The Glory of Naradeshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.233.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेत्तु राजेन्द्र नरदेश्वरमुत्तमम्। तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं निर्मितं नारदेन तु

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchettu rājendra naradeśvaramuttamam| tīrthānāṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ nirmitaṁ nāradena tu

Shri Markandeya said: Then go, O king of kings, to the excellent Naradeshvara — the supreme tirtha among tirthas, made by Narada.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.233.2)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। नारदेन मुनिश्रेष्ठ कस्मात्तीर्थं विनिर्मितम्। एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वं प्रसन्नो यदि सत्तम

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| nāradena muniśreṣṭha kasmāttīrthaṁ vinirmitam| etadākhyāhi me sarvaṁ prasanno yadi sattama

Yudhishthira said: For what reason, O best of sages, was this tirtha made by Narada? Tell me all of this, O most excellent one, if you are pleased.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.233.3)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। परमेष्ठिसुतः पार्थ नारदो मुनिसत्तमः। रेवायाश्चोत्तरे कूले तपस्तेन पुरा कृतम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| parameṣṭhisutaḥ pārtha nārado munisattamaḥ| revāyāścottare kūle tapastena purā kṛtam

Shri Markandeya said: O Partha, Narada, the son of the Grandsire and the most excellent of sages, performed austerity long ago on the northern bank of the Reva.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.233.4)

नवनाडीनिरोधेन काष्ठावत्यां गतेन च। तोषितः पशुभर्ता वै नारदेन युधिष्ठिर

navanāḍīnirodhena kāṣṭhāvatyāṁ gatena ca| toṣitaḥ paśubhartā vai nāradena yudhiṣṭhira

By restraining the nine channels of breath and remaining motionless as wood, O Yudhishthira, Narada gratified Pashupati, the lord of creatures.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.233.5)

ईश्वर उवाच। तुष्टोऽहं तव विप्रेन्द्र योगिनाथ अयोनिज। वरं प्रार्थय मे वत्स यस्ते मनसि वर्तते

īśvara uvāca| tuṣṭo'haṁ tava viprendra yoginātha ayonija| varaṁ prārthaya me vatsa yaste manasi vartate

Ishvara said: "I am pleased with you, O foremost of brahmins, O lord of yogis, O unborn one. Ask of me, my child, whatever boon is in your heart."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.233.6)

नारद उवाच। त्वत्प्रसादेन मे शम्भो योगश्चैव प्रसिध्यतु। अचला ते भवेद्भक्तिः सर्वकालं ममैव तु

nārada uvāca| tvatprasādena me śambho yogaścaiva prasidhyatu| acalā te bhavedbhaktiḥ sarvakālaṁ mamaiva tu

Narada said: "By your grace, O Shambhu, may my practice of yoga be perfected; may my devotion to you remain unshaken for all time."

Verse 7 (skanda.5.233.7)

स्वेच्छाचारी भवे देव वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः। त्रिकालज्ञो जगन्नाथ गीतज्ञोऽहं सदा भवे

svecchācārī bhave deva vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ| trikālajño jagannātha gītajño'haṁ sadā bhave

"May I, O god, roam at will, master of the Veda and its ancillary sciences; may I, O lord of the universe, know the three times, and ever remain versed in music."

Verse 8 (skanda.5.233.8)

दिने दिने यथा युद्धं देवदानवमानुषैः। पाताले मर्त्यलोके वा स्वर्गे वापि महेश्वर

dine dine yathā yuddhaṁ devadānavamānuṣaiḥ| pātāle martyaloke vā svarge vāpi maheśvara

"Whatever conflict occurs day by day among gods, demons and men, O great Lord, whether in the netherworld, in the mortal world, or in heaven,"

Verse 9 (skanda.5.233.9)

पश्येयं त्वत्प्रसादेन भवन्तं पार्वतीं तथा। तीर्थं लोकेषु विख्यातं सर्वपापक्षयंकरम्

paśyeyaṁ tvatprasādena bhavantaṁ pārvatīṁ tathā| tīrthaṁ lokeṣu vikhyātaṁ sarvapāpakṣayaṁkaram

