The Greatness of Kohana Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.277.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल कोहनस्वेति विश्रुतम् । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं तीर्थं मृत्युविनाशनम् ।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahīpāla kohanasveti viśrutam| sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ tīrthaṁ mṛtyuvināśanam||

Shri Markandeya said: Thereafter, O lord of the earth, one should go to the tirtha renowned as 'Kohanasva,' sacred, removing all sins, destroying death.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.277.2)

पुरा तत्र द्विजः कश्चिद्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः । पत्नीपुत्रसुहृद्वर्गैः स्वकर्मनिरतोऽवसत् ।

purā tatra dvijaḥ kaścid vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ| patnīputrasuhṛdvargaiḥ svakarmanirato 'vasat||

There, long ago, dwelt a certain brahmin, learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences, living devoted to his own duties, with his wife, sons, and circle of friends.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.277.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। ब्राह्मणस्य तु यत्कर्म उत्पत्तिः क्षत्रियस्य तु । वैश्यस्यापि च शूद्रस्य तत्सर्वं कथयस्व मे ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| brāhmaṇasya tu yat karma utpattiḥ kṣatriyasya tu| vaiśyasyāpi ca śūdrasya tat sarvaṁ kathayasva me||

Yudhishthira said: The duties proper to the brahmin, the origin and duties of the kshatriya, and likewise of the vaishya and shudra - tell me all of this.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.277.4)

धर्मस्यार्हस्य कामस्य मोक्षस्य च परं विधिम् । निखिलं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि नान्यो वेत्ता मतिर्मम ।

dharmasyārhasya kāmasya mokṣasya ca paraṁ vidhim| nikhilaṁ jñātum icchāmi nānyo vettā matir mama||

I wish to know fully the supreme ordinance of dharma, artha, kama and moksha - my mind trusts no other knower but you.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.277.5)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। उत्पत्तिकारणं ब्रह्मा देवदेवः प्रकीर्तितः । प्रथमं सर्वभूतानां चराचरजगद्गुरुः ।

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| utpattikāraṇaṁ brahmā devadevaḥ prakīrtitaḥ| prathamaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ carācarajagadguruḥ||

Markandeya said: Brahma, the god of gods, is proclaimed as the cause of origin, the first among all beings, the guru of the moving and unmoving world.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.277.6)

द्विजातयो मुखाज्जाताः क्षत्रिया बाहुयन्त्रतः । ऊरुप्रदेशाद्वैश्यास्तु शूद्राः पादेष्वथाभवन् ।

dvijātayo mukhāj jātāḥ kṣatriyā bāhuyantrataḥ| ūrupradeśād vaiśyās tu śūdrāḥ pādeṣv athābhavan||

The twice-born were born from his mouth, kshatriyas from the strength of his arms, vaishyas from the region of his thighs, and shudras came to be from his feet.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.277.7)

ततस्त्वन्ये पृथग्वर्णाः पृथग्धर्मान् समाचरन् । पर्यायेण समुत्पन्ना ह्यनुलोमविलोमतः ।

tatas tv anye pṛthagvarṇāḥ pṛthagdharmān samācaran| paryāyeṇa samutpannā hy anulomavilomataḥ||

Then other, distinct castes practising distinct duties arose in succession, through anuloma and viloma (hypergamous and hypogamous) unions.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.277.8)

तेषां धर्मं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रुतिस्मृत्यर्थचोदितम् । येन सम्यक्कृतेनैव सर्वे यान्ति परां गतिम् ।

teṣāṁ dharmaṁ pravakṣyāmi śrutismṛtyarthacoditam| yena samyak kṛtenaiva sarve yānti parāṁ gatim||

I shall declare their duty, as enjoined by the meaning of shruti and smriti, by rightly performing which all attain the highest state.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.277.9)

गतिर्ध्यानं विना भक्तैर्ब्राह्मणैः प्राप्यते नृप । अध्यापयन्यतो वेदान्वेदं वापि यथाविधि ।

gatir dhyānaṁ vinā bhaktair brāhmaṇaiḥ prāpyate nṛpa| adhyāpayan yato vedān vedaṁ vāpi yathāvidhi||

O king, devout brahmins attain that state even without meditation, by teaching the Vedas, or the Veda, duly as prescribed.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.277.10)

