Origin of the River Kapila

Verse 1 (skanda.5.176.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्रुतं मे विविधाश्चर्यं त्वत्प्रसादाद्द्विजोत्तम । भूयश्च श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे कथय सुव्रत

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| śrutaṁ me vividhāścaryaṁ tvatprasādāddvijottama | bhūyaśca śrotumicchāmi tanme kathaya suvrata

Yudhishthira said: O best of brahmins, by your grace I have heard many wonders; O one of excellent vows, I wish to hear yet more — tell me.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.176.2)

कथमेषा नदी पुण्या सर्वनदीषु चोत्तमा । नर्मदा नाम विख्याता भूयो मे कथयानघ

kathameṣā nadī puṇyā sarvanadīṣu cottamā | narmadā nāma vikhyātā bhūyo me kathayānagha

How is this sacred river, foremost among all rivers, renowned by the name Narmada? Tell me more, O sinless one.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.176.3)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी । तारयेत्सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| narmadā saritāṁ śreṣṭhā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī | tārayetsarvabhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca

Sri Markandeya said: Narmada, foremost of rivers, destroyer of all sins, delivers all beings, both immobile and mobile.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.176.4)

नर्मदायास्तु माहात्म्यं यत्पूर्वेण मया श्रुतम् । तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमना नृप

narmadāyāstu māhātmyaṁ yatpūrveṇa mayā śrutam | tatte'haṁ sampravakṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikamanā nṛpa

O king, the greatness of the Narmada that I formerly heard, that I shall now relate to you; listen with a single-pointed mind.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.176.5)

गङ्गा कनखले पुण्या कुरुक्षेत्रे सरस्वती । ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्मदा

gaṅgā kanakhale puṇyā kurukṣetre sarasvatī | grāme vā yadi vāraṇye puṇyā sarvatra narmadā

The Ganga is sacred at Kanakhala, the Sarasvati at Kurukshetra; but the Narmada is sacred everywhere, whether in village or forest.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.176.6)

त्रिभिः सारस्वतं तोयं सप्ताहेन तु यामुनम् । सद्यः पुनाति गाङ्गेयं दर्शनादेव नार्मदम्

tribhiḥ sārasvataṁ toyaṁ saptāhena tu yāmunam | sadyaḥ punāti gāṅgeyaṁ darśanādeva nārmadam

The Sarasvati's water purifies in three days, the Yamuna's in seven, the Ganga's instantly — but the Narmada's purifies by the mere sight of it.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.176.7)

कलिङ्गदेशात्पश्चार्धे पर्वतेऽमरकण्टके । पुण्या च त्रिषु लोकेषु रमणीया पदे पदे

kaliṅgadeśātpaścārdhe parvate'marakaṇṭake | puṇyā ca triṣu lokeṣu ramaṇīyā pade pade

To the west of the land of Kalinga, on the mountain Amarakantaka, she is sacred throughout the three worlds and delightful at every step.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.176.8)

तत्र देवाश्च गन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । तपस्तप्त्वा महाराज सिद्धिं परमिकां गताः

tatra devāśca gandharvā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | tapastaptvā mahārāja siddhiṁ paramikāṁ gatāḥ

O great king, there gods, Gandharvas, and sages rich in austerity, having performed tapas, have attained the highest perfection.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.176.9)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नियमस्थो जितेन्द्रियः । उपोष्य रजनीमेकां कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्

tatra snātvā naro rājanniyamastho jitendriyaḥ | upoṣya rajanīmekāṁ kulānāṁ tārayecchatam

O king, a man who bathes there, observes the vow with senses subdued, and fasts a single night, delivers a hundred generations of his family.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.176.10)

सिद्धिक्षेत्रं परं तात पर्वतो ह्यमरंकटः । सर्वदेवाश्रितो यस्मादृषिभिः परिसेवितः

siddhikṣetraṁ paraṁ tāta parvato hyamaraṁkaṭaḥ | sarvadevāśrito yasmādṛṣibhiḥ parisevitaḥ

O son, the mountain Amarakantaka is the supreme field of perfection, since it is resorted to by all the gods and attended by sages.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.176.11)

