The Glory of Vimaleshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.198.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेत्तु राजेन्द्र विमलेश्वरमुत्तमम्। तत्र देवशिला रम्या स्वयं देवैर्विनिर्मिता

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchettu rājendra vimaleśvaramuttamam| tatra devaśilā ramyā svayaṁ devairvinirmitā

Shri Markandeya said: O Rajendra, one should next go to the excellent Vimaleshvara tirtha, where there stands a delightful Devashila, fashioned by the gods themselves.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.198.2)

तत्र स्नात्वा तु यो भक्त्या ब्राह्मणान्पूजयेन्नृप। स्वल्पेनापि हि दानेन तस्य चान्तो न विद्यते

tatra snātvā tu yo bhaktyā brāhmaṇānpūjayennṛpa| svalpenāpi hi dānena tasya cānto na vidyate

O king, whoever bathes there and devotedly honours the brahmins — even with a small gift, his merit knows no limit.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.198.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कानि दानानि विप्रेन्द्र शस्तानि धरणीतले। यानि दत्त्वा नरो भक्त्या मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kāni dānāni viprendra śastāni dharaṇītale| yāni dattvā naro bhaktyā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Yudhishthira said: O lord of brahmins, which gifts are praised as best upon the earth, by devotedly giving which a man is freed from all sins?

Verse 4 (skanda.5.198.4)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। सुवर्णं रजतं ताम्रं मणिमौक्तिकमेव च। भूमिदानं च गोदानं मोचयत्पशुभान्नरम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ tāmraṁ maṇimauktikameva ca| bhūmidānaṁ ca godānaṁ mocayatpaśubhānnaram

Shri Markandeya said: Gold, silver, copper, gems, and pearls, the gift of land, and the gift of a cow — these free a man from rebirth as an animal.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.198.5)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः कश्चित्कुरुते प्राणसंक्षयम्। रुद्रलोके वसेत्तावद्यावदा भूतसम्प्लवम्

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ kaścitkurute prāṇasaṁkṣayam| rudraloke vasettāvadyāvadā bhūtasamplavam

Whoever, at that tirtha, gives up his life, dwells in Rudra's world until the dissolution of the universe.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.198.6)

ततः पुष्करिणीं गच्छेत्सर्वपापक्षयंकरीम्। तत्र स्नात्वार्चयेद्देवं तेजोराशिं दिवाकरम्

tataḥ puṣkariṇīṁ gacchetsarvapāpakṣayaṁkarīm| tatra snātvārcayeddevaṁ tejorāśiṁ divākaram

Then one should go to the lotus-pool that destroys every sin; bathing there, one should worship the sun-god, that mass of splendour.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.198.7)

ऋचमेकां जपेत्साम्नः सामवेदफलं लभेत्। यजुर्वेदस्य जपनादृग्वेदस्य तथैव च

ṛcamekāṁ japetsāmnaḥ sāmavedaphalaṁ labhet| yajurvedasya japanādṛgvedasya tathaiva ca

By reciting even a single verse of the Sama there, one obtains the fruit of the Samaveda; likewise by reciting from the Yajurveda or the Rigveda.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.198.8)

अक्षरं वा जपेन्मन्त्रं ध्यायमानो दिवाकरम्। आदित्यहृदयं जप्त्वा मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः

akṣaraṁ vā japenmantraṁ dhyāyamāno divākaram| ādityahṛdayaṁ japtvā mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

Or, meditating upon the sun-god, one may recite even a single syllabic mantra; by reciting the Adityahridaya, one is freed from every sin.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.198.9)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा विधिना जपेद्द्विजान्। तस्य कोटिगुणं पुण्यं जायते नात्र संशयः

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā vidhinā japeddvijān| tasya koṭiguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever bathes at that tirtha and duly makes gifts to brahmins there obtains ten-million-fold merit, without doubt.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.198.10)

अनाशकेनाग्निगत्या जले वा देहपातनात्। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे मृतो यस्तु स याति परमां गतिम्

anāśakenāgnigatyā jale vā dehapātanāt| tasmiṁstīrthe mṛto yastu sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

Whoever dies at that tirtha, whether by fasting, by entering fire, or by casting off the body in water, attains the supreme destination.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.198.11)

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वा नृपसत्तम। विहितं कर्म कुर्वाणः स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम्

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā nṛpasattama| vihitaṁ karma kurvāṇaḥ sa gacchetparamāṁ gatim

O best of kings, be he brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, or shudra — whoever performs the prescribed act attains the supreme destination.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.198.12)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। व्याधिं सत्त्वक्षयं मोहं ज्ञात्वा वर्णा द्विजोत्तम। पापेभ्यो विप्रमुच्यन्ते केन तत्साधनं वद