"may I, by your grace, witness it, and also behold you and Parvati; and may this tirtha become renowned among the worlds, destroying every sin."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.233.10)

ईश्वर उवाच। एवं नारद सर्वं तु भविष्यति न संशयः। चिन्तितं मत्प्रसादेन सिध्यते नात्र संशयः

īśvara uvāca| evaṁ nārada sarvaṁ tu bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ| cintitaṁ matprasādena sidhyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Ishvara said: "So be it, Narada — all this shall come to pass, without doubt. Whatever is wished for is accomplished by my grace, without doubt."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.233.11)

स्वेच्छाचारो भवेर्वत्स स्वर्गे पातालगोचरे। मर्त्ये वा भ्रम वै योगिन्न केनापि निवार्यसे

svecchācāro bhaverbatsa svarge pātālagocare| martye vā bhrama vai yoginna kenāpi nivāryase

"Be one who roams at will, my child, in heaven, in the netherworld, or in the mortal realm; wander freely, O yogin — none shall ever restrain you."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.233.12)

सप्त स्वरास्त्रयो ग्रामा मूर्च्छनाश्चैकविंशतिः। ताना एकोनपञ्चाशत्प्रसादान्मे तव ध्रुवम्

sapta svarāstrayo grāmā mūrcchanāścaikaviṁśatiḥ| tānā ekonapañcāśatprasādānme tava dhruvam

"The seven notes, the three scales, and the twenty-one modulations — these forty-nine together shall surely be yours by my grace."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.233.13)

मम प्रियंकरं दिव्यं नृत्यगीतं भविष्यति। कलिं च पश्यसे नित्यं देवदानवकिन्नरैः

mama priyaṁkaraṁ divyaṁ nṛtyagītaṁ bhaviṣyati| kaliṁ ca paśyase nityaṁ devadānavakinnaraiḥ

"Divine song and dance, pleasing to me, shall be yours; and you shall ever witness discord among gods, demons, and kinnaras."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.233.14)

त्वत्तीर्थं भूतले पुण्यं मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यति। वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो ह्यशेषज्ञानकोविदः। एकस्त्वमसि निःसङ्गो मत्प्रसादेन नारद

tvattīrthaṁ bhūtale puṇyaṁ matprasādādbhaviṣyati| vedavedāṅgatattvajño hyaśeṣajñānakovidaḥ| ekastvamasi niḥsaṅgo matprasādena nārada

"Your tirtha shall, by my grace, become sacred upon the earth; you shall know the truth of the Veda and its branches, skilled in the whole of knowledge. By my grace, O Narada, you alone shall remain unattached, free from all bonds."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.233.15)

इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवो नारदस्तत्र शूलिनम्। स्थापयामास राजेन्द्र सर्वसत्त्वोपकारकम्

ityuktvāntardadhe devo nāradastatra śūlinam| sthāpayāmāsa rājendra sarvasattvopakārakam

Having said this, the god vanished. There, O king of kings, Narada installed the trident-bearer, the benefactor of all beings.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.233.16)

पृथिव्यामुत्तमं तीर्थं निर्मितं नारदेन तु। तत्र तीर्थे नृपश्रेष्ठ यो गच्छेद्विजितेन्द्रियः

pṛthivyāmuttamaṁ tīrthaṁ nirmitaṁ nāradena tu| tatra tīrthe nṛpaśreṣṭha yo gacchedvijitendriyaḥ

An excellent tirtha upon this earth was thus made by Narada; there at that tirtha, O best of kings, whoever goes with senses subdued,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.233.17)

मासि भाद्रपदे पार्थ कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी। उपोष्य परया भक्त्या रात्रौ कुर्वीत जागरम्

māsi bhādrapade pārtha kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī| upoṣya parayā bhaktyā rātrau kurvīta jāgaram

on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada, O Partha, fasts with supreme devotion and keeps vigil through the night,

