानां योगो माहेश्वरो वरः॥

ekībhavanti kalpānte yoge māheśvare gatāḥ| sarveṣāmeva yogānāṁ yogo māheśvaro varaḥ||

become one with the Supreme at the end of the kalpa, having gone into the Maheshvara-yoga. Of all yogas, the Maheshvara yoga is the best.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.166.20)

तमासाद्य विमुच्यन्ते येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः। शिवमर्च्य नदीकूले जायन्ते ते न योनिषु॥

tamāsādya vimucyante ye'pi syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ| śivamarcya nadīkūle jāyante te na yoniṣu||

Having attained it, even those who were born in sinful wombs are liberated. Having worshipped Shiva on the river's bank, they are not born again in any womb.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.166.21)

गतिरेषा दुरारोहा सर्वपापक्षयंकरी। मुच्यन्ते मङ्क्षु संसाराद्रेवामाश्रित्य जन्तवः॥

gatireṣā durārohā sarvapāpakṣayaṁkarī| mucyante maṅkṣu saṁsārādrevāmāśritya jantavaḥ||

This path is hard to attain, but it destroys all sin; creatures, resorting to the Reva, are swiftly freed from samsara.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.166.22)

तस्मात्स्नायी भवेन्नित्यं तथा भस्मविलेपनः। नर्मदातीरमासाद्य क्षिप्रं सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्॥

tasmātsnāyī bhavennityaṁ tathā bhasmavilepanaḥ| narmadātīramāsādya kṣipraṁ siddhimavāpnuyāt||

Therefore one should ever bathe, and likewise smear oneself with ash; having reached the bank of Narmada, one shall quickly obtain perfection.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.166.23)

त्रिकालं पूजयेच्छान्तो यो नरो लिङ्गमादरात्। सर्वरोगविनिर्मुक्तः स याति परमां गतिम्॥

trikālaṁ pūjayecchānto yo naro liṅgamādarāt| sarvarogavinirmuktaḥ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim||

That man who, tranquil, worships the linga with reverence three times a day — freed from all disease, he goes to the supreme state.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.166.24)

षड्भिः सिध्यति मसैस्तु यद्यपि स्यात्स पापकृत्। ये पुनः शुद्धमनसो मासैः शुध्यन्ति ते त्रिभिः॥

ṣaḍbhiḥ sidhyati masaistu yadyapi syātsa pāpakṛt| ye punaḥ śuddhamanaso māsaiḥ śudhyanti te tribhiḥ||

Even if he be a doer of sin, he attains perfection in six months; but those who are pure of mind are purified in three months.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.166.25)

यथा दिनकरस्पृष्टं हिमं शैलाद्विशीर्यन्ते। तद्वद्विलीयते पापं स्पृष्टं भस्मकणैः शुभैः॥

yathā dinakaraspṛṣṭaṁ himaṁ śailādviśīryante| tadvadvilīyate pāpaṁ spṛṣṭaṁ bhasmakaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ||

Just as snow touched by the sun melts away from the mountain, so too sin, touched by the auspicious particles of ash, dissolves away.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.166.26)

वैनतेयभयत्रस्ता यथा नश्यन्ति पन्नगाः। तद्वत्पापानि नश्यन्ति भस्मनाभ्युक्षितानि ह॥

vainateyabhayatrastā yathā naśyanti pannagāḥ| tadvatpāpāni naśyanti bhasmanābhyukṣitāni ha||

Just as serpents, terrified by fear of Garuda, flee away, so too sins, when sprinkled with ash, indeed flee away.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.166.27)

नर्मदातोयपूतेन भस्मनोद्धूलयन्ति ये। सद्यस्ते पापसङ्घाच्च मुच्यन्ते नात्र संशयः॥

narmadātoyapūtena bhasmanoddhūlayanti ye| sadyaste pāpasaṅghācca mucyante nātra saṁśayaḥ||

Those who besmear themselves with ash purified by Narmada's water are instantly freed from their mass of sins — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.166.28)

व्रतं पाशुपतं भक्तया यथोक्तं पालयन्ति ये। शूद्रान्नेन विहीनास्तु ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्॥

vrataṁ pāśupataṁ bhaktayā yathoktaṁ pālayanti ye| śūdrānnena vihīnāstu te yānti paramāṁ gatim||

Those who, with devotion, observe the Pashupata vow as prescribed, abstaining from shudra-food, go to the supreme state.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.166.29)

अमृतं ब्राह्मणस्यान्नं क्षत्रियान्नं पयः स्मृतम्। वैश्यान्नमन्नमेव स्याच्छूद्रान्नं रुधिरं स्मृतम्॥

amṛtaṁ brāhmaṇasyānnaṁ kṣatriyānnaṁ payaḥ smṛtam| vaiśyānnamannameva syācchūdrānnaṁ rudhiraṁ smṛtam||

