The Greatness of the Four Tirthas Beginning with Kubera

Verse 1 (skanda.5.288.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल परं तीर्थचतुष्टयम् । येषां दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahīpāla paraṁ tīrthacatuṣṭayam| yeṣāṁ darśanamātreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet||

Shri Markandeya said: Thereafter, O lord of the earth, one should go to the supreme group of four tirthas, by mere sight of which the destruction of all sin occurs.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.288.2)

कौबेरं वारुणं याम्यं वायव्यं तु ततः परम् । यत्र सिद्धा महाप्राज्ञा लोकपाला महाबलाः ।

kauberaṁ vāruṇaṁ yāmyaṁ vāyavyaṁ tu tataḥ param| yatra siddhā mahāprājñā lokapālā mahābalāḥ||

Kaubera, Varuna, Yamya, and Vayavya thereafter - where the greatly wise, mighty guardians of the world attained perfection.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.288.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। किमर्थं लोकपालैश्च तपश्चीर्णं पुरानघ । नर्मदातटमाश्रित्य ह्येतन्मे वक्तुमर्हसि ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kimarthaṁ lokapālaiś ca tapaś cīrṇaṁ purānagha| narmadātaṭam āśritya hy etan me vaktum arhasi||

Yudhishthira said: O sinless one, for what purpose did the guardians of the world, resorting to the bank of the Narmada, formerly perform austerity? You should tell me this.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.288.4)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। अधिष्ठानं समिच्छन्ति ह्यचलं निर्बले सति । संसारे सर्वभूतानां तृणबिन्दुवदस्थिरे ।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| adhiṣṭhānaṁ samicchanti hy acalaṁ nirbale sati| saṁsāre sarvabhūtānāṁ tṛṇabinduvad asthire||

Shri Markandeya said: In this feeble, unstable samsara of all beings, unstable like a dewdrop on a blade of grass, they sought an unshakable foundation.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.288.5)

कदलीसारनिःसारे मृगतृष्णेव चञ्चले । स्थावरे जङ्गमे सर्वे भूतग्रामे चतुर्विधे ।

kadalīsāraniḥsāre mṛgatṛṣṇeva cañcale| sthāvare jaṅgame sarve bhūtagrāme caturvidhe||

This world is devoid of substance like the core of a plantain tree, fickle as a mirage, comprising all four-fold classes of beings, moving and unmoving.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.288.6)

धर्मो माता पिता धर्मो धर्मो बन्धुः सुहृत्तथा । आधारः सर्वभूतानां त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ।

dharmo mātā pitā dharmo dharmo bandhuḥ suhṛt tathā| ādhāraḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ trailokye sacarācare||

Dharma is mother, dharma is father, dharma is kinsman and friend - the true support of all beings in the three worlds, moving and unmoving.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.288.7)

एवं ज्ञात्वा तु ते सर्वे लोकपालाः कृतक्षणाः । तपस्ते चक्रुरतुलं मारुताहारतत्पराः ।

evaṁ jñātvā tu te sarve lokapālāḥ kṛtakṣaṇāḥ| tapas te cakrur atulaṁ mārutāhāratatparāḥ||

Knowing this, all those guardians of the world, seizing the opportunity, performed incomparable austerity, subsisting only on air.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.288.8)

ततस्तुष्टो महादेवः कृतस्यार्द्धे गते तदा । अनुरूपेण राजेन्द्र युगस्य परमेश्वरः ।

tatas tuṣṭo mahādevaḥ kṛtasyārdhe gate tadā| anurūpeṇa rājendra yugasya parameśvaraḥ||

Then, O king of kings, when half of the Krita age had passed, Parameshvara, Mahadeva, pleased, appeared in a form suited to the age.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.288.9)

वरेण छन्दयामास लोकपालान्महाबलान् । यो यमिच्छति कामं वै तं तं तस्य ददाम्यहम् ।

vareṇa chandayāmāsa lokapālān mahābalān| yo yam icchati kāmaṁ vai taṁ taṁ tasya dadāmy aham||

He invited the mighty guardians of the world with a boon: 'Whatever each of you desires, that I shall grant to each.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.288.10)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य लोकपाला जगद्धिताः । वरदं प्रार्थयामासुर्देवं वरमनुत्तमम् ।

etac chrutvā vacas tasya lokapālā jagaddhitāḥ| varadaṁ prārthayāmāsur devaṁ varam anuttamam||

Hearing his words, the guardians of the world, well-wishers of the universe, entreated the boon-granting god for the supreme boon.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.288.11)

