The Glory of Varuneshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.236.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महाराज वरुणेश्वरमुत्तमम्। यत्र सिद्धो महादेवो वरुणो नृपसत्तम

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahārāja varuṇeśvaramuttamam| yatra siddho mahādevo varuṇo nṛpasattama

Shri Markandeya said: Then go, O great king, to the excellent Varuneshvara, where, O best of kings, Varuna attained accomplishment through the great god.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.236.2)

पिण्याकशाकपर्णैश्च कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणादिभिः। आराध्य गिरिजानाथं ततः सिद्धिं परां गतः

piṇyākaśākaparṇaiśca kṛcchracāndrāyaṇādibhiḥ| ārādhya girijānāthaṁ tataḥ siddhiṁ parāṁ gataḥ

By eating only oil-cake and leafy greens, and through observances such as the Krichchhra and Chandrayana vows, he worshipped the Lord of the mountain's daughter, and thereby attained the highest accomplishment.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.236.3)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः। पूजयेच्छङ्करं भक्त्या स याति परमां गतिम्

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā santarpya pitṛdevatāḥ| pūjayecchaṅkaraṁ bhaktyā sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

There at that tirtha, whoever bathes, offers tarpana to the ancestors and gods, and worships Shankara with devotion, attains the highest state.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.236.4)

कुण्डिकां वर्धनीं वापि महद्वा जलभाजनम्। अन्नेन सहितं पार्थ तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

kuṇḍikāṁ vardhanīṁ vāpi mahadvā jalabhājanam| annena sahitaṁ pārtha tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

Hear, O Partha, the meritorious fruit of giving a water-pot, a vardhani vessel, or a large jar of water, together with food.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.236.5)

यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यः सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा

yatphalaṁ labhate martyaḥ satre dvādaśavārṣike| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whatever fruit a mortal obtains from a twelve-year sacrificial session — that same fruit is obtained by this; there should be no doubt about it.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.236.6)

सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं परं स्मृतम्। सद्यः प्रीतिकरं तोयमन्नं च नृपसत्तम

sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannadānaṁ paraṁ smṛtam| sadyaḥ prītikaraṁ toyamannaṁ ca nṛpasattama

Of all gifts, the gift of food is held supreme, O best of kings; water and food bring joy at once.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.236.7)

तत्रतीर्थे मृतानां तु नराणां भावितात्मनाम्। वरुणस्य पुरे वासो यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

tatra tīrthe mṛtānāṁ tu narāṇāṁ bhāvitātmanām| varuṇasya pure vāso yāvadābhūtasamplavam

For men of purified soul who die at that tirtha, residence in Varuna's city lasts until the dissolution of created beings.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.236.8)

पश्चात्पूर्णे ततः काले मर्त्यलोके प्रजायते। अन्नदानप्रदो नित्यं जीवेद्वर्षशतं नरः

paścātpūrṇe tataḥ kāle martyaloke prajāyate| annadānaprado nityaṁ jīvedvarṣaśataṁ naraḥ

Afterward, when that time is fulfilled, he is born again in the mortal world; ever giving gifts of food, such a man lives for a hundred years.