The food of a brahmin is like nectar; the food of a kshatriya is remembered as like milk; the food of a vaishya is just ordinary food; the food of a shudra is remembered as like blood.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.166.30)

शूद्रान्नरससंपुष्टा ये म्रियन्ते द्विजोत्तमाः। ते तपोज्ञानहीनास्तु काका गृध्रा भवन्ति ते॥

śūdrānnarasasaṁpuṣṭā ye mriyante dvijottamāḥ| te tapojñānahīnāstu kākā gṛdhrā bhavanti te||

Those best of brahmins who, nourished on the essence of shudra-food, die — they, devoid of austerity and knowledge, become crows and vultures.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.166.31)

दुष्कृतं हि मनुष्याणामन्नमाश्रित्य तिष्ठति। यो यस्यान्नं समश्नाति स तस्याश्नाति किल्बिषम्॥

duṣkṛtaṁ hi manuṣyāṇāmannamāśritya tiṣṭhati| yo yasyānnaṁ samaśnāti sa tasyāśnāti kilbiṣam||

Indeed, the evil deed of men resides resting in their food; whoever eats the food of another eats that person's sin as well.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.166.32)

विशेषाद्यतिधर्मेण तपोलौल्यं समाश्रिताः। नरकं यान्त्यसन्दिग्धमित्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत्॥

viśeṣādyatidharmeṇa tapolaulyaṁ samāśritāḥ| narakaṁ yāntyasandigdhamityevaṁ śaṅkaro'bravīt||

Especially those ascetics who, through greed, resort to improper food out of craving for austerity's fruit, go to hell without doubt — thus indeed spoke Shankara.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.166.33)

ईदृग्रूपाश्च ये विप्राः पाशुपत्ये व्यवस्थिताः। ते महत्पापसंघातं दहन्त्येव न संशयः॥

īdṛgrūpāśca ye viprāḥ pāśupatye vyavasthitāḥ| te mahatpāpasaṁghātaṁ dahantyeva na saṁśayaḥ||

But those brahmins of such a kind who are established in the Pashupata discipline indeed burn away even a great mass of sin — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.166.34)

विडम्बेन च संयुक्ता लौलुप्येन च पीडिताः। असंग्राह्या इत्येवं श्रुतिनोदना॥

viḍambena ca saṁyuktā laulupyena ca pīḍitāḥ| asaṁgrāhyā ityevaṁ śrutinodanā||

Those who are joined with pretense, and afflicted by greed, are not to be received as proper ascetics — thus is the injunction of the Shruti.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.166.35)

मातापितृकृतैर्दोषैरन्ये केचित्स्वकर्मजैः। नष्टा ज्ञानावलेपेन अहङ्कारेणऽपरे॥

mātāpitṛkṛtairdoṣairanye kecitsvakarmajaiḥ| naṣṭā jñānāvalepena ahaṅkāreṇa'pare||

Some are ruined by faults caused by their mother and father, or born of their own past deeds; others by the taint of false knowledge, or by egotism.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.166.36)

शाङ्करे प्रस्थिता धर्मे ये स्मृत्यर्थबहिष्कृताः। क्लिश्यमानास्तु कलेन ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्॥

śāṅkare prasthitā dharme ye smṛtyarthabahiṣkṛtāḥ| kliśyamānāstu kalena te yānti paramāṁ gatim||

Yet those who, set upon the Shaiva dharma, though excluded from the ordinary meaning of the Smritis, and though afflicted by the Kali age, still persevere — they go to the supreme state.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.166.37)

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा मूर्खा दम्भविवर्धिताः। न सिध्यन्ति दुरात्मानः कुदृष्टान्तार्थकीर्तनाः॥

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā mūrkhā dambhavivardhitāḥ| na sidhyanti durātmānaḥ kudṛṣṭāntārthakīrtanāḥ||

Faithless men, foolish, grown proud with hypocrisy — those base-souled ones, who cite false examples and meanings, do not attain perfection.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.166.38)

महाभाग्येऽपि तीर्थस्य शाङ्करं व्रतमास्थिताः। वियोनिं यान्त्यसन्दिग्धं लौलुप्येन समन्विताः॥

mahābhāgye'pi tīrthasya śāṅkaraṁ vratamāsthitāḥ| viyoniṁ yāntyasandigdhaṁ laulupyena samanvitāḥ||

Even amid the great fortune of the holy ford, those who undertake the Shaiva vow while yet possessed by greed go, without doubt, to an evil womb.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.166.39)

