The Glory of Adityeshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.215.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। भूयोऽप्यहं प्रवक्ष्यामि आदित्येश्वरमुत्तमम्। सर्वदुःखहरं पार्थ सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| bhūyo'pyahaṁ pravakṣyāmi ādityeśvaramuttamam| sarvaduḥkhaharaṁ pārtha sarvavighnavināśanam||

Shri Markandeya said: "O Partha, I shall again tell of the supreme Adityeshvara, remover of all sorrow, destroyer of every obstacle,

Verse 2 (skanda.5.215.2)

आयुःश्रीवर्द्धनं नित्यं पुत्रदं स्वर्गदं शिवम्। यस्य तीर्थस्य चान्यानि तीर्थानि कुरुनन्दन॥

āyuḥśrīvarddhanaṁ nityaṁ putradaṁ svargadaṁ śivam| yasya tīrthasya cānyāni tīrthāni kurunandana||

ever increasing life and prosperity, giver of sons, giver of heaven, auspicious. O joy of the Kurus, before the greatness of this tirtha, other tirthas —

Verse 3 (skanda.5.215.3)

नालभन्त श्रियं नाके मर्त्ये पातालगोचरे। कुरुक्षेत्रं गया गङ्गा नैमिषं पुष्करं तथा॥

nālabhanta śriyaṁ nāke martye pātālagocare| kurukṣetraṁ gayā gaṅgā naimiṣaṁ puṣkaraṁ tathā||

could not obtain such glory, neither in heaven, on earth, nor in the netherworld — Kurukshetra, Gaya, Ganga, Naimisha, and Pushkara as well,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.215.4)

वाराणसी च केदारं प्रयागं रुद्रनन्दनम्। महाकालं सहस्राक्षं शुक्लतीर्थं नृपोत्तम॥

vārāṇasī ca kedāraṁ prayāgaṁ rudranandanam| mahākālaṁ sahasrākṣaṁ śuklatīrthaṁ nṛpottama||

and Varanasi, Kedara, Prayaga, Rudranandana, Mahakala, Sahasraksha, and Shuklatirtha, O best of kings —

Verse 5 (skanda.5.215.5)

रवितीर्थस्य सर्वाणि कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्। रवितीर्थे हि यद्वृत्तं तच्छृणुष्व नृपोत्तम॥

ravitīrthasya sarvāṇi kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm| ravitīrthe hi yadvṛttaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva nṛpottama||

none of these are worthy even of a sixteenth part of Ravitirtha. O best of kings, hear now what occurred at Ravitirtha.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.215.6)

स्नेहात्ते कथयिष्यामि वार्द्धकेनातिपीडितः। शृण्वन्तु ऋषयः सर्वे तपोनिष्ठा महौजसः॥

snehātte kathayiṣyāmi vārddhakenātipīḍitaḥ| śṛṇvantu ṛṣayaḥ sarve taponiṣṭhā mahaujasaḥ||

Out of affection I shall tell it to you, though sorely afflicted by old age; let all the sages, steadfast in austerity, of great might, listen.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.215.7)

श्रुतं मे रुद्रसांनिध्ये नन्दिस्कन्दगणैः सह। पार्वत्या पृष्टः शम्भुश्च रवितीर्थस्य यत्फलम्॥

śrutaṁ me rudrasāṁnidhye nandiskandagaṇaiḥ saha| pārvatyā pṛṣṭaḥ śambhuśca ravitīrthasya yatphalam||

I heard it in Rudra's presence, together with Nandi, Skanda, and the ganas, when Parvati asked Shambhu the fruit of Ravitirtha.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.215.8)

शम्भुना च यदाख्यातं गिरिजायाः ससम्भ्रमम्। तत्सर्वमेकचित्तेन रुद्रोद्गीतं श्रुतं मया॥

śambhunā ca yadākhyātaṁ girijāyāḥ sasambhramam| tatsarvamekacittena rudrodgītaṁ śrutaṁ mayā||

And whatever Shambhu told Girija, with reverence — all of that, with a focused mind, I heard sung aloud by Rudra.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.215.9)

तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु यत्नेन पाण्डव। दुर्भिक्षोपहता विप्रा नर्मदां तु समाश्रिताः॥

tatte'haṁ sampravakṣyāmi śṛṇu yatnena pāṇḍava| durbhikṣopahatā viprā narmadāṁ tu samāśritāḥ||

That same thing I shall now relate to you; listen attentively, O son of Pandu. Brahmins, afflicted by famine, took refuge by the Narmada —

Verse 10 (skanda.5.215.10)

उद्दालको वशिष्ठश्च माण्डव्यो गौतमस्तथा। याज्ञवल्क्योऽथ गर्गश्च शाण्डिल्यो गालवस्तथा॥

uddālako vaśiṣṭhaśca māṇḍavyo gautamastathā| yājñavalkyo'tha gargaśca śāṇḍilyo gālavastathā||

Uddalaka, Vasishtha, Mandavya, and Gautama likewise, Yajnavalkya, Garga, Shandilya, and Galava likewise,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.215.11)

नाचिकेतो विभाण्डश्च वालखिल्यादयस्तथा। शातातपश्च शङ्खश्च जैमिनिर्गोभिलस्तथा॥

nāciketo vibhāṇḍaśca vālakhilyādayastathā| śātātapaśca śaṅkhaśca jaiminirgobhilastathā||

Nachiketa, Vibhanda, and the Valakhilyas and others likewise, Shatatapa, Shankha, Jaimini, and Gobhila likewise,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.215.12)

