The Greatness of Ravi Tirtha (Adityeshvara)

Verse 1 (skanda.5.308.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। तस्यैवानन्तरं चान्यद्रवितीर्थमनुत्तमम् । यस्य संदर्शनादेव मुच्यन्ते पातकैर्नराः ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tasyaivānantaraṁ cānyadravitīrthamanuttamam | yasya saṁdarśanādeva mucyante pātakairnarāḥ ||

Markandeya said: Immediately after that there is another supreme tirtha, the Ravi Tirtha, by mere sight of which men are freed from their sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.308.2)

रवितीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा नरः पश्यति भास्करम् । तस्य यत्फलमुद्दिष्टं स्वयं देवेन तच्छृणु ॥

ravitīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā naraḥ paśyati bhāskaram | tasya yatphalamuddiṣṭaṁ svayaṁ devena tacchṛṇu ||

Hear what fruit was declared by the god himself for a man who bathes at the Ravi Tirtha and beholds the sun.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.308.3)

नान्धो न मूको बधिरः कुले भवति कश्चन । कुरूपः कुनखी वापि तस्य जन्मानि षोडश ॥

nāndho na mūko badhiraḥ kule bhavati kaścana | kurūpaḥ kunakhī vāpi tasya janmāni ṣoḍaśa ||

For sixteen of his births, no one in his family is ever born blind, mute, deaf, deformed, or with misshapen nails.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.308.4)

दद्रुचित्रककुष्ठानि मण्डलानि विचर्चिका । नश्यन्ति देवभक्तस्य षण्मासान्नात्र संशयः ॥

dadrucitrakakuṣṭhāni maṇḍalāni vicarcikā | naśyanti devabhaktasya ṣaṇmāsānnātra saṁśayaḥ ||

Ringworm, leprous patches, leprosy, skin blotches, and eczema all vanish within six months for that devotee of the god, without doubt.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.308.5)

चरितं तस्य देवस्य पुराणे यच्छ्रुतं मया । न तत्कथयितुं शक्यं संक्षेपेण नृपोत्तम ॥

caritaṁ tasya devasya purāṇe yacchrutaṁ mayā | na tatkathayituṁ śakyaṁ saṁkṣepeṇa nṛpottama ||

O best of kings, the deeds of that god which I have heard told in the Purana cannot be fully related even briefly.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.308.6)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यद्दानं रविमुद्दिश्य दीयते । विधिना पात्रविप्राय तस्यान्तो नास्ति कर्हिचित् ॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaddānaṁ ravimuddiśya dīyate | vidhinā pātraviprāya tasyānto nāsti karhicit ||

Whatever gift is duly given at that tirtha in the name of the sun to a worthy brahmin has no end, ever.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.308.7)

अयने विषुवे चैव चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे तथा । रवितीर्थे प्रदत्तानां दानानां फलमुत्तमम् ॥

ayane viṣuve caiva candrasūryagrahe tathā | ravitīrthe pradattānāṁ dānānāṁ phalamuttamam ||

At the solstice, at the equinox, and at a lunar or solar eclipse, gifts given at the Ravi Tirtha yield the highest fruit.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.308.8)

संक्रान्तौ यानि दानानि हव्यकव्यानि भारत । अपामिव समुद्रस्य तेषामन्तो न लभ्यते ॥

saṁkrāntau yāni dānāni havyakavyāni bhārata | apāmiva samudrasya teṣāmanto na labhyate ||

O descendant of Bharata, offerings to gods and ancestors given at the solstice-passage have no end, like the waters of the ocean.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.308.9)

येन येन यदा दत्तं येन येन यदा हुतम् । तस्य तस्य तदा काले सविता प्रतिदायकः ॥

yena yena yadā dattaṁ yena yena yadā hutam | tasya tasya tadā kāle savitā pratidāyakaḥ ||

Whatever anyone gives or offers in fire at any time, at that very time Savitr (the sun) becomes the one who repays it.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.308.10)