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| vyādhiṁ sattvakṣayaṁ mohaṁ jñātvā varṇā dvijottama| pāpebhyo vipramucyante kena tatsādhanaṁ vada

Yudhishthira said: O best of the twice-born, knowing disease, decline of strength, and delusion — tell me by what means the different classes are freed from their sins.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.198.13)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। तिलोदकी तिलस्नायी कामक्रोधविवर्जितः। ब्राह्मणोऽनशनैः प्राणांस्त्यजल्लभति सद्गतिम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tilodakī tilasnāyī kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ| brāhmaṇo'naśanaiḥ prāṇāṁstyajallabhati sadgatim

Shri Markandeya said: A brahmin who offers libations of sesame water, bathes with sesame, and is free of desire and anger, attains a good destination by relinquishing his life through fasting.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.198.14)

सङ्ग्रामे सद्गतिं तात क्षत्रियो निधने लभेत्। तदभावान्महाप्राज्ञ सेवमानो लभेदिति

saṅgrāme sadgatiṁ tāta kṣatriyo nidhane labhet| tadabhāvānmahāprājña sevamāno labhediti

O child, the kshatriya attains a good destination through death in battle; O wise one, in the absence of that, he attains it even through service.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.198.15)

व्याधिग्रहगृहीतो वा वृद्धो वा विकलेन्द्रियः। आत्मानं दाहयित्वाग्नौ विधिना सद्गतिं लभेत्

vyādhigrahagṛhīto vā vṛddho vā vikalendriyaḥ| ātmānaṁ dāhayitvāgnau vidhinā sadgatiṁ labhet

One seized by disease or planetary affliction, or one who is aged or bereft of his faculties, attains a good destination by duly consigning himself to fire.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.198.16)

वैश्योऽपि हि त्यजन्प्राणानेवं वै शुभभाग्भवेत्। जले वा शुद्धभावेन त्यक्त्वा प्राणाञ्छिवो भवेत्

vaiśyo'pi hi tyajanprāṇānevaṁ vai śubhabhāgbhavet| jale vā śuddhabhāvena tyaktvā prāṇāñchivo bhavet

The vaishya too, giving up his life in this manner, attains an auspicious lot; or, with a pure heart, relinquishing his life in water, he becomes one with Shiva.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.198.17)

शूद्रोऽपि द्विजशुश्रूषुस्तोषयित्वा महेश्वरम्। विमुच्य नान्यथा पापः पतते नरके ध्रुवम्

śūdro'pi dvijaśuśrūṣustoṣayitvā maheśvaram| vimucya nānyathā pāpaḥ patate narake dhruvam

The shudra too, serving the twice-born and pleasing Maheshvara, is thereby released; otherwise, being sinful, he certainly falls into hell.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.198.18)

अथवा प्रणवाशक्तो द्विजेभ्यो गुरवे तथा। पञ्चाग्नौ शोषयेद्देहमापृच्छ्य द्विजसत्तमान्

athavā praṇavāśakto dvijebhyo gurave tathā| pañcāgnau śoṣayeddehamāpṛcchya dvijasattamān

Or, if unable in the practice of the sacred syllable, having sought leave of the twice-born and one's guru, having consulted the foremost brahmins, one may dry up the body in the five fires.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.198.19)

शान्तदान्तजितक्रोधाञ्छास्त्रयुक्तान् विचक्षणान्। तेषां चैवोपदेशेन करीषाग्निं प्रसाधयेत्

śāntadāntajitakrodhāñchāstrayuktān vicakṣaṇān| teṣāṁ caivopadeśena karīṣāgniṁ prasādhayet

With the guidance of those who are calm, self-controlled, victorious over anger, versed in scripture, and discerning, one should prepare the fire of dried dung.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.198.20)

एवं वर्णा यथात्वेन मूढाहङ्कारमोहिताः। पतन्ति नरके घोरे यथान्धो गिरिगह्वरे

evaṁ varṇā yathātvena mūḍhāhaṅkāramohitāḥ| patanti narake ghore yathāndho girigahvare

Thus, those of each class who are deluded by folly and pride fall into terrible hell, just as a blind man falls into a mountain chasm.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.198.21)

ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तन्ते कामचारतः। कृमियोनिं प्रपद्यन्ते तेषां पिण्डो न च क्रिया

ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartante kāmacārataḥ| kṛmiyoniṁ prapadyante teṣāṁ piṇḍo na ca kriyā

Those who abandon the ordinances of scripture and live according to their own desire attain the womb of a worm; for them there is neither pinda-offering nor rite.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.198.22)

श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं धर्मं त्यक्त्वा यथेच्छाचारसेविनः। अष्टाविंशतिर्वै कोट्यो नरकाणां युधिष्ठिर

śrutismṛtyuditaṁ dharmaṁ tyaktvā yathecchācārasevinaḥ| aṣṭāviṁśatirvai koṭyo narakāṇāṁ yudhiṣṭhira