जैगीषव्यः शतानीकः सर्व एव समागताः। तीर्थयात्रा कृता तैस्तु नर्मदायाः समन्ततः॥

jaigīṣavyaḥ śatānīkaḥ sarva eva samāgatāḥ| tīrthayātrā kṛtā taistu narmadāyāḥ samantataḥ||

Jaigishavya, and Shatanika — all of them together came; they made a pilgrimage all around the Narmada.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.215.13)

आदित्येश्वरमायाताः प्रसङ्गादृषिपुंगवाः। वृक्षैः संछादितं शुभ्रं धवतिन्दुकपाटलैः॥

ādityeśvaramāyātāḥ prasaṅgādṛṣipuṁgavāḥ| vṛkṣaiḥ saṁchāditaṁ śubhraṁ dhavatindukapāṭalaiḥ||

Those foremost of sages arrived incidentally at Adityeshvara, shaded by trees, bright, with dhava, tinduka, and patala trees,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.215.14)

जम्बीरैरर्जुनैः कुब्जैः शमीकेसरकिंशुकैः। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महापुण्ये सुगन्धिकुसुमाकुले॥

jambīrairarjunaiḥ kubjaiḥ śamīkesarakiṁśukaiḥ| tasmiṁstīrthe mahāpuṇye sugandhikusumākule||

with jambira, arjuna, kubja, shami, kesara and kinshuka trees, at that most sacred tirtha, thronged with fragrant flowers,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.215.15)

पुन्नागनालिकेरैश्च खदिरैः कल्पपादपैः। अनेकश्वापदाकीर्णं मृगमार्जारसंकुलम्॥

punnāganālikeraiśca khadiraiḥ kalpapādapaiḥ| anekaśvāpadākīrṇaṁ mṛgamārjārasaṁkulam||

with punnaga and coconut trees, khadira trees, and wish-fulfilling trees, teeming with many wild beasts, crowded with deer and wild cats,

Verse 16 (skanda.5.215.16)

ऋक्षहस्तिसमाकीर्णं चित्रकैश्चोपशोभितम्। प्रविष्टा ऋषयः सर्वे वने पुष्पसमाकुले॥

ṛkṣahastisamākīrṇaṁ citrakaiścopaśobhitam| praviṣṭā ṛṣayaḥ sarve vane puṣpasamākule||

thronged with bears and elephants, adorned with leopards. All the sages entered that flower-filled forest.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.215.17)

वनान्ते च स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा रक्ता रक्ताम्बरान्विताः। रक्तमाल्यानुशोभाढ्या रक्तचन्दनचर्चिताः॥

vanānte ca striyo dṛṣṭvā raktā raktāmbarānvitāḥ| raktamālyānuśobhāḍhyā raktacandanacarcitāḥ||

At the edge of the forest they saw women, red in hue, clad in red garments, adorned with red garlands, and smeared with red sandalwood,

Verse 18 (skanda.5.215.18)

रक्ताभरणसंयुक्ताः पाशहस्ता भयावहाः। तासां समीपगा दृष्टाः कृष्णजीमूतसन्निभाः॥

raktābharaṇasaṁyuktāḥ pāśahastā bhayāvahāḥ| tāsāṁ samīpagā dṛṣṭāḥ kṛṣṇajīmūtasannibhāḥ||

adorned with red ornaments, with nooses in hand, terrifying. Near them were seen beings resembling black storm-clouds,

Verse 19 (skanda.5.215.19)

महाकाया भीमवक्त्राः पाशहस्ता भयावहाः। अनावृष्ट्युपमा दृष्टा आतुराः पिङ्गलोचनाः॥

mahākāyā bhīmavaktrāḥ pāśahastā bhayāvahāḥ| anāvṛṣṭyupamā dṛṣṭā āturāḥ piṅgalocanāḥ||

of huge bodies, of terrible faces, nooses in hand, terrifying, resembling a drought in aspect, afflicted-looking, with tawny eyes,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.215.20)

दीर्घजिह्वा करालास्या तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रा दुरासदा। वृद्धा नारी कुरुश्रेष्ठ दृष्टान्या ऋषिपुंगवैः॥

dīrghajihvā karālāsyā tīkṣṇadaṁṣṭrā durāsadā| vṛddhā nārī kuruśreṣṭha dṛṣṭānyā ṛṣipuṁgavaiḥ||

long-tongued, with gaping mouths, sharp-fanged, unapproachable — and, O best of the Kurus, those foremost of sages saw another aged woman as well.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.215.21)

ततः समीपगा वृद्धा तस्य वृन्दस्य भारत। स्वाध्यायनिरता विप्रा दृष्टास्तैः पापकर्मभिः॥

tataḥ samīpagā vṛddhā tasya vṛndasya bhārata| svādhyāyaniratā viprā dṛṣṭāstaiḥ pāpakarmabhiḥ||

Then, O Bharata, that aged woman approached that group of brahmins devoted to their own recitation of the Veda, and they were seen by those doers of evil deeds.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.215.22)

ऊचुस्ते तु समूहेन ब्राह्मणांस्तपसि स्थितान्। अस्माकं स्वामिनः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ते तीर्थमध्यतः। ते प्रस्थाप्या महाभागाः सर्वथैव त्वरान्विताः॥

ūcuste tu samūhena brāhmaṇāṁstapasi sthitān| asmākaṁ svāminaḥ sarve tiṣṭhante tīrthamadhyataḥ| te prasthāpyā mahābhāgāḥ sarvathaiva tvarānvitāḥ||

As a group, they said to the brahmins established in austerity: "All our masters stand within the tirtha; those greatly fortunate ones must be summoned at once, with all haste."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.215.23)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां सर्वे चैव त्वरान्विताः। जग्मुस्ते नर्मदाकक्षं दृष्ट्वा रेवां द्विजोत्तमाः॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ teṣāṁ sarve caiva tvarānvitāḥ| jagmuste narmadākakṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā revāṁ dvijottamāḥ||

Hearing their words, all those foremost of twice-born, with haste, went to the bank of the Narmada and beheld the Reva.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.215.24)

ततः केचित्स्तुवन्त्यन्ये जय देवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

tataḥ kecitstuvantyanye jaya devi namo'stu te||

Then some of them praised her: "Victory, O Goddess! Salutation to you!

