The Praise of Shulabheda

Verse 1 (skanda.5.199.1)

तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप। रेवाया दक्षिणे कूले निर्मितं शूलपाणिना। मोक्षार्थं मानवेन्द्राणां निर्मितं नृपसत्तम

tīrthānāṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva narādhipa| revāyā dakṣiṇe kūle nirmitaṁ śūlapāṇinā| mokṣārthaṁ mānavendrāṇāṁ nirmitaṁ nṛpasattama

O lord of men, hear of the supreme tirtha among tirthas, which was made by trident-wielding Shiva on the southern bank of the Reva; O best of kings, it was made for the liberation of the foremost among men.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.199.2)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। श्रुता मे विविधा धर्मास्तीर्थानि विविधानि च। दानधर्माः समस्ताश्च त्वत्प्रसादाद्द्विजोत्तम

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| śrutā me vividhā dharmāstīrthāni vividhāni ca| dānadharmāḥ samastāśca tvatprasādāddvijottama

Yudhishthira said: O best of the twice-born, by your grace I have heard of the various duties, the various tirthas, and all the laws of giving.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.199.3)

अन्यच्च श्रोतुमिच्छामि संसारश्छिद्यते यथा। पुनरागमनं नास्ति मोक्षप्राप्तिर्भवेद्यथा। एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वं प्रसादाद्द्विजसत्तम

anyacca śrotumicchāmi saṁsāraśchidyate yathā| punarāgamanaṁ nāsti mokṣaprāptirbhavedyathā| etadākhyāhi me sarvaṁ prasādāddvijasattama

I wish now to hear something more — how the bond of worldly existence is severed, how there is no return, and how liberation is attained; O foremost of the twice-born, explain all this to me by your grace.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.199.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। शृणुष्वैकमना भूत्वा तीर्थात्तीर्थान्तरं महत्। श्रुते यस्य प्रभावे तु मुच्यते चाब्दिकादघात्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śṛṇuṣvaikamanā bhūtvā tīrthāttīrthāntaraṁ mahat| śrute yasya prabhāve tu mucyate cābdikādaghāt

Markandeya said: Listen with a focused mind — among all tirthas, this is a great and distinctive one, whose glory, merely by being heard, frees one from a year's accumulated sin.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.199.5)

वाचिकैर्मानसैर्वापि शारीरैश्च विशेषतः। कीर्तनात्तस्य तीर्थस्य मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

vācikairmānasairvāpi śārīraiśca viśeṣataḥ| kīrtanāttasya tīrthasya mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

From sins committed by speech, mind, or body especially, one is freed of every sin merely by proclaiming the glory of this tirtha.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.199.6)

पञ्चक्रोशप्रमाणं तु तच्च तीर्थं महीपते। भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं दिव्यं प्राणिनां पापकर्मिणाम्

pañcakrośapramāṇaṁ tu tacca tīrthaṁ mahīpate| bhuktimuktipradaṁ divyaṁ prāṇināṁ pāpakarmiṇām

O lord of the earth, that tirtha extends over five kroshas — a divine tirtha that grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation, even to sinful beings.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.199.7)

रेवाया दक्षिणे कूले पर्वतो भृगुसंज्ञितः। तस्य मूर्ध्नि च तत्तीर्थं स्थापितं चैव शम्भुना

revāyā dakṣiṇe kūle parvato bhṛgusaṁjñitaḥ| tasya mūrdhni ca tattīrthaṁ sthāpitaṁ caiva śambhunā

On the southern bank of the Reva stands the mountain called Bhrigu; upon its summit that tirtha was established by Shambhu.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.199.8)

शूलभेदेति विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु भूपते। तत्र स्थिताश्च ये वृक्षास्तीर्थाच्चैव चतुर्दिशम्

śūlabhedeti vikhyātaṁ triṣu lokeṣu bhūpate| tatra sthitāśca ye vṛkṣāstīrthāccaiva caturdiśam