सप्त जन्मानि तान्येव ददात्यर्कः पुनः पुनः । शतमिन्दुक्षये दानं सहस्रं तु दिनक्षये ॥

sapta janmāni tānyeva dadātyarkaḥ punaḥ punaḥ | śatamindukṣaye dānaṁ sahasraṁ tu dinakṣaye ||

The sun grants that same fruit again and again across seven births. A gift given at the new moon is a hundredfold, and one given at the day's decline a thousandfold.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.308.11)

संक्रान्तौ शतसाहस्रं व्यतीपाते त्वनन्तकम् ॥

saṁkrāntau śatasāhasraṁ vyatīpāte tvanantakam ||

At the solstice-passage it is a hundred-thousandfold, and at vyatipata it becomes limitless.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.308.12)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। रवितीर्थं कथं तात पुण्यात्पुण्यतरं स्मृतम् । विस्तरेण ममाख्याहि श्रवणौ मम लम्पटौ ॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| ravitīrthaṁ kathaṁ tāta puṇyātpuṇyataraṁ smṛtam | vistareṇa mamākhyāhi śravaṇau mama lampaṭau ||

Yudhishthira said: O father, how is the Ravi Tirtha reckoned more meritorious than the meritorious? Tell me in full detail; my ears are eager to hear it.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.308.13)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा ह्यादित्येश्वरमुत्तमम् । उत्तरे नर्मदाकूले सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम् ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śṛṇuṣvāvahito bhūtvā hyādityeśvaramuttamam | uttare narmadākūle sarvavyādhivināśanam ||

Shri Markandeya said: Listen attentively to the account of the supreme Adityeshvara, on the northern bank of the Narmada, the destroyer of every ailment.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.308.14)

पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ जाबालिर्ब्राह्मणोऽभवत् । वसिष्ठान्वयसम्भूतो वेदशास्त्रार्थपारगः ॥

purā kṛtayugasyādau jābālirbrāhmaṇo'bhavat | vasiṣṭhānvayasambhūto vedaśāstrārthapāragaḥ ||

Long ago, at the beginning of the Krita age, there was a brahmin named Jabali, born in the lineage of Vasishtha, learned to the depths of the Vedas and scriptures.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.308.15)

पतिव्रता साधुशीला तस्य भार्या मनस्विनी । ऋतुकाले तु सा गत्वा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

pativratā sādhuśīlā tasya bhāryā manasvinī | ṛtukāle tu sā gatvā bhartāramidamabravīt ||

His wife was devoted to her husband, virtuous, and high-minded. At the fertile time, she went to her husband and said —

Verse 16 (skanda.5.308.16)

वर्तते ऋतुकालो मे भर्तारं त्वामुपस्थिता । भज मां प्रीतिसंयुक्तः पुत्रकामां तु कामिनीम् ॥

vartate ṛtukālo me bhartāraṁ tvāmupasthitā | bhaja māṁ prītisaṁyuktaḥ putrakāmāṁ tu kāminīm ||

"My fertile time is now; I have come to you, my husband. Unite with me, your desiring wife who longs for a son, with affection."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.308.17)

एवमुक्तो द्विजः प्राह प्रियेऽद्याहं व्रतान्वितः । गच्छेदानीं वरारोहे दास्य ऋत्वन्तरे पुनः ॥

evamukto dvijaḥ prāha priye'dyāhaṁ vratānvitaḥ | gacchedānīṁ varārohe dāsya ṛtvantare punaḥ ||

Thus addressed, the brahmin said: "O beloved, today I am under a vow. O fair one, go now; I shall be with you at the next fertile time."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.308.18)

पुनर्द्वितीये सम्प्राप्ते ऋतुकालेऽप्युपस्थिता । पुनः सा छन्दिता तेन व्रतस्थोऽद्येति भारत ॥

punardvitīye samprāpte ṛtukāle'pyupasthitā | punaḥ sā chanditā tena vratastho'dyeti bhārata ||