सिद्धविद्याधरा भूतगन्धर्वाः स्थानमुत्तमम् । दृश्यादृश्याश्च राजेन्द्र सेवन्ते सिद्धिकाङ्क्षिणः

siddhavidyādharā bhūtagandharvāḥ sthānamuttamam | dṛśyādṛśyāśca rājendra sevante siddhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ

O king of kings, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, spirits, and Gandharvas, visible and invisible, desiring perfection, resort to this supreme place.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.176.12)

अहं च परमं स्थानं ततः प्रभृति संश्रितः । अत्र प्रणवरूपो वै स्थाने तिष्ठत्युमापतिः

ahaṁ ca paramaṁ sthānaṁ tataḥ prabhṛti saṁśritaḥ | atra praṇavarūpo vai sthāne tiṣṭhatyumāpatiḥ

I too have resorted to that supreme place ever since; there, in the form of the syllable Om, Uma's consort dwells,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.176.13)

श्रीकण्ठः सगणः सर्वभूतसङ्घैर्निषेवितः । अस्माद्गिरिवराद्भूप वक्ष्ये तीर्थस्य विस्तरम्

śrīkaṇṭhaḥ sagaṇaḥ sarvabhūtasaṅghairniṣevitaḥ | asmādgirivarādbhūpa vakṣye tīrthasya vistaram

Shrikantha, with his hosts, attended by all the multitudes of beings. O king, from this best of mountains I shall now describe the extent of the tirtha.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.176.14)

यानि सन्तीह तीर्थानि पुण्यानि नृपसत्तम । यानि यानीह तीर्थानि नर्मदायास्तटद्वये

yāni santīha tīrthāni puṇyāni nṛpasattama | yāni yānīha tīrthāni narmadāyāstaṭadvaye

O best of kings, whatever sacred tirthas are found here on the two banks of the Narmada,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.176.15)

न तेषां विस्तरं वक्तुं शक्तो ब्रह्मापि भूपते । योजनानां शतं साग्रं श्रूयते सरिदुत्तमा

na teṣāṁ vistaraṁ vaktuṁ śakto brahmāpi bhūpate | yojanānāṁ śataṁ sāgraṁ śrūyate sariduttamā

O king, not even Brahma is able to recount their full extent; this excellent river is said to extend more than a hundred yojanas.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.176.16)

विस्तरेण तु राजेन्द्र अर्धयोजनमायता । षष्टितीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथैव च

vistareṇa tu rājendra ardhayojanamāyatā | ṣaṣṭitīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭyastathaiva ca

O king of kings, in breadth she extends half a yojana; she holds sixty thousand and sixty crore tirthas,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.176.17)

पर्वतादुदधिं यावदुभे कूले न संशयः

parvatādudadhiṁ yāvadubhe kūle na saṁśayaḥ

from the mountain to the sea, on both her banks — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.176.18)

सप्तषष्टिसहस्राणि सप्तषष्टिशतानि च । सप्तषष्टिस्तथा कोट्यो वायुस्तीर्थानि चाब्रवीत्

saptaṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi saptaṣaṣṭiśatāni ca | saptaṣaṣṭistathā koṭyo vāyustīrthāni cābravīt

Sixty-seven thousand, sixty-seven hundred, and sixty-seven crore tirthas — so declared the god Vayu.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.176.19)

परं कृतयुगे तानि यान्ति प्रत्यक्षतां नृप । पश्यन्ति मानवाः सर्वे सततं धर्मबुद्धयः

paraṁ kṛtayuge tāni yānti pratyakṣatāṁ nṛpa | paśyanti mānavāḥ sarve satataṁ dharmabuddhayaḥ

O king, but these become manifest and visible only in the Krita Yuga; all men of righteous mind constantly behold them.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.176.20)

यथायथा कलिर्घोरो वर्तते दारुणो नृप । तथातथाल्पतां यान्ति हीनसत्त्वा यतो नराः

yathāyathā kalirghoro vartate dāruṇo nṛpa | tathātathālpatāṁ yānti hīnasattvā yato narāḥ

O king, as the terrible, harsh Kali Yuga advances, they become fewer and fewer, since men grow ever more diminished in spiritual capacity.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.176.21)

जालेश्वरादितीर्थानि पर्वतेऽस्मिन्नराधिप । पितृतृप्तिप्रदान्याहुः स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदानि च

jāleśvarāditīrthāni parvate'sminnarādhipa | pitṛtṛptipradānyāhuḥ svargamokṣapradāni ca

