The Glory of Pingaleshvara Tirtha and the Origin of Devakhata

Verse 1 (skanda.5.331.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल पिङ्गलावर्तमुत्तमम् । तीर्थं सर्वगुणोपेतं कामिकं भुवि दुर्लभम् ॥ १ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahīpāla piṅgalāvartamuttamam | tīrthaṁ sarvaguṇopetaṁ kāmikaṁ bhuvi durlabham || 1 ||

Sri Markandeya said: Thereafter, O king, one should go to the excellent Pingalavarta, a tirtha endowed with every virtue, granting all desires, rare indeed on this earth.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.331.2)

वाचिकं मानसं पापं कर्मजं यत्पुरा कृतम् । पिङ्गलेश्वरमासाद्य तत्सर्वं विलयं व्रजेत् ॥ २ ॥

vācikaṁ mānasaṁ pāpaṁ karmajaṁ yatpurā kṛtam | piṅgaleśvaramāsādya tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ vrajet || 2 ||

Whatever sin — verbal, mental, or resulting from action — was done in the past, upon reaching Pingaleshvara, all of it goes to dissolution.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.331.3)

तत्र स्नानं च दानं च देवखाते कृतं नृप । अक्षयं तद्भवेत्सर्वमित्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥

tatra snānaṁ ca dānaṁ ca devakhāte kṛtaṁ nṛpa | akṣayaṁ tadbhavetsarvamityevaṁ śaṅkaro'bravīt || 3 ||

O king, whatever bathing and giving is performed there at the Devakhata becomes wholly imperishable — thus Shankara himself has declared.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.331.4)

पृथिव्यां सर्वतीर्थेषु समुद्धृत्य शुभोदकम् । मुक्तं तत्र सुरैः खात्वा देवखातं ततोऽभवत् ॥ ४ ॥

pṛthivyāṁ sarvatīrtheṣu samuddhṛtya śubhodakam | muktaṁ tatra suraiḥ khātvā devakhātaṁ tato'bhavat || 4 ||

Having drawn up the auspicious waters from all the tirthas on earth, and having dug there, the gods released it there — thus the Devakhata came into being.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.331.5)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कथं तु देवखातं तत्संजातं द्विजसत्तम । सुराः सर्वे कथं तत्र मुमुचुर्वारि तीर्थजम् । सर्वं कथय मे विप्र श्रवणे लम्पटं मनः ॥ ५ ॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kathaṁ tu devakhātaṁ tatsaṁjātaṁ dvijasattama | surāḥ sarve kathaṁ tatra mumucurvāri tīrthajam | sarvaṁ kathaya me vipra śravaṇe lampaṭaṁ manaḥ || 5 ||

Yudhishthira said: 'O best of brahmins, how did that Devakhata come into being? How did all the gods release the tirtha-born water there? Tell me all, O brahmin — my mind is eager to hear.'

Verse 6 (skanda.5.331.6)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। यदा तु शूलशुद्ध्यर्थं रुद्रो देवगणैः सह । बभ्राम पृथिवीं सर्वां कमण्डलुधरः शुभाम् ॥ ६ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| yadā tu śūlaśuddhyarthaṁ rudro devagaṇaiḥ saha | babhrāma pṛthivīṁ sarvāṁ kamaṇḍaludharaḥ śubhām || 6 ||

Sri Markandeya said: When, in order to purify his trident, Rudra, bearing his water-pot, wandered together with the hosts of gods over this whole auspicious earth —

Verse 7 (skanda.5.331.7)

प्रभासाद्येषु तीर्थेषु स्नानं चक्रुः सुरास्तदा । सर्वतीर्थोत्थितं तोयं पात्रे वै निहितं तु तैः ॥ ७ ॥

prabhāsādyeṣu tīrtheṣu snānaṁ cakruḥ surāstadā | sarvatīrthotthitaṁ toyaṁ pātre vai nihitaṁ tu taiḥ || 7 ||

— the gods then bathed at Prabhasa and other tirthas, and the water arising from all those tirthas was placed by them in a vessel.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.331.8)