न तीर्थैर्न च दानैश्च दुष्कृतं हि विलुप्यते। अज्ञानाच्च प्रमादाच्च कृतं पापं विनश्यति॥

na tīrthairna ca dānaiśca duṣkṛtaṁ hi vilupyate| ajñānācca pramādācca kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vinaśyati||

Not by pilgrimages, nor by gifts, is an evil deed truly wiped away; only sin committed through ignorance and through carelessness is thereby destroyed.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.166.40)

एवं ज्ञात्वा तु विधिना वर्तितव्यं द्विजातिभिः। परं ब्रह्म जपद्भिश्च वार्तितव्यं मुहुर्मुहुः॥

evaṁ jñātvā tu vidhinā vartitavyaṁ dvijātibhiḥ| paraṁ brahma japadbhiśca vārtitavyaṁ muhurmuhuḥ||

Knowing this, the twice-born should conduct themselves according to proper rule, and should repeat, again and again, the japa of the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.166.41)

ऊर्ध्वरूपं विरूपाक्षं योऽधीते रुद्रमेव च। ईशानं पश्यते साक्षात्षण्मासात्सङ्गवर्जितः॥

ūrdhvarūpaṁ virūpākṣaṁ yo'dhīte rudrameva ca| īśānaṁ paśyate sākṣātṣaṇmāsātsaṅgavarjitaḥ||

Whoever studies the Urdhva-hymn and the odd-eyed one, and Rudra himself, sees Ishana directly within six months, free from worldly attachment.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.166.42)

संहिताया दशावृत्तीर्यः करोति सुसंयतः। नर्मदातटमाश्रित्य स मुच्येत्सर्वपातकैः॥

saṁhitāyā daśāvṛttīryaḥ karoti susaṁyataḥ| narmadātaṭamāśritya sa mucyetsarvapātakaiḥ||

Whoever, well self-controlled, performs ten recitations of the Samhita, resorting to the bank of Narmada, he is freed from all sins.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.166.43)

पुराणसंहितां वापि शैवीं वा वैष्णवीमपि। यः पठेन्नर्मदातीरे शिवाग्रे स शिवात्मकः॥

purāṇasaṁhitāṁ vāpi śaivīṁ vā vaiṣṇavīmapi| yaḥ paṭhennarmadātīre śivāgre sa śivātmakaḥ||

Whoever recites the Purana-samhita, whether Shaiva or Vaishnava, on the bank of Narmada, before Shiva, he becomes one with Shiva's own self.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.166.44)

आ भूतसंक्षयं यावत्स्वर्गलोके महीयते। संसाख्यसनं हातुं पुरा प्रोक्तं तु नन्दिना॥

ā bhūtasaṁkṣayaṁ yāvatsvargaloke mahīyate| saṁsākhyasanaṁ hātuṁ purā proktaṁ tu nandinā||

He is honored in the world of heaven until the dissolution of all beings. On how to abandon this thing called samsara, it was told of old by Nandi...

Verse 45 (skanda.5.166.45)

देवर्षिसिद्धगन्धर्वसमवाये शिवालये। नन्दिगीतामिमां राजञ्छृणुष्वैकमनाः शुभाम्॥

devarṣisiddhagandharvasamavāye śivālaye| nandigītāmimāṁ rājañchṛṇuṣvaikamanāḥ śubhām||

...in an assembly of gods, sages, siddhas, and gandharvas, in Shiva's own abode. O king, hear with single-minded attention this auspicious Song of Nandi,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.166.46)

स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदां पुण्यां संसारभयनाशिनीम्॥

svargamokṣapradāṁ puṇyāṁ saṁsārabhayanāśinīm||

holy, granting heaven and liberation, destroying the fear of samsara.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.166.47)

संसारगह्वरगुहां प्रविहातुमेतां चेदिच्छथ प्रतिपदं भवतापखिन्नाः। नानाविधैर्निजकृतैर्बहुकर्मपाशैर्बद्धाः सुखाय शृणुतैकहितं मयोक्तम्॥

saṁsāragahvaraguhāṁ pravihātumetāṁ cedicchatha pratipadaṁ bhavatāpakhinnāḥ| nānāvidhairnijakṛtairbahukarmapāśairbaddhāḥ sukhāya śṛṇutaikahitaṁ mayoktam||

If you wish to escape this deep cave of samsara, wearied at every step by the torment of worldly existence, bound by the manifold nooses of your own deeds of many kinds — for your happiness, hear this one beneficial word spoken by me.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.166.48)

शक्र वक्रगतिं मा गा मा कृथा यम यातनाम्। चेतः प्रचेतः शमय लौलुप्यं त्यज वित्तप॥

śakra vakragatiṁ mā gā mā kṛthā yama yātanām| cetaḥ pracetaḥ śamaya laulupyaṁ tyaja vittapa||