O lord of men, the tirthas beginning with Jaleshvara on this mountain are said to satisfy the ancestors and bestow heaven and liberation.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.176.22)

श्रेष्ठं दारुवनं तत्र चरुकासंगमः शुभः । उत्तरे नर्मदायास्तु चरुकेश्वरमुत्तमम्

śreṣṭhaṁ dāruvanaṁ tatra carukāsaṁgamaḥ śubhaḥ | uttare narmadāyāstu carukeśvaramuttamam

There is the excellent Daruvana forest and the auspicious confluence of the Charuka; to the north of the Narmada is the excellent Charukeshvara,

Verse 23 (skanda.5.176.23)

दारुकेश्वरतीर्थं च व्यतीपातेश्वरं तथा । पातालेश्वरतीर्थं च कोटियज्ञं तथैव च

dārukeśvaratīrthaṁ ca vyatīpāteśvaraṁ tathā | pātāleśvaratīrthaṁ ca koṭiyajñaṁ tathaiva ca

the Darukeshvara tirtha, likewise Vyatipateshvara, the Pataleshvara tirtha, and also Kotiyajna.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.176.24)

इति चैवोत्तरे कूले रेवाया नृपसत्तम । अमरेश्वरपार्श्वे च लिङ्गान्यष्टोत्तरं शतम्

iti caivottare kūle revāyā nṛpasattama | amareśvarapārśve ca liṅgānyaṣṭottaraṁ śatam

O best of kings, likewise on the northern bank of the Reva, beside Amareshvara, there are one hundred and eight lingas —

Verse 25 (skanda.5.176.25)

वरुणेश्वरमुख्यानि सर्वपापहराणि च

varuṇeśvaramukhyāni sarvapāpaharāṇi ca

beginning with Varuneshvara, all of them removers of sin.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.176.26)

मान्धातृपुरपार्श्वे च सिद्धेश्वरयमेश्वरौ । ओङ्कारात्पूर्वभागे च केदारं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

māndhātṛpurapārśve ca siddheśvarayameśvarau | oṅkārātpūrvabhāge ca kedāraṁ tīrthamuttamam

Beside Mandhatripura are Siddheshvara and Yameshvara; to the east of Omkara is the excellent Kedara tirtha.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.176.27)

तत्समीपे महाराज स्वर्गद्वारमघापहम् । नाम्ना ब्रह्मेश्वरं पुण्यं सप्तसारस्वतं पुरः

tatsamīpe mahārāja svargadvāramaghāpaham | nāmnā brahmeśvaraṁ puṇyaṁ saptasārasvataṁ puraḥ

O great king, near it is the sin-removing Svargadvara, and the sacred tirtha named Brahmeshvara, and before it the Saptasarasvata.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.176.28)

रुद्राष्टकं च सावित्रं सोमतीर्थं तथैव च । एतानि दक्षिणे तीरे रेवाया भरतर्षभ

rudrāṣṭakaṁ ca sāvitraṁ somatīrthaṁ tathaiva ca | etāni dakṣiṇe tīre revāyā bharatarṣabha

Rudrashtaka, Savitra, and likewise Soma-tirtha are there — O bull of the Bharatas, these all lie on the southern bank of the Reva.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.176.29)

अस्मिंस्तु पर्वते तात रुद्राणां कोटयः स्थिताः । स्नानैस्तुष्टिर्भवेत्तेषां गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः

asmiṁstu parvate tāta rudrāṇāṁ koṭayaḥ sthitāḥ | snānaistuṣṭirbhavetteṣāṁ gandhamālyānulepanaiḥ

O son, crores of Rudras dwell upon this mountain; their satisfaction comes through bathing-rites and offerings of fragrance, garlands, and unguents.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.176.30)

प्रीतास्तेऽपि भवन्त्यत्र रुद्रा राजन्न संशयः । जपेन पापसंशुद्धिर्ध्यानेनानन्त्यमश्नुते

prītāste'pi bhavantyatra rudrā rājanna saṁśayaḥ | japena pāpasaṁśuddhirdhyānenānantyamaśnute

O king, those Rudras too become pleased here, without doubt; by japa comes purification from sin, by meditation one attains infinitude,

Verse 31 (skanda.5.176.31)