Verse 25 (skanda.5.215.25)

नमोऽस्तु ते सिद्धगणैर्निषेविते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वपवित्रमङ्गले। नमोऽस्तु ते विप्रसहस्रसेविते नमोऽस्तु रुद्राङ्गसमुद्भवे वरे॥

namo'stu te siddhagaṇairniṣevite namo'stu te sarvapavitramaṅgale| namo'stu te viprasahasrasevite namo'stu rudrāṅgasamudbhave vare||

Salutation to you, served by hosts of siddhas; salutation to you, all-purifying and auspicious; salutation to you, served by thousands of brahmins; salutation to you, O excellent one, born from the limb of Rudra.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.215.26)

नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वपवित्रपावने नमोऽस्तु ते देवि वरप्रदे शिवे। नमामि ते शीतजले सुखप्रदे सरिद्वरे पापहरे विचित्रिते॥

namo'stu te sarvapavitrapāvane namo'stu te devi varaprade śive| namāmi te śītajale sukhaprade saridvare pāpahare vicitrite||

Salutation to you, purifier of all that is pure; salutation to you, O Goddess, giver of boons, auspicious one. I bow to you, of cool waters, giver of happiness, best of rivers, remover of sin, wondrously adorned.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.215.27)

अनेकभूतौघसुसेविताङ्गे गन्धर्वयक्षोरगपाविताङ्गे। महागजौघैर्महिषैर्वराहैरापीयसे तोयमहोर्मिमाले॥

anekabhūtaughasusevitāṅge gandharvayakṣoragapāvitāṅge| mahāgajaughairmahiṣairvarāhairāpīyase toyamahormimāle||

You whose body is well served by hosts of many beings, whose form is purified by gandharvas, yakshas and serpents, whose great flood of water, with its garland of mighty waves, is drunk by herds of great elephants, buffaloes, and boars —

Verse 28 (skanda.5.215.28)

नमामि ते सर्ववरे सुखप्रदे विमोचयास्मानघपाशबद्धान्॥

namāmi te sarvavare sukhaprade vimocayāsmānaghapāśabaddhān||

I bow to you, best of all, giver of happiness; release us, bound as we are by the noose of sin.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.215.29)

भ्रमन्ति तावन्नरकेषु मर्त्या यावत्तवाम्भो नहि संश्रयन्ति। स्पृष्टं करैश्चन्द्रमसो रवेश्चेत्तद्देवि दद्यात्परमं पदं तु॥

bhramanti tāvannarakeṣu martyā yāvattavāmbho nahi saṁśrayanti| spṛṣṭaṁ karaiścandramaso raveścettaddevi dadyātparamaṁ padaṁ tu||

Mortals wander in hells for as long as they do not take refuge in your waters; if even touched by the rays of the moon or the sun, O Goddess, that alone would grant the supreme state.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.215.30)

अनेकसंसारभयार्दितानां पापैरनेकैरभिवेष्टितानाम्। गतिस्त्वमम्भोजसमानवक्त्रे द्वन्द्वैरनेकैरभिसंवृतानाम्॥

anekasaṁsārabhayārditānāṁ pāpairanekairabhiveṣṭitānām| gatistvamambhojasamānavaktre dvandvairanekairabhisaṁvṛtānām||

For those afflicted by the many fears of transmigration, encompassed by many sins, you are the refuge, O lotus-faced one, for those beset by the many pairs of opposites.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.215.31)

नद्यश्च पूता विमला भवन्ति त्वां देवि सम्प्राप्य न संशयोऽत्र। दुःखातुराणामभयं ददासि शिष्टैरनेकैरभिपूजितासि॥

nadyaśca pūtā vimalā bhavanti tvāṁ devi samprāpya na saṁśayo'tra| duḥkhāturāṇāmabhayaṁ dadāsi śiṣṭairanekairabhipūjitāsi||

Rivers become pure and stainless upon reaching you, O Goddess — there is no doubt of this. You grant fearlessness to those afflicted by sorrow; you are worshipped by many of the wise.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.215.32)

विण्मूत्रदेहाश्च निमग्नदेहा भ्रमन्ति तावन्नरकेषु मर्त्याः। महाबलध्वस्ततरङ्गभङ्गं जलं न यावत्तव संस्पृशन्ति॥

viṇmūtradehāśca nimagnadehā bhramanti tāvannarakeṣu martyāḥ| mahābaladhvastataraṅgabhaṅgaṁ jalaṁ na yāvattava saṁspṛśanti||

Mortals, their bodies plunged in filth and urine, wander in hells for as long as they do not touch your water, whose great waves are shattered by mighty force.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.215.33)

म्लेच्छाः पुलिन्दास्त्वथ यातुधानाः पिबन्ति येऽंभस्तव देवि पुण्यम्। तेऽपि प्रमुच्यन्ति भयाच्च घोरात्किमत्र विप्रा भवपाशभीताः॥

mlecchāḥ pulindāstvatha yātudhānāḥ pibanti ye'ṁbhastava devi puṇyam| te'pi pramucyanti bhayācca ghorātkimatra viprā bhavapāśabhītāḥ||

Mlecchas, Pulindas, and even rakshasas, whoever drinks your sacred water, O Goddess — they too are freed from terrible fear; what then of brahmins, afraid of the noose of worldly existence?