O Indra, do not go on a crooked path; do not, O Yama, inflict torment. O mind, calm your thoughts thoroughly; O guardian of wealth, abandon greed.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.166.49)

दीनानाथविशिष्टेभ्यो धनं सर्वं परित्यज। यदि संसारजलधेर्वीचीप्रेङ्खोल्लनातुरः॥

dīnānāthaviśiṣṭebhyo dhanaṁ sarvaṁ parityaja| yadi saṁsārajaladhervīcīpreṅkhollanāturaḥ||

Give up all your wealth to the poor, the helpless, and the deserving — if you are distressed, tossed about by the waves of the ocean of samsara.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.166.50)

जन्मोद्विग्नं मृतेस्त्रस्तं ग्रस्तं कामादिभिर्नरम्। स्रस्तं यो न यमादिभ्यः पिनाकी पाति पावनः॥

janmodvignaṁ mṛtestrastaṁ grastaṁ kāmādibhirnaram| srastaṁ yo na yamādibhyaḥ pinākī pāti pāvanaḥ||

The man agitated by birth, terrified of death, seized by desire and the other passions, fallen — the wielder of the Pinaka, the purifier, protects him from Yama and the rest, not any other.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.166.51)

मा धेहि गर्वं कीनाश हास्यं यास्यसि पीडयन्। प्राणिनं सर्वशरणं तद्भावि शरणं तव॥

mā dhehi garvaṁ kīnāśa hāsyaṁ yāsyasi pīḍayan| prāṇinaṁ sarvaśaraṇaṁ tadbhāvi śaraṇaṁ tava||

Do not harbor pride, O Death; you will become an object of ridicule by tormenting beings. There is a refuge for every creature; that will become your refuge too.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.166.52)

कालः करालको बालः को मृत्युः को यमाधमः। शिवविष्णुपराणां हि नराणां किं भयं भवेत्॥

kālaḥ karālako bālaḥ ko mṛtyuḥ ko yamādhamaḥ| śivaviṣṇuparāṇāṁ hi narāṇāṁ kiṁ bhayaṁ bhavet||

What is dreadful Time, what is death, and who is the wretched Yama, to men devoted to Shiva and Vishnu? What fear could there be for them?

Verse 53 (skanda.5.166.53)

भवभारार्तजन्तूनां रेवातीरनिवासिनाम्। भर्गश्च भगवांश्चैव भवभीतिविभेदनौ॥

bhavabhārārtajantūnāṁ revātīranivāsinām| bhargaśca bhagavāṁścaiva bhavabhītivibhedanau||

For creatures afflicted by the burden of worldly existence, dwelling on the bank of the Reva, both Bharga and the Blessed Lord are the destroyers of the fear of existence.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.166.54)

शिवं भज शिवं ध्याय शिवं स्तुहि शिवं यज। शिवं नम वराक त्वं ज्ञानं मोक्षं यदीच्छसि॥

śivaṁ bhaja śivaṁ dhyāya śivaṁ stuhi śivaṁ yaja| śivaṁ nama varāka tvaṁ jñānaṁ mokṣaṁ yadīcchasi||

Worship Shiva, meditate on Shiva, praise Shiva, sacrifice to Shiva; bow to Shiva, O wretched one, if you desire knowledge and liberation.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.166.55)

पठ पञ्चाननं शास्त्रं मन्त्रं पञ्चाक्षरं जप। धेहि पञ्चात्मकं तत्त्वं यज पञ्चाननं परम्॥

paṭha pañcānanaṁ śāstraṁ mantraṁ pañcākṣaraṁ japa| dhehi pañcātmakaṁ tattvaṁ yaja pañcānanaṁ param||

Recite the scripture of the Five-Faced one; recite the five-syllabled mantra; meditate on the five-fold principle; sacrifice to the supreme Five-Faced one.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.166.56)

किं तैः कर्मगणैः शोच्यैर्नानाभावविशेषितैः। यदि पञ्चाननः श्रीमान् सेव्यते सर्वथा शिवः॥

kiṁ taiḥ karmagaṇaiḥ śocyairnānābhāvaviśeṣitaiḥ| yadi pañcānanaḥ śrīmān sevyate sarvathā śivaḥ||

What use are those lamentable multitudes of rites, distinguished by their various dispositions, if the glorious Five-Faced Shiva is served in every way?