दानेन भोगानाप्नोति इत्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत् । पर्वतात्पश्चिमे देशे स्वयं देवो महेश्वरः । स्थितः प्रणवरूपोऽसौ जगदादिः सनातनः

dānena bhogānāpnoti ityevaṁ śaṅkaro'bravīt | parvatātpaścime deśe svayaṁ devo maheśvaraḥ | sthitaḥ praṇavarūpo'sau jagadādiḥ sanātanaḥ

and by giving one obtains enjoyments — so spoke Shankara. To the west of the mountain, the god Maheshvara himself is established in the form of the syllable Om, the eternal primal source of the world.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.176.32)

तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः । पितृकार्यं प्रकुर्वीत विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा

tatra snātvā śucirbhūtvā brahmacārī jitendriyaḥ | pitṛkāryaṁ prakurvīta vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Having bathed there and become pure, celibate and self-controlled, one should perform the rites for the ancestors according to prescribed ritual.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.176.33)

तिलोदकेन तत्रैव तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः । आ सप्तमं कुलं तस्य स्वर्गे मोदति पाण्डव

tilodakena tatraiva tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ | ā saptamaṁ kulaṁ tasya svarge modati pāṇḍava

One should there offer libations of sesame-water to the ancestors and gods; O Pandava, by this up to seven generations of his family rejoice in heaven.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.176.34)

आत्मना सह भोगांश्च विविधान् लभते सुखी । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि क्रीडते सुरपूजितः

ātmanā saha bhogāṁśca vividhān labhate sukhī | ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi krīḍate surapūjitaḥ

He, happy, obtains various enjoyments together with himself; for sixty thousand years he sports, honored by the gods.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.176.35)

मोदते सुचिरं कालं पितृपूजाफलधितः । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जायते विमले कुले

modate suciraṁ kālaṁ pitṛpūjāphaladhitaḥ | tataḥ svargātparibhraṣṭo jāyate vimale kule

Sustained by the fruit of ancestor-worship, he rejoices for a long time; then, fallen from heaven, he is born into a pure family.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.176.36)

धनवान्दानशीलश्च नीरोगो लोकपूजितः । पुनः स्मरति तत्तीर्थं गमनं कुरुते पुनः

dhanavāndānaśīlaśca nīrogo lokapūjitaḥ | punaḥ smarati tattīrthaṁ gamanaṁ kurute punaḥ

He becomes wealthy, charitable, free of disease, honored by the world; he remembers that tirtha again and makes pilgrimage there once more.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.176.37)

द्वितीये जन्मनि भवेद्ध्रदस्यानुचरोत्कटः । तथैव ब्रह्मचर्येण सोपवासो जितेन्द्रियः

dvitīye janmani bhaveddhradasyānucarotkaṭaḥ | tathaiva brahmacaryeṇa sopavāso jitendriyaḥ

In his second birth he becomes an eminent attendant of that sacred pool, and likewise lives by celibacy, fasting, and self-mastery.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.176.38)

सर्वहिंसानिवृत्तस्तु लभते फलमुत्तमम् । एवं धर्मसमाचारो यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत्

sarvahiṁsānivṛttastu labhate phalamuttamam | evaṁ dharmasamācāro yastu prāṇānparityajet

Refraining from all violence, he obtains the highest fruit. Thus whoever, conducting himself righteously, gives up his life there,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.176.39)

तस्य पुण्यफलं यद्वै तन्निबोध नराधिप । शतं वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे मोदति पाण्डव

tasya puṇyaphalaṁ yadvai tannibodha narādhipa | śataṁ varṣasahasrāṇi svarge modati pāṇḍava

O lord of men, know his meritorious fruit: O Pandava, he rejoices in heaven for a hundred thousand years.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.176.40)

अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णे दिव्यशब्दानुनादिते । दिव्यगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गो दिव्यालङ्कारभूषितः

apsarogaṇasaṁkīrṇe divyaśabdānunādite | divyagandhānuliptāṅgo divyālaṅkārabhūṣitaḥ

In a heaven thronged with hosts of Apsaras and resounding with divine sounds, his body anointed with divine fragrance, adorned with divine ornaments,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.176.41)