O descendant of Bharata, when the second fertile time came round, she came to him again, and again he put her off, saying, "Today I am under a vow."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.308.19)

इत्थं वा बहुशस्तेन छन्दिता च पुनः पुनः । निराशा चाभवत्तत्र भर्तारं प्रति भामिनी ॥

itthaṁ vā bahuśastena chanditā ca punaḥ punaḥ | nirāśā cābhavattatra bhartāraṁ prati bhāminī ||

Thus put off by him again and again, that woman grew despairing of her husband.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.308.20)

दुःखेन महताविष्टा विधायानशनं मृता । तेन भ्रूणहतेनैव पापेन सहसा द्विजः ॥

duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭā vidhāyānaśanaṁ mṛtā | tena bhrūṇahatenaiva pāpena sahasā dvijaḥ ||

Overcome by great sorrow, she starved herself to death. By that very sin, equal to the killing of an embryo, the brahmin suddenly —

Verse 21 (skanda.5.308.21)

शीर्णघ्राणाङ्घ्रिरभवत्तपः सर्वं ननाश च । दृष्ट्वात्मानं स कुष्ठेन व्याप्तं ब्राह्मणसत्तमः ॥

śīrṇaghrāṇāṅghrirabhavattapaḥ sarvaṁ nanāśa ca | dṛṣṭvātmānaṁ sa kuṣṭhena vyāptaṁ brāhmaṇasattamaḥ ||

had his nose and feet decay away, and all his austerity was destroyed. Seeing himself covered with leprosy, that foremost brahmin,

Verse 22 (skanda.5.308.22)

विषादं परमं गत्वा नर्मदातटमाश्रितः । अपृच्छद्भास्करं तीर्थं द्विजेभ्यो द्विजसत्तमः ॥

viṣādaṁ paramaṁ gatvā narmadātaṭamāśritaḥ | apṛcchadbhāskaraṁ tīrthaṁ dvijebhyo dvijasattamaḥ ||

falling into deep despair, took refuge on the bank of the Narmada, and that foremost of the twice-born asked other brahmins about the Bhaskara Tirtha.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.308.23)

आरोग्यं भास्करादिच्छेदिति संचिन्त्य चेतसि । कुतस्तद्भास्करं तीर्थं भो द्विजाः कथ्यतां मम ॥

ārogyaṁ bhāskarādicchediti saṁcintya cetasi | kutastadbhāskaraṁ tīrthaṁ bho dvijāḥ kathyatāṁ mama ||

Thinking in his mind, "I wish to seek health from Bhaskara," he said: "O brahmins, where is that Bhaskara Tirtha? Tell me."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.308.24)

तपस्तप्याम्यहं गत्वा तस्मिंस्तीर्थे सुभावितः ॥

tapastapyāmyahaṁ gatvā tasmiṁstīrthe subhāvitaḥ ||

"Going there, I shall perform austerity at that tirtha with a devoted heart."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.308.25)

द्विजा ऊचुः। रेवाया उत्तरे कूले आदित्येश्वरनामतः । विद्यते भास्करं तीर्थं सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम् ॥

dvijā ūcuḥ| revāyā uttare kūle ādityeśvaranāmataḥ | vidyate bhāskaraṁ tīrthaṁ sarvavyādhivināśanam ||

The brahmins said: On the northern bank of the Reva (Narmada) there exists that Bhaskara Tirtha, known by the name Adityeshvara, which destroys every ailment.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.308.26)

तत्र याह्यविचारेण गन्तुं चेच्छक्यते त्वया । एवमुक्तो द्विजैर्विप्रो गन्तुं तत्र प्रचक्रमे ॥

tatra yāhyavicāreṇa gantuṁ cecchakyate tvayā | evamukto dvijairvipro gantuṁ tatra pracakrame ||