Verse 34 (skanda.5.215.34)

सरांसि नद्यः क्षयमभ्युपेता घोरे युगेऽस्मिन्कलिनावसृष्टे। त्वं भ्राजसे देवि जलौघपूर्णा दिवीव नक्षत्रपथे च गङ्गा॥

sarāṁsi nadyaḥ kṣayamabhyupetā ghore yuge'sminkalināvasṛṣṭe| tvaṁ bhrājase devi jalaughapūrṇā divīva nakṣatrapathe ca gaṅgā||

In this terrible age let loose by Kali, lakes and rivers have gone to ruin; but you, O Goddess, shine full with a flood of water, like the Ganga in the path of the stars in heaven.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.215.35)

तव प्रासादाद्वरदे विशिष्टे कालं यथेमं परिपालयित्वा। यास्याम मोक्षं तव सुप्रसादाद्वयं यथा त्वं कुरु नः प्रसादम्॥

tava prāsādādvarade viśiṣṭe kālaṁ yathemaṁ paripālayitvā| yāsyāma mokṣaṁ tava suprasādādvayaṁ yathā tvaṁ kuru naḥ prasādam||

By your grace, O bestower of boons, O excellent one, having thus lived through this age, may we attain liberation by your gracious favour — as you are, so grant us your grace.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.215.36)

त्वामाश्रिता ये शरणं गताश्च गतिस्त्वमम्बेव पितेव पुत्रान्। त्वत्पालिता यावदिमं सुघोरं कालं त्वनावृष्टिहतं क्षिपामः॥

tvāmāśritā ye śaraṇaṁ gatāśca gatistvamambeva piteva putrān| tvatpālitā yāvadimaṁ sughoraṁ kālaṁ tvanāvṛṣṭihataṁ kṣipāmaḥ||

For those who have taken refuge in you and come to you for shelter, you are their resort, like a mother, like a father to his sons; protected by you, we shall pass through this most terrible time, stricken by drought.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.215.37)

एवं स्तुता तदा देवी नर्मदा सरितां वरा। प्रत्यक्षा सा परा मूर्तिर्ब्राह्मणानां युधिष्ठिर॥

evaṁ stutā tadā devī narmadā saritāṁ varā| pratyakṣā sā parā mūrtirbrāhmaṇānāṁ yudhiṣṭhira||

Thus praised, the goddess Narmada, best of rivers, O Yudhishthira, appeared in visible form before the brahmins, in her supreme embodiment.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.215.38)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। पठन्ति ये स्तोत्रमिदं नरेन्द्र शृण्वन्ति भक्त्या परया प्रशान्ताः। ते यान्ति रुद्रं वृषसंयुतेन यानेन दिव्याम्बरभूषिताङ्गाः॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| paṭhanti ye stotramidaṁ narendra śṛṇvanti bhaktyā parayā praśāntāḥ| te yānti rudraṁ vṛṣasaṁyutena yānena divyāmbarabhūṣitāṅgāḥ||

Shri Markandeya said: "Those who recite this hymn, O lord of men, and those who, tranquil, hear it with supreme devotion, go to Rudra, mounted on a chariot yoked with a bull, their bodies adorned with celestial garments.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.215.39)

ये स्तोत्रमेतत्सततं जपन्ति स्नात्वा च तोयेन तु नर्मदायाः। तेभ्योऽन्तकाले सरिदुत्तमेयं गतिं विशुद्धामचिराद्ददाति॥

ye stotrametatsatataṁ japanti snātvā ca toyena tu narmadāyāḥ| tebhyo'ntakāle sariduttameyaṁ gatiṁ viśuddhāmacirāddadāti||

Those who constantly recite this hymn, and who bathe in the water of the Narmada — to them, at the time of death, this most excellent river swiftly grants a pure destiny.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.215.40)

प्रातः समुत्थाय तथा शयानो यः कीर्तयेतानुदिनं स्तवेन्द्रम्। देहक्षयं स्वे सलिले ददाति समाश्रयं तस्य महानुभाव॥

prātaḥ samutthāya tathā śayāno yaḥ kīrtayetānudinaṁ stavendram| dehakṣayaṁ sve salile dadāti samāśrayaṁ tasya mahānubhāva||

He who, rising in the morning, and likewise when lying down, recites this foremost hymn daily — O great one, she grants the dissolution of his body in her own waters, and gives him refuge.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.215.41)

पापैर्विमुक्ता दिवि मोदमानाः सम्भोगिनश्चैव तु नान्यथा च॥

pāpairvimuktā divi modamānāḥ sambhoginaścaiva tu nānyathā ca||

Freed from sin, they rejoice in heaven, enjoying celestial bliss — not otherwise.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.215.42)

प्रसन्ना नर्मदा देवी स्तोत्रेणानेन भारत। जलेनाप्यायितान् विप्रान् दक्षिणापथवाहिनी॥

prasannā narmadā devī stotreṇānena bhārata| jalenāpyāyitān viprān dakṣiṇāpathavāhinī||

O Bharata, pleased by this hymn, the goddess Narmada, flowing along the southern path, satisfying the brahmins with her water, [said]—

Verse 43 (skanda.5.215.43)

अमृतत्वं तु वो दद्मि योगिभिर्यन्न गम्यते। दुर्लभं यत्सुरैः सर्वैर्मत्प्रसादाल्लभिष्यथ॥

amṛtatvaṁ tu vo dadmi yogibhiryanna gamyate| durlabhaṁ yatsuraiḥ sarvairmatprasādāllabhiṣyatha||

"I grant you immortality, which is not attained even by yogis — that which is difficult to obtain even for all the gods, you shall obtain by my grace."