क्रीडते दैवतैः सार्द्धं सिद्धगन्धर्वसंस्तुतः । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो राजा भवति वीर्यवान्

krīḍate daivataiḥ sārddhaṁ siddhagandharvasaṁstutaḥ | tataḥ svargātparibhraṣṭo rājā bhavati vīryavān

he sports together with the gods, praised by Siddhas and Gandharvas; then, fallen from heaven, he becomes a mighty king,

Verse 42 (skanda.5.176.42)

हस्त्यश्वरथयानैश्च धर्मज्ञः शास्त्रतत्परः । गृहे स्तम्भशताकीर्णे सौवर्णे रजतान्विते

hastyaśvarathayānaiśca dharmajñaḥ śāstratatparaḥ | gṛhe stambhaśatākīrṇe sauvarṇe rajatānvite

possessed of elephants, horses, chariots and vehicles, knowing dharma, devoted to scripture, dwelling in a house filled with a hundred pillars, golden and set with silver,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.176.43)

सप्ताष्टभूमिसुद्वारे दासीदाससमाकुले । मत्तमातङ्गनिःश्वासैर्वाजिहेषितनादितैः

saptāṣṭabhūmisudvāre dāsīdāsasamākule | mattamātaṅganiḥśvāsairvājiheṣitanāditaiḥ

of seven or eight stories with fine gateways, thronged with servants and maidservants, resounding with the breath of rutting elephants and the neighing of horses,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.176.44)

क्षुभ्यते तस्य तद्द्वारमिन्द्रस्य भुवनं यथा । राजराजेश्वरः श्रीमान्सर्वस्त्रीजनवल्लभः

kṣubhyate tasya taddvāramindrasya bhuvanaṁ yathā | rājarājeśvaraḥ śrīmānsarvastrījanavallabhaḥ

its gateway astir like the world of Indra; a lord of kings, glorious, beloved of all women.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.176.45)

तस्मिन्गृहे वसित्वा तु क्रीडाभोगसमन्वितः । जीवेद्वर्षशतं साग्रं सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः

tasmingṛhe vasitvā tu krīḍābhogasamanvitaḥ | jīvedvarṣaśataṁ sāgraṁ sarvavyādhivivarjitaḥ

Dwelling in that house, given to sport and enjoyment, he lives more than a hundred years, free of every disease.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.176.46)

एवं तेषां भवेत्सर्वं ये मृता ह्यमरेश्वरे । अग्निप्रवेशं यः कुर्याद्भक्त्या ह्यमरकण्टके

evaṁ teṣāṁ bhavetsarvaṁ ye mṛtā hyamareśvare | agnipraveśaṁ yaḥ kuryādbhaktyā hyamarakaṇṭake

All this comes to whoever dies at Amareshvara. Whoever, with devotion, enters fire at Amarakantaka,

Verse 47 (skanda.5.176.47)

स मृतः स्वर्गमाप्नोति यास्यते परमां गतिम् । स्नानं दानं जपो होमः शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्

sa mṛtaḥ svargamāpnoti yāsyate paramāṁ gatim | snānaṁ dānaṁ japo homaḥ śubhaṁ vā yadi vāśubham

attains heaven upon death and goes to the supreme destination. Bathing, giving, japa, oblation — whether the deed be good or ill —

Verse 48 (skanda.5.176.48)

पुराणे श्रूयते राजन्सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत् । तस्यास्तीरे तु ये वृक्षाः पतिताः कालपर्यये

purāṇe śrūyate rājansarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet | tasyāstīre tu ye vṛkṣāḥ patitāḥ kālaparyaye

it is heard in the Purana, O king, that all become multiplied a hundred million-fold here. Trees on her bank that fall with the passage of time,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.176.49)

नर्मदातोयसंस्पृष्टास्ते यान्ति परमां गतिम् । अनिवृत्तिका गतिस्तस्य पवनस्याम्बरे यथा

narmadātoyasaṁspṛṣṭāste yānti paramāṁ gatim | anivṛttikā gatistasya pavanasyāmbare yathā

touched by the water of the Narmada, attain the supreme destination — a destiny of non-return, like that of the wind in the sky.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.176.50)

पतनं कुरुते यस्तु तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप । कन्यास्त्रीणि सहस्राणि पाताले भोगभागिनः

patanaṁ kurute yastu tasmiṁstīrthe narādhipa | kanyāstrīṇi sahasrāṇi pātāle bhogabhāginaḥ