Verse 18 (skanda.5.233.18)

छत्रं तत्र प्रदातव्यं ब्राह्मणे शुभलक्षणे। शस्त्रेण तु हता ये वै तेषां श्राद्धं प्रदापयेत्। ते यान्ति परमं लोकं पिण्डदानप्रभावतः

chatraṁ tatra pradātavyaṁ brāhmaṇe śubhalakṣaṇe| śastreṇa tu hatā ye vai teṣāṁ śrāddhaṁ pradāpayet| te yānti paramaṁ lokaṁ piṇḍadānaprabhāvataḥ

there one should give the gift of an umbrella to a brahmin of auspicious marks; and for those who died by weapons, one should have the shraddha performed — they attain the highest world through the power of the pinda-offering.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.233.19)

कपिला तत्र दातव्या पितॄनुद्दिश्य भारत। इत्युच्चार्य द्विजे देया यान्तु ते परमां गतिम्

kapilā tatra dātavyā pitṝnuddiśya bhārata| ityuccārya dvije deyā yāntu te paramāṁ gatim

There, O Bharata, a tawny cow should be given, dedicated to the ancestors; uttering, "May they attain the highest state," one should give it to a brahmin.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.233.20)

अस्य श्राद्धस्य भावेन ब्राह्मणस्य प्रसादतः। नर्मदातोयभावेन न्यायार्जितधनस्य च। तेषां चैव प्रभावेन प्रेता यान्तु परां गतिम्

asya śrāddhasya bhāvena brāhmaṇasya prasādataḥ| narmadātoyabhāvena nyāyārjitadhanasya ca| teṣāṁ caiva prabhāvena pretā yāntu parāṁ gatim

By the power of this shraddha, by the brahmin's grace, by the power of the Narmada's water, and by the power of wealth justly earned — by all these, may the departed attain the highest state.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.233.21)

इत्युच्चार्य द्विजे देया दक्षिणा च स्वशक्तितः। हविष्यान्नं विशालाक्ष द्विजानां चैव दापयेत्

ityuccārya dvije deyā dakṣiṇā ca svaśaktitaḥ| haviṣyānnaṁ viśālākṣa dvijānāṁ caiva dāpayet

Having recited this, one should give the sacrificial fee to the brahmin according to one's means; and, O wide-eyed one, one should also give sanctified food to the brahmins.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.233.22)

दीपं भक्त्या प्रदातव्यं नृत्यं गीतं च कारयेत्। अवाप्तं तेन वै सर्वं यः करोतीश्वरालये

dīpaṁ bhaktyā pradātavyaṁ nṛtyaṁ gītaṁ ca kārayet| avāptaṁ tena vai sarvaṁ yaḥ karotīśvarālaye

One should devotedly offer a lamp, and have song and dance performed; whoever does all this at the abode of the Lord has thereby attained everything.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.233.23)

स याति रुद्रसांनिध्यमिति रुद्रः स्वयं जगौ। विद्यादानेन चैकेन अक्षयां गतिमाप्नुयात्

sa yāti rudrasānnidhyamiti rudraḥ svayaṁ jagau| vidyādānena caikena akṣayāṁ gatimāpnuyāt

He attains the presence of Rudra — so Rudra himself declared. With a single gift of knowledge, one attains an imperishable state.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.233.24)

धूर्वहास्तत्र दातव्या भूमिः सस्यवती नृप। चित्रभानुं शुभैर्मन्त्रैः प्रीणयेत्तत्र भक्तितः

dhūrvahāstatra dātavyā bhūmiḥ sasyavatī nṛpa| citrabhānuṁ śubhairmantraiḥ prīṇayettatra bhaktitaḥ

There, O king, one should give yoke-bearing oxen and land bearing crops; and there, with devotion, one should gratify Chitrabhanu (Agni) with auspicious mantras.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.233.25)