Verse 44 (skanda.5.215.44)

इति ते ब्राह्मणा राजंल्लब्धा वरमनुत्तमम्। गमिष्यन्तः प्रीतचित्ता ददृशुश्चित्रमद्भुतम्॥

iti te brāhmaṇā rājaṁllabdhā varamanuttamam| gamiṣyantaḥ prītacittā dadṛśuścitramadbhutam||

O king, thus those brahmins, having obtained this most excellent boon, going on their way with delighted hearts, saw a wondrous marvel.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.215.45)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। दृष्टास्तैः पुरुषाः पार्थ नर्मदातटसंस्थिताः। स्नानदेवार्चनासक्ताः पञ्च एव महाबलाः॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| dṛṣṭāstaiḥ puruṣāḥ pārtha narmadātaṭasaṁsthitāḥ| snānadevārcanāsaktāḥ pañca eva mahābalāḥ||

Shri Markandeya said: "O Partha, they saw five men, of great strength, established on the bank of the Narmada, devoted to bathing and worship of the God.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.215.46)

ते दृष्टा ब्राह्मणैः सर्वैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः। संपृष्टास्तैर्महाराज यथा तदवधारय॥

te dṛṣṭā brāhmaṇaiḥ sarvairvedavedāṅgapāragaiḥ| saṁpṛṣṭāstairmahārāja yathā tadavadhāraya||

O great king, they were seen by all those brahmins, versed in the Veda and Vedangas, and were questioned by them; hear how it occurred.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.215.47)

विप्रा ऊचुः। वनान्ते स्त्रीयुगं दृष्ट्वा महारौद्रं भयावहम्। वृद्धाश्च पुरुषास्तत्र पाशहस्ता भयावहाः॥

viprā ūcuḥ| vanānte strīyugaṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāraudraṁ bhayāvaham| vṛddhāśca puruṣāstatra pāśahastā bhayāvahāḥ||

The brahmins said: "At the edge of the forest we saw a most terrible, dreadful pair of women; and there too were aged men, nooses in hand, terrifying,

Verse 48 (skanda.5.215.48)

दुर्धर्षा दुर्निरीक्ष्याश्च इतश्चेतश्च चञ्चलाः। व्याहरन्तः शुभां वाचं न तत्र गतिरस्ति वै॥

durdharṣā durnirīkṣyāśca itaścetaśca cañcalāḥ| vyāharantaḥ śubhāṁ vācaṁ na tatra gatirasti vai||

unassailable, unbearable to behold, restless, moving here and there, uttering fair-sounding words — yet there was no refuge to be found there.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.215.49)

अपरस्परयोः सर्वे निरीक्षन्तः पुनःपुनः। तैस्तु यद्वचनं प्रोक्तं तत्सर्वं कथ्यतामिति॥

aparasparayoḥ sarve nirīkṣantaḥ punaḥpunaḥ| taistu yadvacanaṁ proktaṁ tatsarvaṁ kathyatāmiti||

All of them, looking at one another again and again, said: 'Let all that was spoken by them be told.'

Verse 50 (skanda.5.215.50)

अस्माकं पुरुषाः पञ्च तिष्ठन्ति तत्र सत्तमाः। ते प्रस्थाप्या महाभागाः सर्वथैव त्वरान्विताः॥

asmākaṁ puruṣāḥ pañca tiṣṭhanti tatra sattamāḥ| te prasthāpyā mahābhāgāḥ sarvathaiva tvarānvitāḥ||

'Five men of ours, most excellent, stand there; those greatly fortunate ones must be summoned, in every way, with all haste.'

Verse 51 (skanda.5.215.51)

अथ ते पुरुषाः पञ्च श्रुत्वा वाक्यमिदं शुभम्। परस्परं निरीक्षन्तो वदन्ति च पुनःपुनः॥

atha te puruṣāḥ pañca śrutvā vākyamidaṁ śubham| parasparaṁ nirīkṣanto vadanti ca punaḥpunaḥ||

Then those five men, hearing this auspicious statement, looking at one another, spoke again and again:

Verse 52 (skanda.5.215.52)

क्व ते कस्य कुतो याताः किमुक्तं तैर्भयावहैः॥

kva te kasya kuto yātāḥ kimuktaṁ tairbhayāvahaiḥ||

'Where are you from, whose are you, whence have you come? What was said by those terrifying ones?'