कुलजां रूपसम्पन्नां सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताम् । उद्वाहयेत्ततः पत्नीं गुरुणानुमते तदा ।

kulajāṁ rūpasampannāṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitām| udvāhayet tataḥ patnīṁ guruṇānumate tadā||

He should then, with the guru's consent, marry a wife of good family, endowed with beauty and marked with all auspicious signs.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.277.11)

ततः स्मार्तं विवाहाग्निं श्रौतं वा पूजयेत्क्रमात् । प्रतिग्रहधनो भूत्वा दम्भलोभविवर्जितः ।

tataḥ smārtaṁ vivāhāgniṁ śrautaṁ vā pūjayet kramāt| pratigrahadhano bhūtvā dambhalobhavivarjitaḥ||

Then he should duly tend the marriage fire, smarta or shrauta, subsisting on wealth received in gift, free from pride and greed.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.277.12)

पञ्चयज्ञविधानानि कारयेद्वै यथाविधि । वनं गच्छेत्ततः पश्चाद्द्वितीयाश्रमसेवनात् ।

pañcayajñavidhānāni kārayed vai yathāvidhi| vanaṁ gacchet tataḥ paścād dvitīyāśramasevanāt||

He should duly perform the five great sacrifices; afterward, having served the second ashrama, he should go to the forest.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.277.13)

पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य सर्वसङ्गविवर्जितः । इष्टांल्लोकानवाप्नोति न चेह जायते पुनः ।

putreṣu bhāryāṁ nikṣipya sarvasaṅgavivarjitaḥ| iṣṭāṁl lokān avāpnoti na ceha jāyate punaḥ||

Entrusting his wife to his sons, freed from all attachment, he obtains the worlds he desires, and is not born again here.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.277.14)

क्षत्रियस्तु स्थितो राज्ये पालयित्वा वसुंधराम् । शश्वद्धर्ममनाश्चैव प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम् ।

kṣatriyas tu sthito rājye pālayitvā vasundharām| śaśvad dharmamanāś caiva prāpnoti paramāṁ gatim||

The kshatriya, established in his kingdom, protecting the earth, ever mindful of dharma, attains the highest state.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.277.15)

वैश्यधर्मो न सन्देहः कृषिगोरक्षणे रतः । सत्यशौचसमोपेतो गच्छते स्वर्गमुत्तमम् ।

vaiśyadharmo na sandehaḥ kṛṣigorakṣaṇe rataḥ| satyaśaucasamopeto gacchate svargam uttamam||

The vaishya's duty, without doubt, is devotion to agriculture and cattle-rearing; endowed with truth and purity, he goes to the highest heaven.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.277.16)

न शूद्रस्य पृथग्धर्मो विहितः परमेष्ठिना । न मन्त्रो न च संस्कारो न विद्यापरिसेवनम् ।

na śūdrasya pṛthagdharmo vihitaḥ parameṣṭhinā| na mantro na ca saṁskāro na vidyāparisevanam||

No distinct dharma has been ordained for the shudra by the supreme creator, nor mantra, nor sacrament, nor the pursuit of learning.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.277.17)

न शब्दविद्यासमयो देवताभ्यर्चनानि च । यथा जातेन सततं वर्तितव्यमहर्निशम् ।

na śabdavidyāsamayo devatābhyarcanāni ca| yathā jātena satataṁ vartitavyam ahar niśam||

Nor the discipline of grammar and scriptural study, nor the worship of deities in that manner; he must ever conduct himself, day and night, according to how he is born.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.277.18)

स धर्मः सर्ववर्णानां पुरा सृष्टः स्वयम्भुवा । मन्त्रसंस्कारसम्पन्नास्त्रयो वर्णा द्विजातयः ।

sa dharmaḥ sarvavarṇānāṁ purā sṛṣṭaḥ svayambhuvā| mantrasaṁskārasampannās trayo varṇā dvijātayaḥ||

This dharma of all the varnas was created of old by the Self-born; the three varnas endowed with mantra and sacrament are the twice-born.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.277.19)

तेषां मतमनादृत्य यदि वर्तेत कामतः । स मृतो जायते श्वा वै गतिरूर्ध्वा न विद्यते ।

teṣāṁ matam anādṛtya yadi varteta kāmataḥ| sa mṛto jāyate śvā vai gatir ūrdhvā na vidyate||