Verse 57 (skanda.5.166.57)

किं संसारगजोन्मत्तबृंहितैर्निभृतैरपि। यदि पञ्चाननो देवो भावगन्धोपसेवितः॥

kiṁ saṁsāragajonmattabṛṁhitairnibhṛtairapi| yadi pañcānano devo bhāvagandhopasevitaḥ||

What use even the constant trumpeting of the rutting elephant of samsara, if the Five-Faced god is served with the mere fragrance of devotion?

Verse 58 (skanda.5.166.58)

रे मूढ किं विषादेन प्राप्य कर्मकदर्थनाम्। भवानीवल्लभं भीमं जप त्वं भयनाशनम्॥

re mūḍha kiṁ viṣādena prāpya karmakadarthanām| bhavānīvallabhaṁ bhīmaṁ japa tvaṁ bhayanāśanam||

O fool, what use is despair, having attained the mockery of mere ritual action? Recite the name of Bhima, the beloved of Bhavani, the destroyer of fear.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.166.59)

नर्मदातीरनिलयं दुःखौघविलयंकरम्। स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदं भर्गं भज मूढ सुरेश्वरम्॥

narmadātīranilayaṁ duḥkhaughavilayaṁkaram| svargamokṣapradaṁ bhargaṁ bhaja mūḍha sureśvaram||

Worship Bharga, O fool, the lord of gods, who dwells on the bank of Narmada, who destroys the flood of sorrow, who grants heaven and liberation.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.166.60)

विहाय रेवां सुरसिन्धुसेव्यां तत्तीरसंस्थं च हरं हरिं च। उन्मत्तवद्भावविवर्जितस्त्वं क्व यासि रे मूढ दिगन्तराणि॥

vihāya revāṁ surasindhusevyāṁ tattīrasaṁsthaṁ ca haraṁ hariṁ ca| unmattavadbhāvavivarjitastvaṁ kva yāsi re mūḍha digantarāṇi||

Abandoning the Reva, served even by the celestial river, and Hara and Hari established on her bank, where, O fool, devoid of devotion, do you go wandering like a madman to the far ends of the directions?

Verse 61 (skanda.5.166.61)

भज रेवाजलं पुण्यं यज रुद्रं सनातनम्। जप पञ्चाक्षरीं विद्यां व्रज स्थानं च वाञ्छितम्॥

bhaja revājalaṁ puṇyaṁ yaja rudraṁ sanātanam| japa pañcākṣarīṁ vidyāṁ vraja sthānaṁ ca vāñchitam||

Resort to the holy water of the Reva; sacrifice to the eternal Rudra; recite the five-syllabled wisdom; go to the state you desire.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.166.62)

क्लेशयित्वा निजं कायमुपायैर्बहुभिस्तु किम्। भज रेवां शिवं प्राप्य सुखसाध्यं परं पदम्॥

kleśayitvā nijaṁ kāyamupāyairbahubhistu kim| bhaja revāṁ śivaṁ prāpya sukhasādhyaṁ paraṁ padam||

What use is it to torment your own body with many difficult means? Resort to the Reva, and, having obtained Shiva, attain the supreme state, easily accomplished, with ease.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.166.63)

एवं कैलासमासाद्य नदीं स शिवसन्निधौ। जगौ यल्लोकपालानां तन्मयोक्तं तवाधुना॥

evaṁ kailāsamāsādya nadīṁ sa śivasannidhau| jagau yallokapālānāṁ tanmayoktaṁ tavādhunā||

Thus, having reached Kailasa, Nandi sang, in Shiva's presence, to the guardians of the world, of the river — that same song I have now told to you.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.166.64)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। स्नानदानपरो यस्तु नित्यं धर्ममनुव्रतः। नर्मदातीरमाश्रित्य मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| snānadānaparo yastu nityaṁ dharmamanuvrataḥ| narmadātīramāśritya mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ||

Markandeya said: Whoever is devoted to bathing and giving, ever following dharma, resorting to the bank of Narmada, is freed from all sins.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.166.65)

विधिहीनो जपेन्नित्यं वेदान्सर्वाञ्छतं समाः। मृत्युलाङ्गलजाप्येन समो योऽप्यधिको गुणैः॥

vidhihīno japennityaṁ vedānsarvāñchataṁ samāḥ| mṛtyulāṅgalajāpyena samo yo'pyadhiko guṇaiḥ||

One who, without proper rule, recites all the Vedas daily for a hundred years — is he equal, or even superior in merit, to the recitation of the Mrityulangala mantra?