Verse 53 (skanda.5.215.53)

पुरुषा ऊचुः। तीर्थावगाहनं सर्वैः पूर्वदक्षिणपश्चिमैः। उत्तरैश्च कृतं भक्त्या न पापं तैर्व्यपोहितम्॥

puruṣā ūcuḥ| tīrthāvagāhanaṁ sarvaiḥ pūrvadakṣiṇapaścimaiḥ| uttaraiśca kṛtaṁ bhaktyā na pāpaṁ tairvyapohitam||

The men said: "Bathing at the tirtha was performed with devotion by all — those from the east, south, west, and north — yet their sin was not thereby removed.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.215.54)

निष्पापाश्चाथ संजातास्तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः। शृण्वन्तु ऋषयः सर्वे वह्निकालोपमा द्विजाः॥

niṣpāpāścātha saṁjātāstīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ| śṛṇvantu ṛṣayaḥ sarve vahnikālopamā dvijāḥ||

Now, by the power of this tirtha, they became sinless. O twice-born, let all the sages, comparable to fire and to time, listen.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.215.55)

पातकानि च घोराणि यान्यचिन्त्यानि देहिनाम्। पापिष्ठेन तु चैकेन गुरुदारा निषेविता॥

pātakāni ca ghorāṇi yānyacintyāni dehinām| pāpiṣṭhena tu caikena gurudārā niṣevitā||

Of the terrible, inconceivable sins of embodied beings — by one most sinful man, a guru's wife was violated;

Verse 56 (skanda.5.215.56)

हृतं चान्येन मित्रस्वं सुवर्णं च धनं तथा। ब्रह्महत्या महारौद्रा कृता चान्येन पातकम्॥

hṛtaṁ cānyena mitrasvaṁ suvarṇaṁ ca dhanaṁ tathā| brahmahatyā mahāraudrā kṛtā cānyena pātakam||

by another, a friend's wealth, gold, and property were stolen; the most terrible sin of brahmin-slaying was committed by yet another;

Verse 57 (skanda.5.215.57)

सुरापानं तु चान्यस्य संजातं चाप्यकामतः। गोवध्या चाप्यकामेन कृता चैकेन पापिना॥

surāpānaṁ tu cānyasya saṁjātaṁ cāpyakāmataḥ| govadhyā cāpyakāmena kṛtā caikena pāpinā||

for another, the drinking of liquor occurred unintentionally; the killing of a cow was likewise committed unintentionally by one sinful man,

Verse 58 (skanda.5.215.58)

अकामतोऽपि सर्वेषां पातकानि नराधिप। ब्राह्मणानां तु ते श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तद्विस्मयान्विताः॥

akāmato'pi sarveṣāṁ pātakāni narādhipa| brāhmaṇānāṁ tu te śrutvā vākyaṁ tadvismayānvitāḥ||

O lord of men, though unintentional, the sins belonged to all of them." Hearing that statement of the brahmins, they were filled with wonder.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.215.59)

सद्य एव तदा जाताः पापिष्ठा गतकल्मषाः। तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावेन नर्मदायाः प्रभावतः॥

sadya eva tadā jātāḥ pāpiṣṭhā gatakalmaṣāḥ| tīrthasyāsya prabhāvena narmadāyāḥ prabhāvataḥ||

By the power of this tirtha, by the power of the Narmada, those most sinful men became, at that very moment, free of sin.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.215.60)

न क्वचित्पातकानां तु प्रवेशश्चात्र जायते। एवं संचित्य ते सर्वे पापिष्ठाश्च परस्परम्॥

na kvacitpātakānāṁ tu praveśaścātra jāyate| evaṁ saṁcitya te sarve pāpiṣṭhāśca parasparam||

Here sins find no entry at all. Having thus reflected, all those sinful men, together with one another,

Verse 61 (skanda.5.215.61)

चित्रभानुः स्मृतस्तैस्तु विचिन्त्य हृदये हरिम्। स्नात्वा रेवाजले पुण्ये तर्पिताः पितृदेवताः॥

citrabhānuḥ smṛtastaistu vicintya hṛdaye harim| snātvā revājale puṇye tarpitāḥ pitṛdevatāḥ||

remembering Chitrabhanu (Agni), meditating in their hearts upon Hari, having bathed in the sacred waters of the Reva, offered libation to the ancestor-gods.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.215.62)

नत्वा तु भास्करं देवं हृदि ध्यात्वा जनार्दनम्। प्रदक्षिणं तु तं भक्त्या ज्वलन्तं जातवेदसम्॥

natvā tu bhāskaraṁ devaṁ hṛdi dhyātvā janārdanam| pradakṣiṇaṁ tu taṁ bhaktyā jvalantaṁ jātavedasam||

Bowing to the God Bhaskara, meditating in their hearts upon Janardana, circumambulating with devotion that blazing consumer of oblations,

Verse 63 (skanda.5.215.63)

पतिताः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ पापोद्विग्ना महीपते। सात्त्विकीं वासनां कृत्वा त्यक्त्वा रजस्तमस्तथा॥

patitāḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha pāpodvignā mahīpate| sāttvikīṁ vāsanāṁ kṛtvā tyaktvā rajastamastathā||

O best of the Pandavas, distressed by their sin, O lord of the earth, having taken on a sattvic disposition and abandoned rajas and tamas likewise,

Verse 64 (skanda.5.215.64)

हतं तैः पावके सर्वं रेवाया उत्तरे तटे। विमानस्थास्तदा दृष्टा ब्राह्मणैस्ते युधिष्ठिर॥

hataṁ taiḥ pāvake sarvaṁ revāyā uttare taṭe| vimānasthāstadā dṛṣṭā brāhmaṇaiste yudhiṣṭhira||

they fell into the fire; on the northern bank of the Reva all was consumed. O Yudhishthira, the brahmins then saw them established in a celestial chariot.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.215.65)