आज्येन सुप्रभूतेन होमद्रव्येण भारत। ये यजन्ति सदा भक्त्या त्रिकालं नृत्यमेव च

ājyena suprabhūtena homadravyeṇa bhārata| ye yajanti sadā bhaktyā trikālaṁ nṛtyameva ca

Those, O Bharata, who worship there always with devotion, with abundant ghee and offerings for the sacred fire, and with dance performed thrice daily,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.233.26)

तीर्थे नारदनामाख्ये रेवायाश्चोत्तरे तटे। चित्रभानुमुखा देवाः सर्वदेवमय ऋषिः

tīrthe nāradanāmākhye revāyāścottare taṭe| citrabhānumukhā devāḥ sarvadevamaya ṛṣiḥ

at that tirtha called Narada, on the northern bank of the Reva — the gods headed by Agni, and the sage who embodies all the gods, are present.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.233.27)

ऋषिणा प्रीणिताः सर्वे तस्मात्प्रीत्यो हुताशनः। पूजिते हव्यवाहे तु दारिद्र्यं नैव जायते

ṛṣiṇā prīṇitāḥ sarve tasmātprītyo hutāśanaḥ| pūjite havyavāhe tu dāridryaṁ naiva jāyate

All the gods were gratified by that sage, and thus Agni too is well-pleased; when Havyavaha (fire) is worshipped, poverty never arises.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.233.28)

धनेन विपुला प्रीतिर्जायते प्रतिजन्मनि। कुलीनाश्च सुवेषाश्च सर्वकालं धनेन तु

dhanena vipulā prītirjāyate pratijanmani| kulīnāśca suveṣāśca sarvakālaṁ dhanena tu

Great joy arises from wealth, in birth after birth; through wealth alone, at all times, come noble birth and fine adornment.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.233.29)

प्लवो नदीनां पतिरङ्गनानां राजा च सद्वृत्तरतः प्रजानाम्। धनं नराणामृतवस्तरूणां गतं गतं यौवनमानयन्ति

plavo nadīnāṁ patiraṅganānāṁ rājā ca sadvṛttarataḥ prajānām| dhanaṁ narāṇāmṛtavastarūṇāṁ gataṁ gataṁ yauvanamānayanti

As a raft is to rivers, a husband to women, a righteous king to his subjects — so is wealth to men, and the seasons to trees: they bring back, again and again, a youth that had gone.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.233.30)

धनदत्वं धनेशेन तस्मिंस्तीर्थे ह्युपार्जितम्। यमेन च यमत्वं हि इन्द्रत्वं चैव वज्रिणा

dhanadatvaṁ dhaneśena tasmiṁstīrthe hyupārjitam| yamena ca yamatvaṁ hi indratvaṁ caiva vajriṇā

In that very tirtha, Dhanesha (Kubera) attained his lordship of wealth; Yama attained his office of Yama, and the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra) attained his sovereignty as Indra.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.233.31)

अन्यैरपि महीपालैः पार्थिवत्वमुपार्जितम्। नारदेश्वरमाहात्म्याद्ध्रुवो निश्चलतां गतः

anyairapi mahīpālaiḥ pārthivatvamupārjitam| nāradeśvaramāhātmyāddhruvo niścalatāṁ gataḥ

Other kings, too, gained their sovereignty there; and by the glory of Naradeshvara, Dhruva attained his unmoving fixity as the pole star.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.233.32)

सर्वतीर्थवरं तीर्थं निर्मितं नारदेन तु। पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां रेवायाश्चोत्तरे तटे। तद्वरं सर्वतीर्थानां महापातकनाशनम्

sarvatīrthavaraṁ tīrthaṁ nirmitaṁ nāradena tu| pṛthivyāṁ sāgarāntāyāṁ revāyāścottare taṭe| tadvaraṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ mahāpātakanāśanam

This tirtha, best of all tirthas, was made by Narada; on this earth bounded by the ocean, on the northern bank of the Reva, it is the finest of all tirthas, destroying even the gravest sins.