Verse 66 (skanda.5.166.66)

बीजयोन्यविशुद्धस्तु यथा रुद्रं न विन्दति। तथा लाङ्गलमन्त्रोऽपि न तिष्ठति गतायुषि॥

bījayonyaviśuddhastu yathā rudraṁ na vindati| tathā lāṅgalamantro'pi na tiṣṭhati gatāyuṣi||

Just as one impure in seed and womb does not attain Rudra, so too the Langala-mantra does not avail one whose life has already departed.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.166.67)

गायत्रीजपसंयुक्तः संयमी ह्यधिको गुणैः। अग्निमीडे इषेत्वो वा अग्न आयाहि नित्यदा॥

gāyatrījapasaṁyuktaḥ saṁyamī hyadhiko guṇaiḥ| agnimīḍe iṣetvo vā agna āyāhi nityadā||

One joined with the japa of the Gayatri, self-controlled, is indeed superior in merit; as is one who ever recites 'agnimīḷe' or 'iṣetvorje' or 'agna āyāhi'.

Verse 68 (skanda.5.166.68)

शन्नो देवीति कूलस्थो जपेन्मुच्येत किल्बिषैः॥

śanno devīti kūlastho japenmucyeta kilbiṣaiḥ||

Standing on the bank, reciting 'śaṃ no devīḥ', one is freed from sins.

Verse 69 (skanda.5.166.69)

साङ्गोपाङ्गांस्तथा वेदाञ्जपन्नित्यं समाहितः। न तत्फलमवाप्नोति गायत्र्या संयमी यथा॥

sāṅgopāṅgāṁstathā vedāñjapannityaṁ samāhitaḥ| na tatphalamavāpnoti gāyatryā saṁyamī yathā||

Even one who daily, with focused mind, recites the Vedas together with their limbs and sub-limbs, does not obtain that fruit which the self-controlled one obtains through the Gayatri.

Verse 70 (skanda.5.166.70)

रुद्राध्यायं सकृज्जप्त्वा विप्रो वेदसमन्वितः। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति॥

rudrādhyāyaṁ sakṛjjaptvā vipro vedasamanvitaḥ| mucyate sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati||

A brahmin endowed with the Veda, having recited the Rudra-hymn even once, is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 71 (skanda.5.166.71)

अन्यद्वै जप्यसंस्थानं सूक्तमारण्यकं तथा। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति॥

anyadvai japyasaṁsthānaṁ sūktamāraṇyakaṁ tathā| mucyate sarvapāpebhyo viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati||

Reciting any other established hymn for japa, or the Aranyaka-sukta likewise, he is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.166.72)

यत्किंचित्क्रियते जाप्यं यच्च दानं प्रदीयते। नर्मदाजलमाश्रित्य तत्सर्वं चाक्षयं भवेत्॥

yatkiṁcitkriyate jāpyaṁ yacca dānaṁ pradīyate| narmadājalamāśritya tatsarvaṁ cākṣayaṁ bhavet||

Whatever japa is performed, and whatever gift is given, resorting to the water of Narmada, all of it becomes imperishable.

Verse 73 (skanda.5.166.73)

एवंविधैर्व्रतैर्नित्यं नर्मदां ये समाश्रिताः। ते मृता वैष्णवं यान्ति पदं वा शैवमव्ययम्॥

evaṁvidhairvratairnityaṁ narmadāṁ ye samāśritāḥ| te mṛtā vaiṣṇavaṁ yānti padaṁ vā śaivamavyayam||

Those who, with such vows, ever resort to Narmada — they, upon death, go to the Vaishnava state, or to the imperishable Shaiva state.

Verse 74 (skanda.5.166.74)

सत्यलोकं नराः केचित्सूर्यलोकं तथापरे। अप्सरोगणसंवीता यावदाभूतसम्प्लवम्॥

satyalokaṁ narāḥ kecitsūryalokaṁ tathāpare| apsarogaṇasaṁvītā yāvadābhūtasamplavam||

Some men go to Satyaloka, others to Suryaloka, surrounded by throngs of apsaras, until the final dissolution of all beings.

Verse 75 (skanda.5.166.75)

एवं वै वर्तमानेऽस्मिंल्लोके तु नृपपुंगव। ऋषीणां दशकोट्यस्तु कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनाम्॥

evaṁ vai vartamāne'smiṁlloke tu nṛpapuṁgava| ṛṣīṇāṁ daśakoṭyastu kurukṣetranivāsinām||

Thus, indeed, while this was going on, O bull among kings, ten crores of sages dwelling in Kurukshetra —

Verse 76 (skanda.5.166.76)

मया सह महाभाग नर्मदातटमाश्रिताः। फलमूलकृताहारा अर्चयन्तः स्थिताः शिवम्॥

mayā saha mahābhāga narmadātaṭamāśritāḥ| phalamūlakṛtāhārā arcayantaḥ sthitāḥ śivam||

—together with me, O greatly fortunate one, resorted to the bank of Narmada, subsisting on fruits and roots, remaining there worshipping Shiva.