If a shudra disregards their counsel and acts as he pleases, on death he is reborn as a dog; no higher destiny exists for him in that case.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.277.20)

न तेषां प्रेषणं नित्यं तेषां मतमनुस्मरन् । यशोभागी स्वधर्मस्थः स्वर्गभागी स जायते ।

na teṣāṁ preṣaṇaṁ nityaṁ teṣāṁ matam anusmaran| yaśobhāgī svadharmasthaḥ svargabhāgī sa jāyate||

But one who, ever remembering their counsel, abides in his own duty and not merely as their errand-runner, becomes a sharer of fame and a sharer of heaven.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.277.21)

एवं गुणगणाकीर्णोऽवसद्विप्रः स भारत । हनस्वेति हनस्वेति शृणोति वाक्यमीदृशम् ।

evaṁ guṇagaṇākīrṇo 'vasad vipraḥ sa bhārata| hanasveti hanasveti śṛṇoti vākyam īdṛśam||

Thus, O Bharata, that brahmin lived, adorned with a host of virtues; one day he heard a voice saying, 'Strike! Strike!'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.277.22)

ततो निरीक्षते चोर्ध्वमधश्चैव दिशो दश । वेपमानः स भीतश्च प्रस्खलंश्च पदे पदे ।

tato nirīkṣate cordhvam adhaś caiva diśo daśa| vepamānaḥ sa bhītaś ca praskhalaṁś ca pade pade||

Then, trembling and afraid, stumbling at every step, he looked up and down and in all ten directions.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.277.23)

शृङ्खलायुधहस्तैश्च पाशैश्चैव सुदारुणैः । वेष्टितं महिषारूढं नरं पश्यति मन्मुखम् ।

śṛṅkhalāyudhahastaiś ca pāśaiś caiva sudāruṇaiḥ| veṣṭitaṁ mahiṣārūḍhaṁ naraṁ paśyati manmukham||

He saw a man mounted on a buffalo, surrounded by attendants bearing chains, weapons, and terrible nooses, with a face resembling mine.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.277.24)

कृष्णांजनचयप्रख्यं कृष्णाम्बरविभूषितम् । रक्ताक्षमायतभुजं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम् ।

kṛṣṇāñjanacayaprakhyaṁ kṛṣṇāmbaravibhūṣitam| raktākṣam āyatabhujaṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam||

He was dark as a mass of collyrium, adorned in dark garments, red-eyed, long-armed, marked with all signs.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.277.25)

दृष्ट्वा तं तु समायान्तं निरीक्ष्यात्मानमात्मना । जपञ्जाप्यं च परमं शतरुद्रीयसंस्तवम् ।

dṛṣṭvā taṁ tu samāyāntaṁ nirīkṣyātmānam ātmanā| japañ jāpyaṁ ca paramaṁ śatarudrīyasaṁstavam||

Seeing him approaching, and examining himself within himself, he began reciting the supreme prayer, the Shatarudriya hymn.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.277.26)

ततः प्रोवाच भगवान्यमः संयमनो महान् । शृणु वाक्यमतो ब्रह्मन्यमोऽहं सर्वजन्तुषु ।

tataḥ provāca bhagavān yamaḥ saṁyamano mahān| śṛṇu vākyam ato brahman yamo 'haṁ sarvajantuṣu||

Then the great and blessed Yama, the restrainer, spoke: 'Hear my words, O brahmin - I am Yama to all creatures.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.277.27)

संहरस्व महाभाग रुद्रजाप्यं सुदुर्भिदम् । येनाहं कालपाशैस्त्वां संयमामि गतव्यथः ।

saṁharasva mahābhāga rudrajāpyaṁ sudurbhidam| yenāhaṁ kālapāśais tvāṁ saṁyamāmi gatavyathaḥ||

'O great one, cease this Rudra-recitation, so hard to break through, so that I, free of distress, may bind you with the noose of time.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.277.28)

तच्छ्रुत्वा निष्ठुरं वाक्यं यमस्य मुखनिर्गतम् । महाभयसमोपेतो ब्राह्मणः प्रपलायितः ।

tac chrutvā niṣṭhuraṁ vākyaṁ yamasya mukhanirgatam| mahābhayasamopeto brāhmaṇaḥ prapalāyitaḥ||