शूलभेदमनुप्राप्य शूलं शुद्धं तु शूलिनः । तत्रोत्थमुदकं गृह्य आगता भृगुकच्छके ॥ ८ ॥

śūlabhedamanuprāpya śūlaṁ śuddhaṁ tu śūlinaḥ | tatrotthamudakaṁ gṛhya āgatā bhṛgukacchake || 8 ||

After that piercing had run its course and the trident of the Trident-bearer was purified, they, taking up the water gathered there, came to Bhrigukachchha.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.331.9)

तत्रापश्यंस्ततो ह्यग्निं च पिङ्गलाक्षं च रोगिणम् । तपस्युग्रे व्यवसितं ध्यायमानं महेश्वरम् ॥ ९ ॥

tatrāpaśyaṁstato hyagniṁ ca piṅgalākṣaṁ ca rogiṇam | tapasyugre vyavasitaṁ dhyāyamānaṁ maheśvaram || 9 ||

There they saw Agni, tawny-eyed and afflicted with disease, engaged in fierce austerity, meditating upon Maheshvara.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.331.10)

हविर्भागैस्तु विप्राणां राज्ञां चैवामयाविनाम् । दृष्ट्वा तु बहुरोगार्तमग्निं देवमुखं सुराः । प्राहुस्ते सहिता देवं शङ्करं लोकशङ्करम् ॥ १० ॥

havirbhāgaistu viprāṇāṁ rājñāṁ caivāmayāvinām | dṛṣṭvā tu bahurogārtamagniṁ devamukhaṁ surāḥ | prāhuste sahitā devaṁ śaṅkaraṁ lokaśaṅkaram || 10 ||

Afflicted through the havis-portions offered by diseased brahmins and kings, seeing Agni, the mouth of the gods, tormented by many diseases, the gods together spoke to the god Shankara, the benefactor of the world:

Verse 11 (skanda.5.331.11)

देवा ऊचुः । प्रसादः क्रियतां शम्भो पिङ्गलस्यामयाविनः । यथा हि नीरुजः कायो हविषां ग्रहणक्षमः । पुनर्भवति पिङ्गस्तु तथा कुरु महेश्वर ॥ ११ ॥

devā ūcuḥ | prasādaḥ kriyatāṁ śambho piṅgalasyāmayāvinaḥ | yathā hi nīrujaḥ kāyo haviṣāṁ grahaṇakṣamaḥ | punarbhavati piṅgastu tathā kuru maheśvara || 11 ||

The gods said: 'O Shambhu, show grace upon Pingala, who is diseased. Grant that his body may become free of illness, fit again to receive the oblations, O Maheshvara — do this for Pingala.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.331.12)

ईश्वर उवाच। भोभोः सुरा हि तपसा तुष्टोऽहं वो विशेषतः । वचनाच्च विशेषेण ददाम्यभिमतं वरम् ॥ १२ ॥

īśvara uvāca| bhobhoḥ surā hi tapasā tuṣṭo'haṁ vo viśeṣataḥ | vacanācca viśeṣeṇa dadāmyabhimataṁ varam || 12 ||

Ishvara said: 'O gods, I am especially pleased by this austerity, and especially by your words; I shall grant the boon that is desired.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.331.13)

पिङ्गल उवाच। यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश दीयते देव चेप्सितम् । चन्द्रादित्यौ च नयने कृत्वात्र कलया स्थितः ॥ १३ ॥

piṅgala uvāca| yadi tuṣṭo'si deveśa dīyate deva cepsitam | candrādityau ca nayane kṛtvātra kalayā sthitaḥ || 13 ||

Pingala said: 'If you are pleased, O lord of the gods, and if, O god, my desired boon is to be granted — then, making the moon and sun my two eyes, let me remain here established with a portion of your power —

Verse 14 (skanda.5.331.14)

तथा पुनर्नवः कायो भवेद्वै मम शङ्कर । तथा कुरु विरूपाक्ष नमस्तुभ्यं पुनः पुनः ॥ १४ ॥

tathā punarnavaḥ kāyo bhavedvai mama śaṅkara | tathā kuru virūpākṣa namastubhyaṁ punaḥ punaḥ || 14 ||

