The Greatness of Naga Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.318.1)

ततो गच्छेन्महाराज नागतीर्थमनुत्तमम्। आश्विनस्य सिते पक्षे पञ्चम्यां नियतः शुचिः॥

tato gacchenmahārāja nāgatīrthamanuttamam| āśvinasya site pakṣe pañcamyāṁ niyataḥ śuciḥ||

Shri Markandeya said: O great king, thereafter one should go to the unsurpassed Naga-tirtha. On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Ashvina, having become pure and disciplined,

Verse 2 (skanda.5.318.2)

रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा गन्धधूपनिवेदनैः। प्रभाते विमले स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथाविधि॥

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā gandhadhūpanivedanaiḥ| prabhāte vimale snātvā śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhi||

having kept a night-vigil with offerings of sandal-paste and incense, having bathed at dawn in the clear water, having duly performed the shraddha,

Verse 3 (skanda.5.318.3)

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो नात्र कार्या विचारणा। तत्र तीर्थे तु यो राजन्प्राणत्यागं करिष्यति॥

mucyate sarvapāpebhyo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā| tatra tīrthe tu yo rājanprāṇatyāgaṁ kariṣyati||

- a man is freed from all sins; there is no question about this. O king, whoever relinquishes his life at that tirtha,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.318.4)

अनिवर्तिका गतिस्तस्य प्रोवाचेति शिवः स्वयम्॥

anivartikā gatistasya provāceti śivaḥ svayam||

his fate is a non-returning one - so Shiva himself has declared.