O ruler of the earth, it is renowned in the three worlds by the name Shulabheda; whatever trees stand in the four directions from that tirtha,

Verse 9 (skanda.5.199.9)

पतिता निलयं यान्ति रुद्रस्य नात्र संशयः। मृतास्तत्रैव ये केचिज्जन्तवो भुवि पक्षिणः

patitā nilayaṁ yānti rudrasya nātra saṁśayaḥ| mṛtāstatraiva ye kecijjantavo bhuvi pakṣiṇaḥ

when they fall, they go to the abode of Rudra, without doubt; and whatever creatures or birds happen to die right there,

Verse 10 (skanda.5.199.10)

ते यान्ति परमं लोकं तत्र तीर्थे न संशयः। पातालान्निःसृता गङ्गा भोगवतीतिसंज्ञिता

te yānti paramaṁ lokaṁ tatra tīrthe na saṁśayaḥ| pātālānniḥsṛtā gaṅgā bhogavatītisaṁjñitā

they go to the highest world, at that tirtha there is no doubt of it. The Ganga that issues from the netherworld, known by the name Bhogavati,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.199.11)

निष्क्रान्ता शूलभेदाच्च सर्वपापक्षयंकरी। या सा गीर्वाणनाम्न्यन्या वहेत्पुण्या महानदी

niṣkrāntā śūlabhedācca sarvapāpakṣayaṁkarī| yā sā gīrvāṇanāmnyanyā vahetpuṇyā mahānadī

emerges at Shulabheda, destroying every sin; and another sacred great river, flowing under the name Girvana,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.199.12)

पतिता कुण्डमध्ये तु यत्र भिन्नं त्रिशूलिना। शम्भुना च पुरा तात उत्पाद्य च सरस्वती

patitā kuṇḍamadhye tu yatra bhinnaṁ triśūlinā| śambhunā ca purā tāta utpādya ca sarasvatī

falls into the midst of that pool, at the place where the trident-bearer Shambhu, in ancient times, cleft the earth and brought forth the Sarasvati.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.199.13)

सा तत्र पतिता राजन् प्राचीनाघविमोचिनी। भास्वत्या त्रितयं यत्र शिला गीर्वाणसंज्ञिता

sā tatra patitā rājan prācīnāghavimocinī| bhāsvatyā tritayaṁ yatra śilā gīrvāṇasaṁjñitā

O king, she fell there, releasing one from sins accumulated in past lives; where, together with Bhasvati, three rock formations are known by the name Girvana.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.199.14)

तत्र तीर्थे च तत्तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति। केदारं च प्रयागं च कुरुक्षेत्रं गया तथा

tatra tīrthe ca tattīrthaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati| kedāraṁ ca prayāgaṁ ca kurukṣetraṁ gayā tathā

There has never been, nor will there ever be, a tirtha equal to that tirtha — not Kedara, not Prayaga, not Kurukshetra, nor even Gaya,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.199.15)

अन्यानि च सुतीर्थानि कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्। पञ्च स्थानानि तीर्थानि पृथग्भूतानि यानि च

anyāni ca sutīrthāni kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm| pañca sthānāni tīrthāni pṛthagbhūtāni yāni ca

nor any other excellent tirtha, are worth even a sixteenth part of it. The five distinct tirtha-sites that exist,

Verse 16 (skanda.5.199.16)

वक्ष्यामि च समासेन एकैकं च पृथक्पृथक्। गया नाभ्यां यथा पुण्या चक्रतीर्थं च तत्समम्

vakṣyāmi ca samāsena ekaikaṁ ca pṛthakpṛthak| gayā nābhyāṁ yathā puṇyā cakratīrthaṁ ca tatsamam

I shall now describe them briefly, each one separately. As sacred is Chakratirtha at the navel of Gaya, so is this equal to it.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.199.17)

