The Greatness of Gopeshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.317.1)

गोपेश्वरं ततो गच्छेत्सर्पक्षेत्रादनन्तरम्। यत्र स्नानेन चैकेन मुच्यन्ते पातकैर्नराः॥

gopeśvaraṁ tato gacchetsarpakṣetrādanantaram| yatra snānena caikena mucyante pātakairnarāḥ||

Shri Markandeya said: After the Sarpa region, one should go to Gopeshvara, where men are freed from sins by a single bathing alone.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.317.2)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा कुरुते प्राणसंक्षयम्। स गच्छेद्यदि युक्तोऽपि पापेन शिवमन्दिरम्॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā kurute prāṇasaṁkṣayam| sa gacchedyadi yukto'pi pāpena śivamandiram||

He who, having bathed at that tirtha, relinquishes his life there, goes to the abode of Shiva even though burdened with sin.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.317.3)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा पूजयेद्देवमीश्वरम्। मुच्यते सर्वपापैश्च रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā pūjayeddevamīśvaram| mucyate sarvapāpaiśca rudralokaṁ sa gacchati||

He who, having bathed at that tirtha, worships the god Ishvara, is freed from all sins and goes to the realm of Rudra.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.317.4)

क्रीडित्वा च यथाकामं रुद्रलोके महातपाः। इह मानुष्यतां प्राप्य राजा भवति धार्मिकः॥

krīḍitvā ca yathākāmaṁ rudraloke mahātapāḥ| iha mānuṣyatāṁ prāpya rājā bhavati dhārmikaḥ||

Having sported at will in the realm of Rudra, great in austerity, he then attains human birth here and becomes a righteous king.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.317.5)

हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्नो दासीदाससमन्वितः। पूज्यमानो नरेन्द्रैश्च जीवेद्वर्षशतं सुखी॥

hastyaśvarathasampanno dāsīdāsasamanvitaḥ| pūjyamāno narendraiśca jīvedvarṣaśataṁ sukhī||

Endowed with elephants, horses, and chariots, attended by maidservants and manservants, honoured by other kings, he lives happily for a hundred years.