कुबेर उवाच। यदि तुष्टो महादेव यदि देयो वरो मम । यक्षाणामीश्वरश्चाहं भवामि धनदस्त्विति ।

kubera uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo mahādeva yadi deyo varo mama| yakṣāṇām īśvaraś cāhaṁ bhavāmi dhanadas tviti||

Kubera said: 'If you are pleased, O Mahadeva, and if a boon is to be given to me, let me become lord of the yakshas, the bestower of wealth.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.288.12)

ततः प्रोवाच देवेशं यमः संयमने रतः । तत्र प्रधानो भगवान् भवेयं सर्वजन्तुषु ।

tataḥ provāca deveśaṁ yamaḥ saṁyamane rataḥ| tatra pradhāno bhagavān bhaveyaṁ sarvajantuṣu||

Then Yama, devoted to restraint, spoke to the lord of gods: 'Let me, blessed one, become foremost among all creatures there.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.288.13)

वरुणोऽनन्तरं प्राह प्रणम्य तु महेश्वरम् । क्रीडेयं वारुणे लोके यादोगणसमन्वितः ।

varuṇo 'nantaraṁ prāha praṇamya tu maheśvaram| krīḍeyaṁ vāruṇe loke yādogaṇasamanvitaḥ||

Then Varuna, having bowed to Maheshvara, said: 'Let me sport in the world of Varuna, accompanied by hosts of water-creatures.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.288.14)

जगादाशु ततो वायुः प्रणम्य तु महेश्वरम् । व्यापकत्वं त्रिलोकेषु प्रार्थयामास भारत ।

jagādāśu tato vāyuḥ praṇamya tu maheśvaram| vyāpakatvaṁ triloke prārthayāmāsa bhārata||

O Bharata, then Vayu, having quickly bowed to Maheshvara, entreated for pervasiveness throughout the three worlds.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.288.15)

तेषां यदीप्सितं काममुमया सह शङ्करः । सर्वेषां लोकपालानः दत्त्वा चादर्शनं गतः ।

teṣāṁ yad īpsitaṁ kāmam umayā saha śaṅkaraḥ| sarveṣāṁ lokapālānaḥ dattvā cādarśanaṁ gataḥ||

Shankara, together with Uma, granting to all the guardians of the world whatever desire each had wished for, then vanished from sight.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.288.16)

गते महेश्वरे देवे यथास्थानं तु ते स्थिताः । स्थापना च कृता सर्वैः स्वनाम्नैव पृथक्पृथक् ।

gate maheśvare deve yathāsthānaṁ tu te sthitāḥ| sthāpanā ca kṛtā sarvaiḥ svanāmnaiva pṛthakpṛthak||

When the god Maheshvara had departed, they each settled in their own place; and each of them made a separate installation under his own name.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.288.17)

कुबेरश्च कुबेरेशं यमश्चैव यमेश्वरम् । वरुणो वरुणेशं तु वातो वातेश्वरं नृप ।

kuberaś ca kubereśaṁ yamaś caiva yameśvaram| varuṇo varuṇeśaṁ tu vāto vāteśvaraṁ nṛpa||

O king, Kubera installed Kubereshvara, Yama installed Yameshvara, Varuna installed Varuneshvara, and Vata installed Vateshvara.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.288.18)

तर्पणं विदधुः सर्वे मन्त्रैश्च विविधैः शुभैः । सर्वे सर्वेश्वरं देव पूजयित्वा यथाविधि ।

tarpaṇaṁ vidadhuḥ sarve mantraiś ca vividhaiḥ śubhaiḥ| sarve sarveśvaraṁ deva pūjayitvā yathāvidhi||

All performed tarpana with various auspicious mantras; all, having duly worshipped the lord of all, the god...

Verse 19 (skanda.5.288.19)

आह्वयामासुस्तान् विप्रान्सर्वे सर्वेश्वरा इव । क्षान्तदान्तजितक्रोधान्सर्वभूताभयप्रदान् ।

āhvayāmāsus tān viprān sarve sarveśvarā iva| kṣāntadāntajitakrodhān sarvabhūtābhayapradān||

...all, like so many universal lords, invited those brahmins who were patient, self-controlled, who had conquered anger, who gave freedom from fear to all beings,

Verse 20 (skanda.5.288.20)

वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातान् सर्वशास्त्रविशारदान् । ऋग्यजुःसामसंयुक्तांस्तथाथर्वविभूषितान् ।

vedavidyāvratasnātān sarvaśāstraviśāradān| ṛgyajuḥsāmasaṁyuktāṁs tathātharvavibhūṣitān||

-bathed in the discipline of Vedic learning, skilled in all scriptures, versed in the Rig, Yajur, and Sama, and adorned also with the Atharva.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.288.21)

चातुर्विध्यं तु सर्वेषां दानं दास्याम गृह्णत । एवमुक्त्वा तु सर्वेषां विप्राणां दानमुत्तमम् ।

cāturvidhyaṁ tu sarveṣāṁ dānaṁ dāsyāma gṛhṇata| evam uktvā tu sarveṣāṁ viprāṇāṁ dānam uttamam||

'We shall give a four-fold gift to all of you - accept it.' Having said this, they gave the excellent gift to all the brahmins.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.288.22)

तत्र स्थाने ददुस्तेषां भूमिदानमनुत्तमम् । यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी ।

tatra sthāne dadus teṣāṁ bhūmidānam anuttamam| yāvac candraś ca sūryaś ca yāvat tiṣṭhati medinī||

There, at that place, they gave them the excellent gift of land, to be theirs for as long as the sun and moon and the earth shall endure.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.288.23)

तावद्दानं तु युष्माकं परिपन्थी न कश्चन । राजा वा राजतुल्यो वा लोकपालैरनुत्तमम् ।

tāvad dānaṁ tu yuṣmākaṁ paripanthī na kaścana| rājā vā rājatulyo vā lokapālair anuttamam||

'For that long shall this gift of yours have no adversary - no king, nor one equal to a king' - so the guardians of the world granted this supreme gift.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.288.24)

दत्तं लोपयते मूढः श्रूयतां तस्य यो विधिः । शोषयेद्धनदो वित्तं तस्य पापस्य भारत ।

dattaṁ lopayate mūḍhaḥ śrūyatāṁ tasya yo vidhiḥ| śoṣayed dhanado vittaṁ tasya pāpasya bhārata||

O Bharata, hear the fate ordained for the fool who revokes what has been given: Dhanada shall dry up the wealth of that sinner.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.288.25)

शरीरं वरुणो देवः संततीं श्वसनस्तथा । आयुर्नयति तस्याशु यमः संयमनो महान् ।

śarīraṁ varuṇo devaḥ saṁtatīṁ śvasanas tathā| āyur nayati tasyāśu yamaḥ saṁyamano mahān||

The god Varuna afflicts his body, and likewise Shvasana his offspring; and the great Yama, the restrainer, swiftly takes away his lifespan.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.288.26)

निःशेषं भस्मसात्कृत्वा हुतभुग्याति भारत । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ब्राह्मणेभ्यो युधिष्ठिर । भक्तिः कार्या नृपैः सर्वैरिच्छद्भिः श्रेय आत्मनः ।

niḥśeṣaṁ bhasmasāt kṛtvā hutabhug yāti bhārata| tasmāt sarvaprayatnena brāhmaṇebhyo yudhiṣṭhira| bhaktiḥ kāryā nṛpaiḥ sarvair icchadbhiḥ śreya ātmanaḥ||

O Bharata, Agni consumes him entirely to ashes. Therefore, O Yudhishthira, all kings who desire their own welfare should, with every effort, show devotion to brahmins.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.288.27)

राजा वृक्षो ब्राह्मणास्तस्य मूलं भृत्याः पर्णा मन्त्रिणस्तस्य शाखाः । तस्मान्मूलं यत्नतो रक्षणीयं मूले गुप्ते नास्ति वृक्षस्य नाशः ।

rājā vṛkṣo brāhmaṇās tasya mūlaṁ bhṛtyāḥ parṇā mantriṇas tasya śākhāḥ| tasmān mūlaṁ yatnato rakṣaṇīyaṁ mūle gupte nāsti vṛkṣasya nāśaḥ||

The king is a tree, the brahmins its root, the servants its leaves, the ministers its branches; therefore the root must be diligently protected - when the root is guarded, the tree suffers no destruction.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.288.28)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे तिष्ठति भूमिदः । आच्छेत्ता चावमन्ता च तान्येव नरके वसेत् ।

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi svarge tiṣṭhati bhūmidaḥ| ācchettā cāvamantā ca tāny eva narake vaset||

One who gives land dwells in heaven for sixty thousand years; one who seizes it back or disrespects it dwells in hell for that same span.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.288.29)

