The Greatness of Siddheshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.302.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल सिद्धेश्वरमनुत्तमम् । नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले तीर्थं परमशोभनम् ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahīpāla siddheśvaramanuttamam | narmadādakṣiṇe kūle tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam ||

Markandeya said: O lord of the earth, from there one should go to the incomparable Siddheshvara, a most beautiful tirtha on the southern bank of the Narmada.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.302.2)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा पूजयेद्वृषभध्वजम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो गतिं यात्यश्वमेधिनाम् ॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā pūjayedvṛṣabhadhvajam | sarvapāpavinirmukto gatiṁ yātyaśvamedhinām ||

One who bathes at that tirtha and worships the bull-bannered god (Shiva) is freed from all sins and attains the destination of those who perform the horse-sacrifice.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.302.3)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः । पितॄणां प्रीणनार्थाय सर्वं तेन कृतं भवेत् ॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā śrāddhaṁ kuryātprayatnataḥ | pitṝṇāṁ prīṇanārthāya sarvaṁ tena kṛtaṁ bhavet ||

One who bathes at that tirtha and diligently performs the ancestral rite for the satisfaction of his forefathers is deemed to have accomplished everything thereby.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.302.4)

तत्र तीर्थे मृतानां तु जन्तूनां नृपसत्तम । गर्भवासे मतिस्तेषां न जायेत कदाचन ॥

tatra tīrthe mṛtānāṁ tu jantūnāṁ nṛpasattama | garbhavāse matisteṣāṁ na jāyeta kadācana ||

O best of kings, for creatures that die at that tirtha, their mind never again enters the state of dwelling in the womb.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.302.5)

गर्भवासो हि दुःखाय न सुखाय कदाचन । तत्तीर्थवारिणा स्नातुर्न पुनर्भवसम्भवः ॥

garbhavāso hi duḥkhāya na sukhāya kadācana | tattīrthavāriṇā snāturna punarbhavasambhavaḥ ||

Dwelling in the womb is ever for suffering, never for happiness. For one who bathes in the water of that tirtha, there is no rebirth again.