Hearing this harsh speech issue from Yama's mouth, the brahmin, overcome with great fear, fled.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.277.29)

तस्य मार्गे गताः सर्वे यमेन सह किंकराः । तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति तं विप्रमूचुस्ते सोऽप्यधावत ।

tasya mārge gatāḥ sarve yamena saha kiṅkarāḥ| tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti taṁ vipram ūcus te so 'py adhāvata||

All of Yama's servants went along his path, calling to the brahmin, 'Stop! Stop!' - but he ran on.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.277.30)

त्वरमाणः परिश्रान्तो हा हतोऽहं दुरात्मभिः । रक्ष रक्ष महादेव शरणागतवत्सल ।

tvaramāṇaḥ pariśrāntaḥ hā hato 'haṁ durātmabhiḥ| rakṣa rakṣa mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala||

Hastening, exhausted, he cried: 'Alas, I am slain by these wicked beings! Save me, save me, O Mahadeva, who art tender to those who seek refuge!'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.277.31)

एवमुक्त्वापतद्भूमौ लिङ्गमालिङ्ग्य भारत । गतसत्त्वः स विप्रेन्द्रः समाश्रित्य सुरेश्वरम् ।

evam uktvāpatad bhūmau liṅgam āliṅgya bhārata| gatasattvaḥ sa viprendraḥ samāśritya sureśvaram||

Having said this, O Bharata, that foremost of brahmins, taking refuge in the lord of gods, fell to the ground embracing the linga, his consciousness departing.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.277.32)

तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ देवदेवो महेश्वरः । को हनिष्यति माभैस्त्वं हुङ्कारमकरोत्तदा ।

taṁ dṛṣṭvā patitaṁ bhūmau devadevo maheśvaraḥ| ko haniṣyati mābhais tvaṁ huṅkāram akarot tadā||

Seeing him fallen on the ground, the god of gods, Maheshvara, said, 'Who shall strike you? Fear not!' and thereupon made a roar of 'Hum'.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.277.33)

तेन ते किंकराः सर्वे यमेन सह भारत । हुङ्कारेण गताः सर्वे मेघा वातहता यथा ।

tena te kiṅkarāḥ sarve yamena saha bhārata| huṅkāreṇa gatāḥ sarve meghā vātahatā yathā||

By that roar, O Bharata, all those servants, together with Yama, were driven away, like clouds scattered by the wind.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.277.34)

तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं कोहनस्वेति विश्रुतम् । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थेष्वनुत्तमम् ।

tadāprabhṛti tat tīrthaṁ kohanasveti viśrutam| sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvatīrtheṣv anuttamam||

From that time forth, that tirtha became renowned as 'Kohanasva' - sacred, removing all sins, unsurpassed among all tirthas.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.277.35)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा पूजयेत्परमेश्वरम् । अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य फलमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम् ।

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā pūjayet parameśvaram| agniṣṭomasya yajñasya phalam āpnoty anuttamam||

One who bathes at that tirtha and worships Parameshvara obtains the unsurpassed fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.277.36)

तत्र तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र प्राणत्यागं करोति यः । न पश्यति यमं देवमित्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत् ।

tatra tīrthe tu rājendra prāṇatyāgaṁ karoti yaḥ| na paśyati yamaṁ devam ity evaṁ śaṅkaro 'bravīt||

O king of kings, one who gives up his life at that tirtha does not behold the god Yama - so said Shankara.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.277.37)

अग्निप्रवेशं यः कुर्याज्जले वा नृपसत्तम । अग्निलोके वसेत्तावद्यावत्कल्पशतत्रयम् ।

agnipraveśaṁ yaḥ kuryāj jale vā nṛpasattama| agniloke vaset tāvad yāvat kalpaśatatrayam||

O best of kings, one who enters fire, or water, there, dwells in the world of Agni for as long as three hundred kalpas.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.277.38)

एवं वरुणलोकेऽपि वसित्वा कालमीप्सितम् । इह लोकमनुप्राप्तो महाधनपतिर्भवेत् ।

evaṁ varuṇaloke 'pi vasitvā kālam īpsitam| iha lokam anuprāpto mahādhanapatir bhavet||

Likewise, having dwelt in the world of Varuna for the desired time, upon returning to this world he becomes a lord of great wealth.