— and let my body become new again, O Shankara. Grant this, O Virupaksha; I bow to you again and again.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.331.15)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततः स भगवाञ्छम्भुर्मूर्तिमादित्यरूपिणीम् । कृत्वा तु तस्य तद्रोगमपानुदत शङ्करः ॥ १५ ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tataḥ sa bhagavāñchambhurmūrtimādityarūpiṇīm | kṛtvā tu tasya tadrogamapānudata śaṅkaraḥ || 15 ||

Markandeya said: Then the blessed Shambhu, taking on a form of solar radiance, thereby drove away that disease of his.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.331.16)

ततः पुनर्नवीभूतः पुनः प्रोवाच शङ्करम् । अत्रैव स्थीयतां शम्भो तथैव भास्करः स्वयम् ॥ १६ ॥

tataḥ punarnavībhūtaḥ punaḥ provāca śaṅkaram | atraiva sthīyatāṁ śambho tathaiva bhāskaraḥ svayam || 16 ||

Then, having become renewed, he spoke again to Shankara: 'O Shambhu, remain here in this very place — and let the sun himself likewise remain —

Verse 17 (skanda.5.331.17)

प्राणिनामुपकाराय रोगाणामुपशान्तये । पापानां ध्वंसनार्थाय श्रेयसां चैव वृद्धये ॥ १७ ॥

prāṇināmupakārāya rogāṇāmupaśāntaye | pāpānāṁ dhvaṁsanārthāya śreyasāṁ caiva vṛddhaye || 17 ||

— for the benefit of living beings, for the pacifying of diseases, for the destruction of sins, and for the increase of welfare.'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.331.18)

एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान्पिङ्गलेन महात्मना । अवतारं च कृतवान् गीर्वाणानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥

evamuktastu bhagavānpiṅgalena mahātmanā | avatāraṁ ca kṛtavān gīrvāṇānidamabravīt || 18 ||

Thus addressed by the great soul Pingala, the blessed Lord made his descent there, and spoke thus to the gods:

Verse 19 (skanda.5.331.19)

ईश्वर उवाच। मुञ्चध्वमुदकं देवास्तीर्थेभ्यो यत्समाहृतम् । मम चोत्तरतः कृत्वा खातं देवमयं शुभम् ॥ १९ ॥

īśvara uvāca| muñcadhvamudakaṁ devāstīrthebhyo yatsamāhṛtam | mama cottarataḥ kṛtvā khātaṁ devamayaṁ śubham || 19 ||

Ishvara said: 'O gods, release the water that has been gathered from the tirthas; and to the north of me, dig an auspicious pool made by the gods —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.331.20)

तत्र निक्षिप्यतां वारि सर्वरोगविनाशनम् । सर्वपापहरं दिव्यं सर्वैरपि सुरादिभिः ॥ २० ॥

tatra nikṣipyatāṁ vāri sarvarogavināśanam | sarvapāpaharaṁ divyaṁ sarvairapi surādibhiḥ || 20 ||

— there let that water, destroyer of all disease, remover of all sin, and divine, be poured in by all of you gods and the rest.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.331.21)

एवमुक्ताः सुराः सर्वे खातं कृत्वा तथोत्तरे । वयस्त्रिंशत्कोटिगणैर्मुक्तं तत्तीर्थजं जलम् ॥ २१ ॥

evamuktāḥ surāḥ sarve khātaṁ kṛtvā tathottare | vayastriṁśatkoṭigaṇairmuktaṁ tattīrthajaṁ jalam || 21 ||

Thus addressed, all the gods dug the pool there to the north; and by the thirty-crore hosts of gods that tirtha-born water was released into it.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.331.22)

प्रोचुस्ते सहिताः सर्वे विरूपाक्षपुरोगमाः । यः कश्चिद्देवखातेऽस्मिन्मृदालम्भनपूर्वकम् ॥ २२ ॥

procuste sahitāḥ sarve virūpākṣapurogamāḥ | yaḥ kaścidddevakhāte'sminmṛdālambhanapūrvakam || 22 ||

