The Glory of Gopeshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.329.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। गोपेश्वरं ततो गच्छेदुत्तरे नर्मदातटे । यत्र स्नानेन चैकेन मुच्यन्ते पातकैर्नराः ॥ १ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| gopeśvaraṁ tato gaccheduttare narmadātaṭe | yatra snānena caikena mucyante pātakairnarāḥ || 1 ||

Sri Markandeya said: Thereafter one should go to Gopeshvara, on the northern bank of the Narmada, where by a single bath men are freed from their sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.329.2)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा कुरुते प्राणसंक्षयम् । बर्हियुक्तेन यानेन स गच्छेच्छिवमन्दिरे ॥ २ ॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā kurute prāṇasaṅkṣayam | barhiyuktena yānena sa gacchecchivamandire || 2 ||

Whoever, having bathed at that tirtha, gives up his life there, goes to the abode of Shiva in a chariot yoked with peacocks.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.329.3)

क्रीडित्वा सुचिरं कालं शिवलोके नराधिप । इह मानुष्यतां प्राप्य राजा भवति वीर्यवान् ॥ ३ ॥

krīḍitvā suciraṁ kālaṁ śivaloke narādhipa | iha mānuṣyatāṁ prāpya rājā bhavati vīryavān || 3 ||

O lord of men, after sporting there for a very long time in the world of Shiva, and then obtaining human birth again here, he becomes a mighty king.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.329.4)

हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्नो दासीदाससमन्वितः । पूज्यमानो नरेन्द्रैश्च जीवेद्वर्षशतं नरः ॥ ४ ॥

hastyaśvarathasampanno dāsīdāsasamanvitaḥ | pūjyamāno narendraiśca jīvedvarṣaśataṁ naraḥ || 4 ||

Endowed with elephants, horses, and chariots, attended by maidservants and menservants, honoured by kings, that man lives for a hundred years.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.329.5)

सम्प्राप्ते कार्त्तिके मासि नवम्यां शुक्लपक्षतः । सोपवासः शुचिर्भूत्वा दीपकांस्तत्र दापयेत् ॥ ५ ॥

samprāpte kārttike māsi navamyāṁ śuklapakṣataḥ | sopavāsaḥ śucirbhūtvā dīpakāṁstatra dāpayet || 5 ||

When the month of Kartika arrives, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight, having observed a fast and become pure, one should have lamps lit there.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.329.6)

गन्धपुष्पैः समभ्यर्च्य रात्रौ कुर्वीत जागरम् । तस्य यत्फलमुद्दिष्टं तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप ॥ ६ ॥

gandhapuṣpaiḥ samabhyarcya rātrau kurvīta jāgaram | tasya yatphalamuddiṣṭaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva narādhipa || 6 ||

Having worshipped with sandal-paste and flowers, one should keep vigil through the night. O lord of men, hear now the fruit declared for this.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.329.7)

यावत्पुण्यं फलं संख्या दीपकानां तथैव च । तावद्युगसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते ॥ ७ ॥

yāvatpuṇyaṁ phalaṁ saṅkhyā dīpakānāṁ tathaiva ca | tāvadyugasahasrāṇi śivaloke mahīyate || 7 ||

Whatever the number of lamps lit, that is the merit gained — and for that same number of thousands of ages, one is exalted in the world of Shiva.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.329.8)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र लिङ्गपूरणकं विधिम् । तथैव पद्मकैश्चैव दधिभक्तैस्तथैव च ॥ ८ ॥

tasmiṁstīrthe tu rājendra liṅgapūraṇakaṁ vidhim | tathaiva padmakaiścaiva dadhibhaktaistathaiva ca || 8 ||

O lord of kings, at that tirtha, the rite of covering the linga with offerings — likewise with lotus-seeds, and likewise with curd-rice,

Verse 9 (skanda.5.329.9)

यस्तु कुर्यान्नरश्रेष्ठ तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । यावन्ति तिलसंख्यानि दधिभक्तं तथैव च ॥ ९ ॥

yastu kuryānnaraśreṣṭha tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu | yāvanti tilasaṅkhyāni dadhibhaktaṁ tathaiva ca || 9 ||

— O best of men, whoever performs this rite, hear the merit of that. As many as the number of sesame seeds used, and likewise of curd-rice grains,

Verse 10 (skanda.5.329.10)

पद्मसंख्या शिवे लोके मोदते कालमीप्सितम् । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र यत्किंचिद्दीयते नृप ॥ १० ॥

padmasaṅkhyā śive loke modate kālamīpsitam | tasmiṁstīrthe tu rājendra yatkiṁciddīyate nṛpa || 10 ||

— and of lotus-seeds — for that same span one rejoices in the world of Shiva, for as long as one desires. O lord of kings, whatever, however small, is given at that tirtha, O king,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.329.11)

सर्वं कोटिगुणं तस्य संख्यातुं वा न शक्यते । एवं ते कथितं सर्वं सर्वतीर्थमनुत्तमम् ॥ ११ ॥

sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ tasya saṅkhyātuṁ vā na śakyate | evaṁ te kathitaṁ sarvaṁ sarvatīrthamanuttamam || 11 ||

— all of it becomes multiplied a crore times over, beyond any possibility of reckoning. Thus has this been told to you fully — supreme among all tirthas.