Verse 77 (skanda.5.166.77)

तच्च वर्षशतं दिव्यं कालसंख्यानुमानतः। षड्विंशतिसहस्राणि तानि मानुषसंख्यया॥

tacca varṣaśataṁ divyaṁ kālasaṁkhyānumānataḥ| ṣaḍviṁśatisahasrāṇi tāni mānuṣasaṁkhyayā||

And that was a hundred divine years, by the reckoning of time — twenty-six thousand years by the count of men.

Verse 78 (skanda.5.166.78)

ततस्तस्यामतीतायां सन्ध्यायां नृपसत्तम। शेषं मानुष्यमेकं तु काले वर्षशतं स्थितम्॥

tatastasyāmatītāyāṁ sandhyāyāṁ nṛpasattama| śeṣaṁ mānuṣyamekaṁ tu kāle varṣaśataṁ sthitam||

Then, O best of kings, when that twilight period had passed, only a single human generation remained, for the span of a hundred years,

Verse 79 (skanda.5.166.79)

ततोऽभवदनावृष्टिर्लोकक्षयकरी तदा। यया यातं जगत्सर्वं क्षयं भूयो हि दारुणम्॥

tato'bhavadanāvṛṣṭirlokakṣayakarī tadā| yayā yātaṁ jagatsarvaṁ kṣayaṁ bhūyo hi dāruṇam||

and then there occurred a drought, bringing destruction to the worlds; by which the entire world once again went to dreadful destruction.

Verse 80 (skanda.5.166.80)

ये पूर्वमिह संसिद्धा ऋषयो वेदपारगाः। तेषां प्रभावाद्भगवान् ववर्ष बलवृत्रहा॥

ye pūrvamiha saṁsiddhā ṛṣayo vedapāragāḥ| teṣāṁ prabhāvādbhagavān vavarṣa balavṛtrahā||

But by the power of those sages, versed in the Veda, who had earlier attained perfection here, the Blessed One, the slayer of Bala and Vritra, sent down rain,

Verse 81 (skanda.5.166.81)

महती भूरिसलिला समन्ताद्वृष्टिराहिता। ततो वृष्ट्या तु तेषां वै वर्तनं समजायत॥

mahatī bhūrisalilā samantādvṛṣṭirāhitā| tato vṛṣṭyā tu teṣāṁ vai vartanaṁ samajāyata||

a great rain, abundant with water, brought down on every side; and by that rain their subsistence came about.

Verse 82 (skanda.5.166.82)

पुनर्युगान्ते सम्प्राप्ते किंचिच्छेषे कलौ युगे। निःशेषमभवत्सर्वं शुष्कं स्थावरजङ्गमम्॥

punaryugānte samprāpte kiṁciccheṣe kalau yuge| niḥśeṣamabhavatsarvaṁ śuṣkaṁ sthāvarajaṅgamam||

Again, when the end of the age arrived, when a small remnant of the Kali age was left, everything, moving and unmoving, became utterly dried up,

Verse 83 (skanda.5.166.83)

निर्वृक्षौषधगुल्मं च तृणवीरुद्विवर्जितम्। अनावृष्टिहतं सर्वं भूमण्डलमभूद्भृशम्॥

nirvṛkṣauṣadhagulmaṁ ca tṛṇavīrudvivarjitam| anāvṛṣṭihataṁ sarvaṁ bhūmaṇḍalamabhūdbhṛśam||

devoid of trees, herbs, and shrubs, bereft of grasses and creepers; the entire world-disc became exceedingly stricken by drought.

Verse 84 (skanda.5.166.84)

ततस्ते ऋषयः सर्वे क्षुत्तृषार्ताः सहस्रशः। युगस्वभावमाविष्टा हीनसत्त्वा अभवन्नृप॥

tataste ṛṣayaḥ sarve kṣuttṛṣārtāḥ sahasraśaḥ| yugasvabhāvamāviṣṭā hīnasattvā abhavannṛpa||

Then all those sages, by the thousands, tormented by hunger and thirst, overcome by the nature of the age, became, O king, deprived of vital strength.

Verse 85 (skanda.5.166.85)

नष्टहोमस्वधाकारे युगान्ते समुपस्थिते। किं कार्यं क्व नु यास्यामः कोऽस्माकं शरणं भवेत्॥

naṣṭahomasvadhākāre yugānte samupasthite| kiṁ kāryaṁ kva nu yāsyāmaḥ ko'smākaṁ śaraṇaṁ bhavet||

When the end of the age had arrived, when the offerings of homa and svadha had ceased, they said: 'What is to be done? Where indeed shall we go? Who shall be our refuge?'

