The Glory of Kumareshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.218.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेत्तु राजेन्द्र कुमारेश्वरमुत्तमम्। प्रसिद्धं सर्वतीर्थानामगस्त्येश्वरसन्निधौ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchettu rājendra kumāreśvaramuttamam| prasiddhaṁ sarvatīrthānāmagastyeśvarasannidhau||

Shri Markandeya said: "O lord of kings, thereafter one should go to the excellent Kumareshvara, renowned among all tirthas, near Agastyeshvara.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.218.2)

षण्मुखेन पुरा तात सर्वपातकनाशनम्। आराध्य परया भक्त्या सिद्धिः प्राप्ता नराधिप॥

ṣaṇmukhena purā tāta sarvapātakanāśanam| ārādhya parayā bhaktyā siddhiḥ prāptā narādhipa||

Dear one, of old, by Shanmukha, worshipped with the highest devotion, O lord of men, the success that destroys all sins was attained.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.218.3)

देवसैन्याधिपो जातः सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणः। उग्रतेजा महात्मासौ संजातस्तीर्थसेवनात्॥

devasainyādhipo jātaḥ sarvaśatrunibarhaṇaḥ| ugratejā mahātmāsau saṁjātastīrthasevanāt||

He became the commander of the army of the gods, destroyer of all enemies; that great and fiercely radiant soul arose from the service of this tirtha.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.218.4)

तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं संजातंनर्मदातटे। तत्र तीर्थे तु यो गत्वा एकचित्तो जितेन्द्रियः॥

tadāprabhṛti tattīrthaṁ saṁjātaṁnarmadātaṭe| tatra tīrthe tu yo gatvā ekacitto jitendriyaḥ||

From that time this tirtha came into being on the bank of the Narmada. Whoever, single-minded and self-controlled, goes to that tirtha,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.218.5)

कार्त्तिकस्य चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां च विशेषतः। स्नापयेद्गिरिजानाथं दधिदुग्धेन सर्पिषा॥

kārttikasya caturdaśyāmaṣṭamyāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ| snāpayedgirijānāthaṁ dadhidugdhena sarpiṣā||

especially on the fourteenth and eighth days of Karttika, should bathe the Lord of Girija with curd, milk, and ghee.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.218.6)

गीतं तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं पिण्डदानं यथाविधि। ब्राह्मणैः श्रोत्रियैः पार्थ षट्कर्मनिरतैः शुभैः॥

gītaṁ tatra prakartavyaṁ piṇḍadānaṁ yathāvidhi| brāhmaṇaiḥ śrotriyaiḥ pārtha ṣaṭkarmanirataiḥ śubhaiḥ||

O Partha, singing should be performed there, and the offering of pinda according to rule, by learned brahmins devoted to the six duties, of auspicious conduct.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.218.7)

यत्किंचिद्दीयते तत्र अक्षयं पाण्डुनन्दन। सर्वतीर्थमयं तीर्थ निर्मितं शिखिना नृप॥

yatkiṁciddīyate tatra akṣayaṁ pāṇḍunandana| sarvatīrthamayaṁ tīrtha nirmitaṁ śikhinā nṛpa||

O joy of Pandu, whatever is given there becomes imperishable. O king, this tirtha, embodying all tirthas, was created by Shikhin (Kartikeya).

Verse 8 (skanda.5.218.8)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं कुमारेश्वरजं फलम्। कुमारदर्शनात्पुण्यं प्राप्यते पाण्डुनन्दन॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ kumāreśvarajaṁ phalam| kumāradarśanātpuṇyaṁ prāpyate pāṇḍunandana||

This is the entire fruit born of Kumareshvara that has been told to you. O joy of Pandu, by the sight of Kumara, merit is obtained;

Verse 9 (skanda.5.218.9)

मृतः स्वर्गमवाप्नोति सत्यमीश्वरभाषितम्॥

mṛtaḥ svargamavāpnoti satyamīśvarabhāṣitam||

one who dies there attains heaven — true is the word spoken by Ishvara."