O lord of men, for whoever dies at that tirtha, three thousand maidens in Patala, sharers of his enjoyment,

Verse 51 (skanda.5.176.51)

तिष्ठन्ति भवने तस्य प्रेषणे प्रार्थयन्ति च । दिव्यभोगैः सुसम्पन्नः क्रीडते कालम्

tiṣṭhanti bhavane tasya preṣaṇe prārthayanti ca | divyabhogaiḥ susampannaḥ krīḍate kālam

stand present in his mansion and beg to serve him; well endowed with divine enjoyments, he sports for a long time.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.176.52)

पृथिव्यां ह्यासमुद्रायां तादृशो नैव जायते । यादृशोऽयं नरश्रेष्ठ पर्वतोऽमरकण्टकः

pṛthivyāṁ hyāsamudrāyāṁ tādṛśo naiva jāyate | yādṛśo'yaṁ naraśreṣṭha parvato'marakaṇṭakaḥ

On the whole earth as far as the ocean, no mountain equal to it has arisen; such, O best of men, is this mountain Amarakantaka.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.176.53)

तत्र तीर्थं तु विज्ञेयं पर्वतस्यानु पश्चिमे । ह्रदो जालेश्वरो नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः

tatra tīrthaṁ tu vijñeyaṁ parvatasyānu paścime | hrado jāleśvaro nāma triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ

There, to the west of the mountain, is a tirtha to be known — a pool called Jaleshvara, renowned throughout the three worlds.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.176.54)

तत्र पिण्डप्रदानेन सन्ध्योपासनकेन तु । पितरो द्वादशाब्दानि तर्पितास्तु भवन्ति वै

tatra piṇḍapradānena sandhyopāsanakena tu | pitaro dvādaśābdāni tarpitāstu bhavanti vai

There, by the offering of rice-balls and by observance of twilight worship, the ancestors remain satisfied for twelve years.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.176.55)

दक्षिणे नर्मदातीरे कपिला तु महानदी । सरलार्जुनसंछन्ना खदिरैरुपशोभिता

dakṣiṇe narmadātīre kapilā tu mahānadī | saralārjunasaṁchannā khadirairupaśobhitā

On the southern bank of the Narmada is the great river Kapila, covered with pine and arjuna trees, adorned with khadira trees,

Verse 56 (skanda.5.176.56)

माधवीसल्लकीभिश्च वल्लीभिश्चाप्यलंकृता । श्वापदैर्गर्जमानैश्च गोमायुवानरादिभिः

mādhavīsallakībhiśca vallībhiścāpyalaṁkṛtā | śvāpadairgarjamānaiśca gomāyuvānarādibhiḥ

adorned also with madhavi and sallaki creepers, ever delighted by roaring wild beasts, jackals, monkeys and the like,

Verse 57 (skanda.5.176.57)

पक्षिजातिविशेषैश्च नित्यं प्रमुदिता नृप । साग्रं कोटिशतं तत्र ऋषीणामिति शुश्रुम

pakṣijātiviśeṣaiśca nityaṁ pramuditā nṛpa | sāgraṁ koṭiśataṁ tatra ṛṣīṇāmiti śuśruma

and by particular species of birds, O king. There, we have heard, more than ten billion sages,

Verse 58 (skanda.5.176.58)

तपस्तप्त्वा गतं मोक्षं येषां जन्म न चागमः । येन तत्र तपस्तप्तं कपिलेन महात्मना

tapastaptvā gataṁ mokṣaṁ yeṣāṁ janma na cāgamaḥ | yena tatra tapastaptaṁ kapilena mahātmanā

having performed austerity, attained liberation, never to be born again. By whom austerity was performed there — the great-souled Kapila —

Verse 59 (skanda.5.176.59)

तत्र तच्चाभवत्तीर्थं पुण्यं सिद्धनिषेवितम् । येन सा कापिलैस्तात सेविता ऋषिभिः पुरा

tatra taccābhavattīrthaṁ puṇyaṁ siddhaniṣevitam | yena sā kāpilaistāta sevitā ṛṣibhiḥ purā

there that sacred tirtha, resorted to by the perfected, came into being. O son, since it was formerly resorted to by the Kapila sages,

Verse 60 (skanda.5.176.60)