Verse 86 (skanda.5.166.86)

तानहं प्रत्युवाचेदं मा भैष्टेति पुनःपुनः। ईदृग्विधा मया दृष्टा बहवः कालपर्ययाः॥

tānahaṁ pratyuvācedaṁ mā bhaiṣṭeti punaḥpunaḥ| īdṛgvidhā mayā dṛṣṭā bahavaḥ kālaparyayāḥ||

To them I replied thus, again and again: 'Do not fear. Many such changes of time have been witnessed by me.'

Verse 87 (skanda.5.166.87)

नर्मदातीरमाश्रित्य ते सर्वे गमिता मया। एषा हि शरणं देवी सम्प्राप्ते हि युगक्षये॥

narmadātīramāśritya te sarve gamitā mayā| eṣā hi śaraṇaṁ devī samprāpte hi yugakṣaye||

I led them all, resorting to the bank of Narmada. This goddess indeed is the refuge when the destruction of the age has come.

Verse 88 (skanda.5.166.88)

नान्या गतिरिहास्माकं विद्यते द्विजसत्तमाः। जनित्री सर्वभूतानां विशेषेण द्विजोत्तमाः॥

nānyā gatirihāsmākaṁ vidyate dvijasattamāḥ| janitrī sarvabhūtānāṁ viśeṣeṇa dvijottamāḥ||

There is no other resort for us here, O best of brahmins; she is the mother of all beings, especially, O best of brahmins.

Verse 89 (skanda.5.166.89)

पितामहा ये पितरो ये चान्ये प्रपितामहाः। ते समस्ता गताः स्वर्गं समाश्रित्य महानदीम्॥

pitāmahā ye pitaro ye cānye prapitāmahāḥ| te samastā gatāḥ svargaṁ samāśritya mahānadīm||

Those who were grandfathers, fathers, and other great-grandfathers — all of them went to heaven, having resorted to the great river.

Verse 90 (skanda.5.166.90)

भृग्वाद्याः सप्त ये त्वासन्मम पूर्वपितामहाः। धौमृणी च महाभागा मम भार्या शुचिस्मिता। मनस्वती च या मता भार्गवोऽङ्गिरसस्तथा॥

bhṛgvādyāḥ sapta ye tvāsanmama pūrvapitāmahāḥ| dhaumṛṇī ca mahābhāgā mama bhāryā śucismitā| manasvatī ca yā matā bhārgavo'ṅgirasastathā||

The seven who were my forefathers, beginning with Bhrigu; and the greatly fortunate Dhaumrini, my wife of pure smile; and she who is held as Manasvati; and Bhargava, and Angirasa,

Verse 91 (skanda.5.166.91)

पुलस्त्यः पुलहश्चैव वसिष्ठात्रेयकाश्यपाः। तथान्ये च महाभागा नियमव्रतचारिणः। अन्ये च शतसाहस्रा अत्र सिद्धिं समागताः॥

pulastyaḥ pulahaścaiva vasiṣṭhātreyakāśyapāḥ| tathānye ca mahābhāgā niyamavratacāriṇaḥ| anye ca śatasāhasrā atra siddhiṁ samāgatāḥ||

Pulastya, and Pulaha too, Vasishtha, Atreya, and Kashyapa, and likewise other greatly fortunate ones who practice vows of discipline, and hundreds of thousands of others — all attained perfection here.

Verse 92 (skanda.5.166.92)

तस्मादियं महाभागा न मोक्तव्या कदाचन। नान्या काचिन्नदी शक्ता लोकत्रयफलप्रदा॥

tasmādiyaṁ mahābhāgā na moktavyā kadācana| nānyā kācinnadī śaktā lokatrayaphalapradā||

Therefore this greatly fortunate one should never be abandoned; no other river is capable of granting the fruit of the three worlds.

Verse 93 (skanda.5.166.93)

द्वन्द्वैरनेकैर्बहुभिः क्षुत्तृषाद्यैर्महाभयैः। मुच्यन्ते ते नराः सद्यो नर्मदातीरवासिनः॥

dvandvairanekairbahubhiḥ kṣuttṛṣādyairmahābhayaiḥ| mucyante te narāḥ sadyo narmadātīravāsinaḥ||

From the many great pairs of opposites — hunger, thirst, and other great fears — those men who dwell on the bank of Narmada are instantly freed.

Verse 94 (skanda.5.166.94)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेवितव्या सरिद्वरा। वाञ्छद्भिः परमं श्रेय इह लोके परत्र च॥

tasmātsarvaprayatnena sevitavyā saridvarā| vāñchadbhiḥ paramaṁ śreya iha loke paratra ca||

Therefore, with every effort, this excellent river should be resorted to by those who desire the highest good, both in this world and in the next.