धर्मारण्ये यथा कूपं शूलभेदं च तत्समम्। ब्रह्मयूपं यथा पुण्यं देवनद्यास्तथैव च

dharmāraṇye yathā kūpaṁ śūlabhedaṁ ca tatsamam| brahmayūpaṁ yathā puṇyaṁ devanadyāstathaiva ca

As is the sacred well in Dharmaranya, so is Shulabheda equal to it; and as sacred as the Brahmayupa at the celestial river, so too is this.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.199.18)

यथा गयाशिरः पुण्यं सुराणां च यथा शिला। यथा च पुष्करं स्थानं मार्कण्डह्रद एव च

yathā gayāśiraḥ puṇyaṁ surāṇāṁ ca yathā śilā| yathā ca puṣkaraṁ sthānaṁ mārkaṇḍahrada eva ca

As sacred as Gayashira, and as sacred as the rock of the gods; as the site of Pushkara, and as the pool of Markanda —

Verse 19 (skanda.5.199.19)

दत्त्वा पिण्डोदकं तत्र पिण्डाणां च तथाक्षयम्। यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं तोयं पिबति नित्यशः

dattvā piṇḍodakaṁ tatra piṇḍānāṁ ca tathākṣayam| yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ toyaṁ pibati nityaśaḥ

so here too, the offering of pinda and water becomes imperishable. Whoever performs the shraddha rite here and daily drinks its water,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.199.20)

मुच्यते सर्वपापैस्तु उरगः कञ्चुकैरिव। अनिन्द्यान्पूजयेद्विप्रान् दम्भक्रोधविवर्जितान्

mucyate sarvapāpaistu uragaḥ kañcukairiva| anindyānpūjayedviprān dambhakrodhavivarjitān

is freed from every sin just as a serpent is freed from its old skin. One should honour blameless brahmins who are free from pride and anger.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.199.21)

त्रयोदशदिनं दानं त्रयोदशगुणं भवेत्। अभ्यर्चितं सुरं दृष्ट्वा गणनाथं गजाननम्

trayodaśadinaṁ dānaṁ trayodaśaguṇaṁ bhavet| abhyarcitaṁ suraṁ dṛṣṭvā gaṇanāthaṁ gajānanam

A gift given on the thirteenth day becomes thirteenfold in its fruit; and upon seeing the worshipped elephant-faced lord of the ganas,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.199.22)

सर्वे विघ्ना विनश्यन्ति दृष्ट्वा कम्बलक्षेत्रपम्। पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या शूलपाणिं महेश्वरम्

sarve vighnā vinaśyanti dṛṣṭvā kambalakṣetrapam| pūjayetparayā bhaktyā śūlapāṇiṁ maheśvaram

all obstacles are destroyed on beholding Kambala-kshetrapa, the field's guardian. One should worship trident-bearing Maheshvara with supreme devotion.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.199.23)

देवस्य पूर्वभागे तु उमा पूज्या प्रयत्नतः। मार्कण्डेशं ततो भक्त्या पूजयेद्गुहवासिनम्

devasya pūrvabhāge tu umā pūjyā prayatnataḥ| mārkaṇḍeśaṁ tato bhaktyā pūjayedguhavāsinam

In the eastern quarter of the god, Uma too should be diligently worshipped; then, with devotion, one should worship Markandesha, the cave-dweller.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.199.24)

मुच्यन्ते पातकैः सर्वैरज्ञानज्ञानसंचितैः। गुहामध्ये प्रविष्टस्तु जपेत्सूक्तं तु त्र्यक्षरम्

mucyante pātakaiḥ sarvairajñānajñānasañcitaiḥ| guhāmadhye praviṣṭastu japetsūktaṁ tu tryakṣaram

Thereby one is freed from all sins accumulated knowingly or unknowingly; having entered within the cave, one should recite the three-syllabled hymn.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.199.25)