तेन सा कपिला नाम गीता पापक्षयंकरी । तत्र कोटिशतं साग्रं तीर्थानाममरेश्वरे

tena sā kapilā nāma gītā pāpakṣayaṁkarī | tatra koṭiśataṁ sāgraṁ tīrthānāmamareśvare

therefore it is called by the name Kapila, and it is a destroyer of sin. There, at Amareshvara, more than ten billion tirthas are gathered;

Verse 61 (skanda.5.176.61)

अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः । दानं च विधिवद्दत्त्वा यथाशक्त्या द्विजोत्तमे

ahorātroṣito bhūtvā mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ | dānaṁ ca vidhivaddattvā yathāśaktyā dvijottame

having fasted a day and a night there, one is freed from all sins; and, having duly given a gift according to one's means to an excellent brahmin,

Verse 62 (skanda.5.176.62)

ईश्वरानुग्रहात्सर्वं तत्र कोटिगुणं भवेत् । यस्मादनक्षरं रूपं प्रणवस्येह भारत

īśvarānugrahātsarvaṁ tatra koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet | yasmādanakṣaraṁ rūpaṁ praṇavasyeha bhārata

by Ishvara's grace, everything there becomes multiplied a hundred million-fold. O Bharata, since here is the syllable-less form of the Pranava,

Verse 63 (skanda.5.176.63)

शिवस्वरूपस्य ततः कृतमात्राक्षरं भवेत् । तिर्यञ्चः पशवश्चैव वृक्षा गुल्मलतादयः

śivasvarūpasya tataḥ kṛtamātrākṣaraṁ bhavet | tiryañcaḥ paśavaścaiva vṛkṣā gulmalatādayaḥ

which is Shiva's own essence, it comes to take the form of the syllable made of measured sound. Animals, trees, shrubs, creepers, and the like —

Verse 64 (skanda.5.176.64)

तेऽपि तत्र क्षयं याताः स्वर्गं यान्ति न संशयः । विशल्या तत्र या प्रोक्ता तत्रैव तु महानदी

te'pi tatra kṣayaṁ yātāḥ svargaṁ yānti na saṁśayaḥ | viśalyā tatra yā proktā tatraiva tu mahānadī

they too, upon dying there, go to heaven, without doubt. And the great river there spoken of as Vishalya —

Verse 65 (skanda.5.176.65)

स्नात्वा दत्त्वा यथान्यायं तत्रापि सुकृती भवेत् । तत्र देवगणाः सर्वे सकिन्नरमहोरगाः

snātvā dattvā yathānyāyaṁ tatrāpi sukṛtī bhavet | tatra devagaṇāḥ sarve sakinnaramahoragāḥ

— bathing and giving duly there too, a person becomes meritorious. There all the hosts of gods, together with Kinnaras and great serpents,

Verse 66 (skanda.5.176.66)

यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । सर्वे समागतास्तां वै पश्यन्ति ह्यमरेश्वरे

yakṣarākṣasagandharvā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | sarve samāgatāstāṁ vai paśyanti hyamareśvare

Yakshas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, and sages rich in austerity, all gathered together, behold her at Amareshvara.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.176.67)

तैश्च सर्वैः समागम्य वन्दितौ तौ शुभौ कटौ । पुरा युगे महाघोरे सर्वलोकभयंकरे

taiśca sarvaiḥ samāgamya vanditau tau śubhau kaṭau | purā yuge mahāghore sarvalokabhayaṁkare

Gathered together with all of them, those two auspicious rivers were venerated. Formerly, in a terrible age fearsome to all the worlds,

Verse 68 (skanda.5.176.68)

नर्मदायाः सुतस्तत्र सशल्यो विशलीकृतः । सर्वदेवैश्च ऋषिभिर्विशल्या तेन सा स्मृता

narmadāyāḥ sutastatra saśalyo viśalīkṛtaḥ | sarvadevaiśca ṛṣibhirviśalyā tena sā smṛtā

the dart-bearing son of Narmada was there made free of darts; therefore she was called Vishalya by all the gods and sages.

Verse 69 (skanda.5.176.69)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। उत्पन्ना तु कथं तात विशल्या कपिला कथम् । कथं वा नर्मदापुत्रः शल्ययुक्तोऽभवन्मुने

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| utpannā tu kathaṁ tāta viśalyā kapilā katham | kathaṁ vā narmadāputraḥ śalyayukto'bhavanmune

Yudhishthira said: O sir, how did Vishalya arise, and how Kapila? And how, O sage, did the son of Narmada come to bear those darts?