O Yudhishthira, for those who abandon the duty declared in the Shruti and Smriti and follow their own caprice, there exist twenty-eight crore hells.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.198.23)

प्रत्येकं वा पतन्त्येते मग्ना नरकसागरे। दुर्लभं मानुषं जन्म बहुधर्मार्जितं नृप

pratyekaṁ vā patantyete magnā narakasāgare| durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma bahudharmārjitaṁ nṛpa

Each of them sinks and falls into that ocean of hell; O king, a human birth is hard to attain, won only through much accumulated merit.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.198.24)

तल्लब्ध्वा मदमात्सर्यं यो वै त्यजति मानवः। संनियम्य सदात्मानं ज्ञानचक्षुर्नरो हि सः

tallabdhvā madamātsaryaṁ yo vai tyajati mānavaḥ| sanniyamya sadātmānaṁ jñānacakṣurnaro hi saḥ

Having attained it, whatever man abandons pride and envy, and ever keeps his own self restrained — he indeed is a man with the eye of knowledge.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.198.25)

अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानांजनशलाकया। यस्य नोन्मीलितं चक्षुर्ज्ञेयो जात्यन्ध एव सः

ajñānatimirāndhasya jñānāñjanaśalākayā| yasya nonmīlitaṁ cakṣurjñeyo jātyandha eva saḥ

For one blinded by the darkness of ignorance — whoever's eye is not opened by the collyrium-rod of knowledge should indeed be known as blind from birth.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.198.26)

एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं यत्पृष्टं नृपसत्तम। तथानिष्टतराणां हि रुद्रस्य वचनं यथा

etatte kathitaṁ sarvaṁ yatpṛṣṭaṁ nṛpasattama| tathāniṣṭatarāṇāṁ hi rudrasya vacanaṁ yathā

O best of kings, all that you asked has thus been told; now hear as well what Rudra has said regarding the most inauspicious matters.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.198.27)

नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा रुद्रदेहाद्विनिःसृता। तारयेत्सर्वभूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च

narmadā saritāṁ śreṣṭhā rudradehādviniḥsṛtā| tārayetsarvabhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca

The Narmada, foremost of rivers, issued forth from the body of Rudra; she ferries across all beings, moving and unmoving.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.198.28)

सर्वदेवाधिदेवेन ईश्वरेण महात्मना। लोकानां च हितार्थाय महापुण्यावतारिता

sarvadevādhidevena īśvareṇa mahātmanā| lokānāṁ ca hitārthāya mahāpuṇyāvatāritā

By the great-souled Ishvara, the god who is lord over all the gods, she, of immense sanctity, was brought down for the welfare of the worlds.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.198.29)

मानसं वाचिकं पापं स्नानान्नश्यति कर्मजम्। रुद्रदेहाद्विनिष्क्रान्ता तेन पुण्यतमा हि सा

mānasaṁ vācikaṁ pāpaṁ snānānnaśyati karmajam| rudradehādviniṣkrāntā tena puṇyatamā hi sā

Sin arising from mind, speech, or action is destroyed by bathing in her; because she issued forth from Rudra's own body, she is therefore supremely sacred.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.198.30)

प्रातरुत्थाय यो नित्यं भूमिमाक्रम्य भक्तितः। एतन्मन्त्रं जपेत्तात स्नानस्य लभते फलम्

prātarutthāya yo nityaṁ bhūmimākramya bhaktitaḥ| etanmantraṁ japettāta snānasya labhate phalam

Whoever rises daily at dawn and, devotedly, sets foot upon the earth, O child, reciting this mantra, obtains the fruit of a sacred bath.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.198.31)

नमः पुण्यजले देवि नमः सागरगामिनि। नमोऽस्तु पापनिर्मोचे नमो देवि वरानने

namaḥ puṇyajale devi namaḥ sāgaragāmini| namo'stu pāpanirmoce namo devi varānane

Salutations to you, O goddess of sacred waters; salutations to you, O one who flows to the ocean. Salutations to you, releaser from sin; salutations to you, O fair-faced goddess.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.198.32)

नमोऽस्तु ते ऋषिवरसङ्घसेविते नमोऽस्तु ते त्रिनयनदेहनिःसृते। नमोऽस्तु ते सुकृतवतां सदा वरे नमोऽस्तु ते सततपवित्रपावनि

namo'stu te ṛṣivarasaṅghasevite namo'stu te trinayanadehaniḥsṛte| namo'stu te sukṛtavatāṁ sadā vare namo'stu te satatapavitrapāvani

Salutations to you, served by hosts of eminent sages; salutations to you, who issued from the body of the three-eyed one. Salutations to you, ever supreme among the virtuous; salutations to you, ever-purifying and sanctifying.