आश्चर्यमतुलं दृष्टमृषिभिर्नर्मदातटे। तदाप्रभृति ते सर्वे रागद्वेषविवर्जिताः॥

āścaryamatulaṁ dṛṣṭamṛṣibhirnarmadātaṭe| tadāprabhṛti te sarve rāgadveṣavivarjitāḥ||

The sages witnessed this incomparable wonder on the bank of the Narmada; from that time onward, all of them were freed from attachment and aversion,

Verse 66 (skanda.5.215.66)

रवितीर्थं द्विजा हृष्टाः सेवन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षया। तीर्थस्यास्य च यत्पुण्यं तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप॥

ravitīrthaṁ dvijā hṛṣṭāḥ sevante mokṣakāṅkṣayā| tīrthasyāsya ca yatpuṇyaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva narādhipa||

and, delighted, the twice-born serve Ravitirtha, longing for liberation. O lord of men, hear now the merit of this tirtha.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.215.67)

पीडितो वृद्धभावेन भक्त्या प्रीतो नरेश्वर। उद्देशं कथयिष्यामि द्विक्रोशाभ्यन्तरे स्थितः॥

pīḍito vṛddhabhāvena bhaktyā prīto nareśvara| uddeśaṁ kathayiṣyāmi dvikrośābhyantare sthitaḥ||

O lord of men, though afflicted by old age, yet pleased through devotion, I shall tell of its location — it lies within a distance of two kroshas.

Verse 68 (skanda.5.215.68)

कुरुक्षेत्रं यथा पुण्यं रवितीर्थं श्रुतं मया। ईश्वरेण पुरा ख्यातं षण्मुखस्य नराधिप॥

kurukṣetraṁ yathā puṇyaṁ ravitīrthaṁ śrutaṁ mayā| īśvareṇa purā khyātaṁ ṣaṇmukhasya narādhipa||

As sacred as Kurukshetra is, so too, I have heard, is Ravitirtha, O lord of men, proclaimed of old by Ishvara to the six-faced one.

Verse 69 (skanda.5.215.69)

श्रुतं रुद्राच्च तैः सर्वैरहं तत्र समीपगः। ईश्वर उवाच। मार्तण्डग्रहणे प्राप्ते ये व्रजन्ति षडानन। रवितीर्थे कुरुक्षेत्रे तुल्यमेतत्फलं लभेत्॥

śrutaṁ rudrācca taiḥ sarvairahaṁ tatra samīpagaḥ| īśvara uvāca| mārtaṇḍagrahaṇe prāpte ye vrajanti ṣaḍānana| ravitīrthe kurukṣetre tulyametatphalaṁ labhet||

It was heard from Rudra by all of them, and I was nearby there. Ishvara said: 'O six-faced one, those who go there when a solar eclipse occurs obtain at Ravitirtha a fruit equal to that at Kurukshetra.

Verse 70 (skanda.5.215.70)

स्नाने दाने तथा जप्ये होमे चैव विशेषतः। कुरुक्षेत्रे समं पुण्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥

snāne dāne tathā japye home caiva viśeṣataḥ| kurukṣetre samaṁ puṇyaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā||

In bathing, giving, recitation, and especially in the fire-offering, the merit is equal to that of Kurukshetra — there should be no doubt about this.

Verse 71 (skanda.5.215.71)

ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये पुण्या सर्वत्र नर्मदा। रवितीर्थे विशेषेण रेवा पुण्यफलप्रदा॥

grāme vā yadi vāraṇye puṇyā sarvatra narmadā| ravitīrthe viśeṣeṇa revā puṇyaphalapradā||

Whether in a village or in a forest, the Narmada is sacred everywhere; but especially at Ravitirtha, the Reva bestows the fruit of merit.

Verse 72 (skanda.5.215.72)

षष्ठ्यां सूर्यदिने भक्त्या व्यतीपाते च वै धृतौ। संक्रान्तौ ग्रहणेऽमायां ये व्रजन्ति जितेन्द्रियाः॥

ṣaṣṭhyāṁ sūryadine bhaktyā vyatīpāte ca vai dhṛtau| saṁkrāntau grahaṇe'māyāṁ ye vrajanti jitendriyāḥ||

On the sixth lunar day, on Sunday, with devotion, at Vyatipata, at the Dhriti yoga, at a solstice, at an eclipse, on the new-moon day — those self-controlled ones who go there,

Verse 73 (skanda.5.215.73)

कामक्रोधैर्विमुक्ताश्च रागद्वेषैस्तथैव च। उपोष्य परया भक्त्या देवस्याग्रे नराधिप॥

kāmakrodhairvimuktāśca rāgadveṣaistathaiva ca| upoṣya parayā bhaktyā devasyāgre narādhipa||

freed from desire and anger, and likewise from attachment and aversion, O lord of men, having fasted with the highest devotion before the God,

Verse 74 (skanda.5.215.74)

रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा दीपं देवस्य बोधयेत्। कथां वै वैष्णवीं पार्थ वेदाभ्यसनमेव च॥

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā dīpaṁ devasya bodhayet| kathāṁ vai vaiṣṇavīṁ pārtha vedābhyasanameva ca||

having kept vigil at night, one should light a lamp for the God; O Partha, one should also recite the Vaishnava tale and practise the recitation of the Veda —

Verse 75 (skanda.5.215.75)

ऋग्वेदं वा यजुर्वेदं सामवेदमथर्वणम्। ऋचमेकां जपेद्यस्तु स वेदफलमाप्नुयात्॥

ṛgvedaṁ vā yajurvedaṁ sāmavedamatharvaṇam| ṛcamekāṁ japedyastu sa vedaphalamāpnuyāt||

the Rigveda, or the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, or the Atharvan — whoever recites even a single verse obtains the fruit of the whole Veda.