स्वदत्ता परदत्ता वा पालनीया वसुंधरा । यस्य यस्य यदा भूमिस्तस्य तस्य तदा फलम् ।

svadattā paradattā vā pālanīyā vasundharā| yasya yasya yadā bhūmis tasya tasya tadā phalam||

Whether given by oneself or by another, the earth must be protected; whoever holds land at any time, to him belongs its fruit at that time.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.288.30)

देवताज्ञामनुस्मृत्य राजानो येऽपि तां नृप । पालयिष्यन्ति सततं तेषां वासस्त्रिविष्टपे ।

devatājñām anusmṛtya rājāno ye 'pi tāṁ nṛpa| pālayiṣyanti satataṁ teṣāṁ vāsas triviṣṭape||

O king, whatever kings, remembering the command of the gods, shall constantly protect it, their dwelling is in heaven.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.288.31)

स्वदत्ता परदत्ता वा यत्नाद्रक्ष्या युधिष्ठिर । मही महीक्षिता नित्यं दानाच्छ्रेयोऽनुपालनम् ।

svadattā paradattā vā yatnād rakṣyā yudhiṣṭhira| mahī mahīkṣitā nityaṁ dānāc chreyo 'nupālanam||

O Yudhishthira, whether given by oneself or by another, the earth must always be diligently protected by kings; protection is better than the gift itself.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.288.32)

आयुर्यशो बलं वित्तं संततिश्चाक्षया नृप । तेषां भविष्यते नूनं ये प्रजापालने रताः ।

āyur yaśo balaṁ vittaṁ saṁtatiś cākṣayā nṛpa| teṣāṁ bhaviṣyate nūnaṁ ye prajāpālane ratāḥ||

O king, longevity, fame, strength, wealth, and imperishable progeny shall surely belong to those devoted to the protection of their subjects.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.288.33)

एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् सर्वांल्लोकपालान् द्विजोत्तमान् । पूजयित्वा विधानेन प्रणिपत्य व्यसर्जयन् ।

evam uktvā tu tān sarvāṁl lokapālān dvijottamān| pūjayitvā vidhānena praṇipatya vyasarjayan||

Having thus spoken, the guardians of the world, having duly worshipped and bowed to those foremost brahmins, dismissed them all.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.288.34)

गतेषु विप्रमुख्येषु स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनाः । लोकपालाः क्षुधाविष्टाः पर्यटन्भैक्षमात्मनः ।

gateṣu vipramukhyeṣu snātvā hutahutāśanāḥ| lokapālāḥ kṣudhāviṣṭāḥ paryaṭan bhaikṣam ātmanaḥ||

When the foremost brahmins had departed, the guardians of the world, having bathed and offered oblation into fire, overcome by hunger, wandered about seeking alms for themselves.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.288.35)

अस्थिचर्मावशेषाङ्गाः कपालोद्धृतपाणयः । अलब्धग्रासमर्द्धार्धं निर्ययुर्नगराद्बहिः ।

asthicarmāvaśeṣāṅgāḥ kapālodddhṛtapāṇayaḥ| alabdhagrāsam ardhārdhaṁ niryayur nagarād bahiḥ||

Reduced to bone and skin, holding out a skull-bowl in hand, without even obtaining half a morsel of food, they went out from the town.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.288.36)

शापं दत्त्वा तदा क्रोधाद्ब्राह्मणाय युधिष्ठिर । दरिद्राः सततं मूर्खा भवेयुश्च ययुर्गृहान् ।

śāpaṁ dattvā tadā krodhād brāhmaṇāya yudhiṣṭhira| daridrāḥ satataṁ mūrkhā bhaveyuś ca yayur gṛhān||

O Yudhishthira, then, in anger, they cursed that brahmin: 'May they always be poor and foolish' - and they went to their homes.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.288.37)

तदाप्रभृति ते सर्वे ब्राह्मणा धनवर्जिताः । शापदोषेण कौबेर्यां संजाता दुःखभाजनाः ।

tadāprabhṛti te sarve brāhmaṇā dhanavarjitāḥ| śāpadoṣeṇa kauberyāṁ saṁjātā duḥkhabhājanāḥ||

From that time onward, all those brahmins became devoid of wealth; by the fault of the curse at the Kaubera tirtha, they became subject to sorrow.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.288.38)

न धनं पैतृकं पुत्रैर्न पिता पुत्रपौत्रिकम् । भुञ्जते सकलं कालमित्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत् ।

na dhanaṁ paitṛkaṁ putrair na pitā putrapautrikam| bhuñjate sakalaṁ kālam ity evaṁ śaṅkaro 'bravīt||

