The Glory of Gautameshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.229.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। रेवाया उत्तरे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। सर्वपापहरं मर्त्ये नाम्ना वै गौतमेश्वरम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| revāyā uttare kūle tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| sarvapāpaharaṁ martye nāmnā vai gautameśvaram

Shri Markandeya said: On the northern bank of the Reva is a most beautiful tirtha, known in the world of mortals by the name Gautameshvara, the remover of every sin.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.229.2)

स्थापितं गौतमेनैव लोकानां हितकाम्यया। स्वर्गसोपानरूपं तु तीर्थं पुंसां युधिष्ठिर

sthāpitaṁ gautamenaiva lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā| svargasopānarūpaṁ tu tīrthaṁ puṁsāṁ yudhiṣṭhira

It was established by the sage Gautama himself, for the welfare of the worlds; O Yudhishthira, this tirtha is, for men, like a stairway to heaven.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.229.3)

तत्र गच्छ परं भक्त्या यत्र देवो जगद्गुरुः। पातकस्य विनाशार्थं स्वर्गवासप्रदस्तथा

tatra gaccha paraṁ bhaktyā yatra devo jagadguruḥ| pātakasya vināśārthaṁ svargavāsapradastathā

Go there with supreme devotion, where the god who is guru of the universe dwells — bestowing both the destruction of sin and residence in heaven.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.229.4)

सौभाग्यवर्द्धनं तीर्थं जयदं दुःखनाशनम्। पिण्डदानेन चैकेन कुलानामुद्धरेत्त्रयम्

saubhāgyavarddhanaṁ tīrthaṁ jayadaṁ duḥkhanāśanam| piṇḍadānena caikena kulānāmuddharettrayam

This tirtha increases fortune, grants victory, and destroys sorrow; with a single offering of the pinda, three lineages are delivered.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.229.5)

यत्किंचिद्दीयते भक्त्या स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु। तत्सर्वं शतसाहस्रमाज्ञया गौतमस्य हि

yatkiṁciddīyate bhaktyā svalpaṁ vā yadi vā bahu| tatsarvaṁ śatasāhasramājñayā gautamasya hi

Whatever is given there with devotion, whether small or great — all of it, by Gautama's decree, becomes a hundred-thousandfold in its fruit.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.229.6)

तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं स्वयं रुद्रेण भाषितम्

tīrthānāṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ svayaṁ rudreṇa bhāṣitam

It is the supreme tirtha among tirthas, so declared by Rudra himself.