नीलपर्वतजं पुण्यं षष्ठांशेन लभेत सः। त्रिनरास्तत्र तिष्ठन्ति सादित्यमरुतैः सह

nīlaparvatajaṁ puṇyaṁ ṣaṣṭhāṁśena labheta saḥ| trinarāstatra tiṣṭhanti sādityamarutaiḥ saha

He obtains a sixth part of the merit born at the Blue Mountain; there dwell the three purushas together with the Adityas and the Maruts.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.199.26)

सर्वदेवमयं स्थानं कोटिलिङ्गमनुत्तमम्। यथा नदीनदाः सर्वे सागरे यान्ति संक्षयम्

sarvadevamayaṁ sthānaṁ koṭiliṅgamanuttamam| yathā nadīnadāḥ sarve sāgare yānti saṁkṣayam

This place, embodying all the gods, containing ten million lingas, is supreme. As all rivers and streams, upon reaching the ocean, come to their end,

Verse 27 (skanda.5.199.27)

तथा पापानि नश्यन्ति शूलभेदस्य दर्शनात्। प्रत्यक्षो दृश्यतेऽद्यापि प्रत्ययो ह्यवनीपते

tathā pāpāni naśyanti śūlabhedasya darśanāt| pratyakṣo dṛśyate'dyāpi pratyayo hyavanīpate

so, at the mere sight of Shulabheda, sins are destroyed. O lord of the earth, direct proof of this is still visible even today.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.199.28)

विस्फुलिङ्गा लिङ्गमध्ये स्पन्दन्ते स्नानयोगतः। द्वितीयः प्रत्ययस्तत्र तैलबिन्दुर्न सर्पति

visphuliṅgā liṅgamadhye spandante snānayogataḥ| dvitīyaḥ pratyayastatra tailabindurna sarpati

By the power of bathing there, sparks are seen quivering within the linga; and there is a second proof there — a drop of oil does not slide off it.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.199.29)

एवं हि प्रत्ययस्तत्र शूलभेदप्रभावजः। यः स्मरेच्छूलभेदं तु त्रिकालं नित्यमेव च

evaṁ hi pratyayastatra śūlabhedaprabhāvajaḥ| yaḥ smarecchūlabhedaṁ tu trikālaṁ nityameva ca

Thus this proof arises there from the power of Shulabheda. Whoever, constantly, at the three junctures of the day, remembers Shulabheda,

Verse 30 (skanda.5.199.30)

स पूतश्च भवेत्साक्षात्सबाह्याभ्यन्तरो नृप। न कस्यचिन्मया ख्यातं पृष्टोऽहं त्रिदशैरपि

sa pūtaśca bhavetsākṣātsabāhyābhyantaro nṛpa| na kasyacinmayā khyātaṁ pṛṣṭo'haṁ tridaśairapi

O king, he becomes truly purified, both within and without. I have not disclosed this to anyone, though even the thirty gods themselves have asked me of it.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.199.31)

गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं तीर्थं सदा गोप्यं कृतं मया। सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं सर्वदोषघ्नमुत्तमम्

guhyādguhyataraṁ tīrthaṁ sadā gopyaṁ kṛtaṁ mayā| sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvadoṣaghnamuttamam

This tirtha, more secret than the secret, I have always kept concealed; it removes every sin, is sacred, destroys every fault, and is supreme.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.199.32)

सर्वतीर्थमयं तीर्थं शूलभेदं जनेश्वर। श्रुते यस्य प्रभावे तु मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

sarvatīrthamayaṁ tīrthaṁ śūlabhedaṁ janeśvara| śrute yasya prabhāve tu mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

O lord of men, Shulabheda is a tirtha that embodies all tirthas, whose glory, merely by being heard, frees one from every sin.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.199.33)

शूलभेदं मया तात संक्षेपात्कथितं तव। यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

śūlabhedaṁ mayā tāta saṁkṣepātkathitaṁ tava| yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

O child, I have told you of Shulabheda in brief; whatever man hears it with devotion is freed from every sin.