Neither do sons enjoy the ancestral wealth of the father, nor does the father enjoy that of sons and grandsons, for all time - so said Shankara.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.288.39)

कुबेरेशे नरः स्नात्वा यस्तु पूजयते शिवम् । गन्धधूपनमस्कारैः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।

kubereśe naraḥ snātvā yas tu pūjayate śivam| gandhadhūpanamaskāraiḥ so 'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet||

A man who bathes at Kubereshvara and worships Shiva with fragrance, incense, and prostration obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.288.40)

यमतीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा सम्पश्यति यमेश्वरम् । सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्येत सप्तजन्मान्तरार्जितैः ।

yamatīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā sampaśyati yameśvaram| sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyeta saptajanmāntarārjitaiḥ||

One who bathes at Yama Tirtha and beholds Yameshvara is freed from all sins accumulated over seven successive births.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.288.41)

पूर्णमास्याममावास्यां स्नात्वा तु पितृतर्पणम् । यः करोति तिलैः स्नानं तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु ।

pūrṇamāsyām amāvāsyāṁ snātvā tu pitṛtarpaṇam| yaḥ karoti tilaiḥ snānaṁ tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu||

Hear the meritorious fruit of one who bathes on the full-moon or new-moon day and performs ancestral tarpana, bathing with sesame.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.288.42)

सुतृप्तास्तेन तोयेन पितरश्च पितामहाः । स्वर्गस्था द्वादशाब्दानि क्रीडन्ति प्रपितामहाः ।

sutṛptās tena toyena pitaraś ca pitāmahāḥ| svargasthā dvādaśābdāni krīḍanti prapitāmahāḥ||

By that water, the fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, well satisfied, sport in heaven for twelve years.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.288.43)

वरुणेशे नरः स्नात्वा ह्यर्चयित्वा महेश्वरम् । वाजपेयस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति पुष्कलम् ।

varuṇeśe naraḥ snātvā hy arcayitvā maheśvaram| vājapeyasya yajñasya phalaṁ prāpnoti puṣkalam||

A man who bathes at Varuneshvara and worships Maheshvara obtains the abundant fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.288.44)

मृतां कालेन महता लोके यत्र जलेश्वरः । स गच्छेत्तत्र यानेन गीयमानोऽप्सरोगणैः ।

mṛtāṁ kālena mahatā loke yatra jaleśvaraḥ| sa gacchet tatra yānena gīyamāno 'psarogaṇaiḥ||

One who dies after a great span at the place where the lord of waters resides goes there by celestial vehicle, sung to by hosts of apsarases.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.288.45)

वातेश्वरे नरः स्नात्वा सम्पूज्य च महेश्वरम् । जायते कृतकृत्योऽसौ लोकपालानवेक्षयन् ।

vāteśvare naraḥ snātvā sampūjya ca maheśvaram| jāyate kṛtakṛtyo 'sau lokapālān avekṣayan||

A man who bathes at Vateshvara and duly worships Maheshvara becomes one whose purpose is accomplished, beholding the guardians of the world.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.288.46)

किं तस्य बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्दानैर्वा बहुदक्षिणैः । स्नात्वा चतुष्टये लोके अवाप्तं जन्मनः फलम् ।

kiṁ tasya bahubhir yajñair dānair vā bahudakṣiṇaiḥ| snātvā catuṣṭaye loke avāptaṁ janmanaḥ phalam||

What need has he of many sacrifices or gifts with abundant fees, who, bathing at this group of four in this world, has obtained the fruit of his birth?

Verse 47 (skanda.5.288.47)

ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्तेषां जन्म सुजीवितम् । नित्यं वसन्ति कौरिल्यां लोकपालान्निमन्त्र्य ये ।

te dhanyās te mahātmānas teṣāṁ janma sujīvitam| nityaṁ vasanti kaurilyāṁ lokapālān nimantrya ye||

Blessed are they, great souls, their birth well-lived, who, having invited the guardians of the world, dwell forever at Kaurilya.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.288.48)

एतत्पुण्यं पापहरं धन्यमायुर्विवर्धनम् । पठतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।

etat puṇyaṁ pāpaharaṁ dhanyam āyurvivardhanam| paṭhatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ caiva sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet||

This is meritorious, sin-removing, blessed, life-extending; for those who read it and those who hear it, the destruction of all sins occurs.