Verse 76 (skanda.5.215.76)

गायत्र्या च चतुर्वेदफलमाप्नोति मानवः। प्रभाते पूजयेद्विप्रानन्नदानहिरण्यतः॥

gāyatryā ca caturvedaphalamāpnoti mānavaḥ| prabhāte pūjayedviprānannadānahiraṇyataḥ||

And by reciting the Gayatri, a man obtains the fruit of the four Vedas. In the morning he should honour brahmins with the gift of food and gold.

Verse 77 (skanda.5.215.77)

भूमिदानेन वस्त्रेण अन्नदानेन शक्तितः। छत्रोपानहशय्यादिगृहदानेन पाण्डव॥

bhūmidānena vastreṇa annadānena śaktitaḥ| chatropānahaśayyādigṛhadānena pāṇḍava||

O son of Pandu, by the gift of land, of clothing, of food according to one's ability, of an umbrella, sandals, a bed and the like, and of a house,

Verse 78 (skanda.5.215.78)

ग्रामधूर्वहदानेन गजकन्याहयेन च। विद्याशकटदानेन सर्वेषामभयं भवेत्॥

grāmadhūrvahadānena gajakanyāhayena ca| vidyāśakaṭadānena sarveṣāmabhayaṁ bhavet||

by the gift of a village, a beast of burden, an elephant, a maiden, or a horse, and by the gift of learning or of a cart — fearlessness comes to all.

Verse 79 (skanda.5.215.79)

शत्रुश्च मित्रतां याति विषं चैवामृतं भवेत्। ग्रहा भवन्ति सुप्रीताः प्रीतस्तस्य दिवाकरः॥

śatruśca mitratāṁ yāti viṣaṁ caivāmṛtaṁ bhavet| grahā bhavanti suprītāḥ prītastasya divākaraḥ||

Even an enemy becomes a friend, and poison becomes nectar; the planets become greatly pleased, and Divakara is pleased with him.

Verse 80 (skanda.5.215.80)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं रवितीर्थफलं नृप। ये शृण्वन्ति नरा भक्त्या रवितीर्थफलं शुभम्॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ ravitīrthaphalaṁ nṛpa| ye śṛṇvanti narā bhaktyā ravitīrthaphalaṁ śubham||

O king, this is all the fruit of Ravitirtha that has been told to you. Those men who hear with devotion this auspicious fruit of Ravitirtha,

Verse 81 (skanda.5.215.81)

तेऽपि पापविनिर्मुक्ता रविलोके वसन्ति हि। गोदानेन च यत्पुण्यं यत्पुण्यं भृगुदर्शने॥

te'pi pāpavinirmuktā raviloke vasanti hi| godānena ca yatpuṇyaṁ yatpuṇyaṁ bhṛgudarśane||

they too, freed from sin, dwell in the world of the sun. The merit that is in the gift of a cow, the merit that is in the sight of Bhrigu,

Verse 82 (skanda.5.215.82)

केदार उदकं पीत्वा तत्पुण्यं जायते नृणाम्। अब्दमश्वत्थसेवायां तिलपात्रप्रदो भवेत्॥

kedāra udakaṁ pītvā tatpuṇyaṁ jāyate nṛṇām| abdamaśvatthasevāyāṁ tilapātraprado bhavet||

the merit that arises for men from drinking the water of Kedara, from a year's service to an ashvattha tree, and from giving a vessel of sesame,

Verse 83 (skanda.5.215.83)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति आदित्येश्वरकीर्तनात्। श्रुते यस्य प्रभावे न जायते यन्नृपात्मज॥

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti ādityeśvarakīrtanāt| śrute yasya prabhāve na jāyate yannṛpātmaja||

O prince, all that fruit is obtained merely by the recitation of the name Adityeshvara. Hear of that whose power, once heard, ensures nothing untoward arises—

Verse 84 (skanda.5.215.84)

तत्सर्वं कथयिष्यामि भक्त्या तव महीपते। पापानि च प्रलीयन्ते भिन्नपात्रे यथा जलम्॥

tatsarvaṁ kathayiṣyāmi bhaktyā tava mahīpate| pāpāni ca pralīyante bhinnapātre yathā jalam||

O lord of the earth, all of that I shall tell you with devotion. And sins dissolve away, just as water drains from a cracked vessel.

Verse 85 (skanda.5.215.85)

तीर्थस्याभिमुखो नित्यं जायते नात्र संशयः। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं तीर्थं कथितं तव पाण्डव॥

tīrthasyābhimukho nityaṁ jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ| guhyādguhyataraṁ tīrthaṁ kathitaṁ tava pāṇḍava||

Whoever remains ever devoted to this tirtha [attains this fruit] — there is no doubt of it. O son of Pandu, a tirtha more secret than the secret has been told to you.

Verse 86 (skanda.5.215.86)

पापिष्ठानां कृतघ्नानां स्वामिमित्रावघातिनाम्। तीर्थाख्यानं शुभं तेषां गोपितव्यं सदा बुधैः॥

pāpiṣṭhānāṁ kṛtaghnānāṁ svāmimitrāvaghātinām| tīrthākhyānaṁ śubhaṁ teṣāṁ gopitavyaṁ sadā budhaiḥ||

From the most sinful, the ungrateful, and those who slay their master or friend, this auspicious account of the tirtha should always be kept concealed by the wise."