Verse 70 (skanda.5.176.70)

आश्चर्यभूतं लोकस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि सुव्रत

āścaryabhūtaṁ lokasya śrotumicchāmi suvrata

This is a wonder to the world, O one of excellent vows; I wish to hear it.

Verse 71 (skanda.5.176.71)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। पुरा दाक्षायणी नाम सहिता शूलपाणिना । क्रीडित्वा नर्मदातोये परया च मुदा नृप

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| purā dākṣāyaṇī nāma sahitā śūlapāṇinā | krīḍitvā narmadātoye parayā ca mudā nṛpa

Sri Markandeya said: O king, formerly Dakshayani, together with the trident-bearer, having sported with great delight in the waters of the Narmada,

Verse 72 (skanda.5.176.72)

जलादुत्तीर्य सहसा वस्त्रमन्यत्समाहरत् । देव्यास्तु स्नानवस्त्रं तत्पीडितं लीलया नृप

jalāduttīrya sahasā vastramanyatsamāharat | devyāstu snānavastraṁ tatpīḍitaṁ līlayā nṛpa

rose from the water and quickly took up another garment. O king, the goddess's bathing-cloth was then wrung out in play,

Verse 73 (skanda.5.176.73)

सहितानुचरीभिस्तु इन्द्रायुधनिभं भृशम् । तस्मिन्निष्पीड्यमाने तु वारि यन्निःसृतं तदा

sahitānucarībhistu indrāyudhanibhaṁ bhṛśam | tasminniṣpīḍyamāne tu vāri yanniḥsṛtaṁ tadā

by her attendants, that garment resplendent as a rainbow; and the water that flowed forth from it as it was wrung out,

Verse 74 (skanda.5.176.74)

तस्मादियं सरिज्जज्ञे कपिलाख्या महानदी । संयोगादङ्गरागस्य वस्त्रोद्यत्कपिलं जलम्

tasmādiyaṁ sarijjajñe kapilākhyā mahānadī | saṁyogādaṅgarāgasya vastrodyatkapilaṁ jalam

gave rise to this great river named Kapila. Through mingling with the unguent on her body, the water squeezed from the garment turned a tawny, kapila hue,

Verse 75 (skanda.5.176.75)

गलितं तेन कपिला वर्णतो नामतोऽभवत् । तथा गन्धरसैर्युक्तं नानापुष्पैस्तु वासितम्

galitaṁ tena kapilā varṇato nāmato'bhavat | tathā gandharasairyuktaṁ nānāpuṣpaistu vāsitam

and flowing thus, it became known by the name Kapila from its color; it was also mingled with fragrant essences and scented with various flowers,

Verse 76 (skanda.5.176.76)

नानावर्णारुणं शुभ्रं वस्त्राद्यद्वारि निःसृतम् । पीड्यमानं करैः शुभ्रैस्तैस्तु पल्लवकोमलैः

nānāvarṇāruṇaṁ śubhraṁ vastrādyadvāri niḥsṛtam | pīḍyamānaṁ karaiḥ śubhraistaistu pallavakomalaiḥ

reddish and white in its varied hues, that stream flowing from the garment, being wrung by those bright hands, tender as young leaf-shoots,

Verse 77 (skanda.5.176.77)

कपिलं जलमिश्रैस्तु तस्मादेषा सरिद्वरा । कपिला चोच्यते तज्ज्ञैः पुराणार्थविशारदैः

kapilaṁ jalamiśraistu tasmādeṣā saridvarā | kapilā cocyate tajjñaiḥ purāṇārthaviśāradaiḥ

became mingled with the tawny water; therefore this excellent river is called Kapila by those learned scholars versed in the meaning of the Puranas.

Verse 78 (skanda.5.176.78)

एषा वै वस्त्रसम्भूता नर्मदातोयसम्भवा । महापुण्यतमा ज्ञेया कपिला सरिदुत्तमा

eṣā vai vastrasambhūtā narmadātoyasambhavā | mahāpuṇyatamā jñeyā kapilā sariduttamā

This, then, born of the garment, arisen from the waters of the Narmada, is to be known as the most highly meritorious river, the excellent Kapila.