"Go there without hesitation, if you are able to travel." Thus told by the brahmins, that brahmin set out to go there.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.308.27)

व्याधिना परिभूतस्तु घोरेण प्राणहारिणा । यदा गन्तुं न शक्नोति तदा तेन विचिन्तितम् ॥

vyādhinā paribhūtastu ghoreṇa prāṇahāriṇā | yadā gantuṁ na śaknoti tadā tena vicintitam ||

But, overcome by that terrible, life-consuming disease, when he found himself unable to go there, he thought thus —

Verse 28 (skanda.5.308.28)

सामर्थ्यं ब्राह्मणानां हि विद्यते भुवनत्रये । लिङ्गपातः कृतो विप्रैर्देवदेवस्य शूलिनः ॥

sāmarthyaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ hi vidyate bhuvanatraye | liṅgapātaḥ kṛto viprairdevadevasya śūlinaḥ ||

"The power of brahmins extends through the three worlds. Brahmins have even caused the linga of the trident-bearing god of gods to fall.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.308.29)

समुद्रः शोषितो विप्रैर्विन्ध्यश्चापि निवारितः । अहमप्यत्र संस्थस्तु ह्यानयिष्यामि भास्करम् ॥

samudraḥ śoṣito viprairvindhyaścāpi nivāritaḥ | ahamapyatra saṁsthastu hyānayiṣyāmi bhāskaram ||

Brahmins have dried up the ocean, and have even halted the Vindhya mountain. I too, remaining right here, shall bring Bhaskara to me —

Verse 30 (skanda.5.308.30)

तपोबलेन महता ह्यादित्येश्वरसंज्ञितम् । इति निश्चित्य मनसा ह्युग्रे तपसि संस्थितः ॥

tapobalena mahatā hyādityeśvarasaṁjñitam | iti niścitya manasā hyugre tapasi saṁsthitaḥ ||

by the power of great austerity — even him named Adityeshvara." Having thus resolved in his mind, he devoted himself to fierce penance.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.308.31)

वायुभक्षो निराहारो ग्रीष्मे पञ्चाग्निमध्यगः । शिशिरे तोयमध्यस्थो वर्षास्वप्रावृताकृतिः ॥

vāyubhakṣo nirāhāro grīṣme pañcāgnimadhyagaḥ | śiśire toyamadhyastho varṣāsvaprāvṛtākṛtiḥ ||

He subsisted on air alone, took no food, in summer stood amid five fires, in winter stood immersed in water, and in the rains stood exposed, without any covering.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.308.32)

साग्रे वर्षशते पूर्णे रविस्तुष्टोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

sāgre varṣaśate pūrṇe ravistuṣṭo'bravīdidam ||

When a full hundred years and more had passed, the sun, being pleased, spoke these words —

Verse 33 (skanda.5.308.33)

सूर्य उवाच। वरं वरय भद्रं ते किं ते मनसि वाञ्छितम् । अदेयमपि दास्यामि ब्रूहि मां त्वं चिरं कृथाः ॥

sūrya uvāca| varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te kiṁ te manasi vāñchitam | adeyamapi dāsyāmi brūhi māṁ tvaṁ ciraṁ kṛthāḥ ||

The Sun said: "Choose a boon, may you be blessed; what is desired in your heart? Even what should not be given, I shall give; tell me, do not delay long.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.308.34)

किमसाध्यं हि ते विप्र इदानीं तपसि स्थितः ॥

kimasādhyaṁ hi te vipra idānīṁ tapasi sthitaḥ ||

O brahmin, what is now impossible for you, having stood so long in austerity?"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.308.35)

जाबालिरुवाच। यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम । मम प्रतिज्ञा देवेश ह्यादित्येश्वरदर्शने ॥

jābāliruvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si deveśa yadi deyo varo mama | mama pratijñā deveśa hyādityeśvaradarśane ||

Jabali said: O lord of gods, if you are pleased and if a boon is indeed to be given to me — O lord of gods, my vow was for the sight of Adityeshvara,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.308.36)

कृता तां पारितुं देव न शक्तो व्याधिना वृतः । शुक्लतीर्थेऽत्र तिष्ठ त्वमादित्येश्वरमूर्तिधृक् ॥

kṛtā tāṁ pārituṁ deva na śakto vyādhinā vṛtaḥ | śuklatīrthe'tra tiṣṭha tvamādityeśvaramūrtidhṛk ||

a vow I am unable to fulfil, being beset by disease. O god, remain here at this Shukla Tirtha, bearing the very form of Adityeshvara.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.308.37)

एवमुक्ते तु देवेशो बहुरूपो दिवाकरः । उत्तरे नर्मदाकूले क्षणादेव व्यदृश्यत ॥

evamukte tu deveśo bahurūpo divākaraḥ | uttare narmadākūle kṣaṇādeva vyadṛśyata ||

Thus addressed, the many-formed lord of gods, the maker of day, manifested there on the northern bank of the Narmada in an instant.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.308.38)

तदाप्रभृति भूपाल तद्धि तीर्थं प्रचक्षते । सर्वपापहरं प्रोक्तं सर्वदुःखविनाशनम् ॥

tadāprabhṛti bhūpāla taddhi tīrthaṁ pracakṣate | sarvapāpaharaṁ proktaṁ sarvaduḥkhavināśanam ||

O king, from that time on, that tirtha has been so called, declared to remove all sin and destroy every sorrow.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.308.39)

यस्तु संवत्सरं पूर्णं नित्यमादित्यवासरे । स्नात्वा प्रदक्षिणाः सप्त दत्त्वा पश्यति भास्करम् ॥

yastu saṁvatsaraṁ pūrṇaṁ nityamādityavāsare | snātvā pradakṣiṇāḥ sapta dattvā paśyati bhāskaram ||

One who, for a full year, on every Sunday, bathes and, after making seven circumambulations, beholds Bhaskara,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.308.40)

यत्फलं लभते तेन तच्छृणुष्व मयोदितम् । प्रसुप्तं मण्डलानीह दद्रुकुष्ठविचर्चिकाः ॥

yatphalaṁ labhate tena tacchṛṇuṣva mayoditam | prasuptaṁ maṇḍalānīha dadrukuṣṭhavicarcikāḥ ||

hear from me the fruit he obtains by this — whatever dormant blotches, ringworm, leprosy, and eczema —

Verse 41 (skanda.5.308.41)

नश्यन्ति सत्वरं राजंस्तूलराशिरिवानले । धनपुत्रकलत्राणां पूरयेद्वत्सरत्रयात् ॥

naśyanti satvaraṁ rājaṁstūlarāśirivānale | dhanaputrakalatrāṇāṁ pūrayedvatsaratrayāt ||

O king, they are swiftly consumed, as a heap of cotton in fire; and within three years all his desires for wealth, sons, and wife are fulfilled.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.308.42)

यस्तु श्राद्धप्रदस्तत्र पितॄनुद्दिश्य संक्रमे । तृप्यन्ति पितरस्तस्य पितृदेवो हि भास्करः ॥

yastu śrāddhapradastatra pitḥnuddiśya saṁkrame | tṛpyanti pitarastasya pitṛdevo hi bhāskaraḥ ||

Whoever offers the ancestral rite there at the time of solstice-passage in the name of the ancestors satisfies his forefathers, for Bhaskara himself is the deity of the ancestors.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.308.43)

इति ते कथितं सर्वमादित्येश्वरमुत्तमम् । सर्वपापहरं दिव्यं सर्वरोगविनाशनम् ॥

iti te kathitaṁ sarvamādityeśvaramuttamam | sarvapāpaharaṁ divyaṁ sarvarogavināśanam ||

Thus I have told you all this concerning the supreme Adityeshvara, a divine tirtha that removes every sin and destroys every disease.