All of them together, led by Virupaksha, then declared: 'Whoever, at this Devakhata, first touching sacred clay —

Verse 23 (skanda.5.331.23)

स्नानं कृत्वा रविदिने संस्नाय नर्मदाजले । श्राद्धं कृत्वा पितृभ्यो वै दानं दत्त्वा स्वशक्तितः ॥ २३ ॥

snānaṁ kṛtvā ravidine saṁsnāya narmadājale | śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā pitṛbhyo vai dānaṁ dattvā svaśaktitaḥ || 23 ||

— bathes there on a Sunday, and then bathes also in the waters of the Narmada, performs shraddha for the ancestors, and gives gifts according to his ability —

Verse 24 (skanda.5.331.24)

पूजयिष्यति पिङ्गेशं तस्य वासस्त्रिविष्टपे । भविष्यति सुरैरुक्तं शृणोति सकलं जगत् ॥ २४ ॥

pūjayiṣyati piṅgeśaṁ tasya vāsastriviṣṭape | bhaviṣyati surairuktaṁ śṛṇoti sakalaṁ jagat || 24 ||

— and worships Pingesha — his abode shall be in heaven, so it has been declared by the gods, as the whole world may hear.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.331.25)

आमया भुवि मर्त्यानां क्षयरोगविचर्चिकाः । व्याधयो विकृताकाराः कासश्वासज्वरोद्भवाः ॥ २५ ॥

āmayā bhuvi martyānāṁ kṣayarogavicarcikāḥ | vyādhayo vikṛtākārāḥ kāsaśvāsajvarodbhavāḥ || 25 ||

The illnesses of mortals on this earth — consumption, skin diseases, deformed and grievous maladies arising from cough, asthma, and fever —

Verse 26 (skanda.5.331.26)

एकद्वित्रिचतुर्थाहा ये ज्वरा भूतसम्भवाः । ये चान्ये विकृता दोषा दद्रुश्च कामलं तथा ॥ २६ ॥

ekadvitricaturthāhā ye jvarā bhūtasambhavāḥ | ye cānye vikṛtā doṣā dadruśca kāmalaṁ tathā || 26 ||

— fevers recurring on the first, second, third, or fourth day and arising from evil spirits, and other disfiguring afflictions, ringworm, and jaundice as well —

Verse 27 (skanda.5.331.27)

दिनैस्ते सप्तभिर्यान्ति नाशं स्नानैर्रवेर्दिने । शतभेदप्रभिन्ना ये कुष्ठा बहुविधास्तथा ॥ २७ ॥

dinaiste saptabhiryānti nāśaṁ snānairraverdine | śatabhedaprabhinnā ye kuṣṭhā bahuvidhāstathā || 27 ||

— all these go to destruction within seven days through bathing there on Sundays. Likewise the many kinds of leprosy, divided into a hundred forms —

Verse 28 (skanda.5.331.28)

शतमादित्यवाराणां स्नायादष्टोत्तरं तु यः । सम्पूज्य शङ्करं दद्यात्तिलपात्रं द्विजातये ॥ २८ ॥

śatamādityavārāṇāṁ snāyādaṣṭottaraṁ tu yaḥ | sampūjya śaṅkaraṁ dadyāttilapātraṁ dvijātaye || 28 ||

— whoever bathes on one hundred and eight Sundays, and, having duly worshipped Shankara, gives a vessel of sesame to a brahmin —

Verse 29 (skanda.5.331.29)

नश्यन्ति तस्य कुष्ठानि गरुडेनेव पन्नगाः । एवमुक्त्वा गताः सर्वे त्रिदशास्त्रिदशालयम् ॥ २९ ॥

naśyanti tasya kuṣṭhāni garuḍeneva pannagāḥ | evamuktvā gatāḥ sarve tridaśāstridaśālayam || 29 ||

— his leprosy is destroyed, as serpents flee before Garuda. Having said this, all the thirty gods returned to the abode of the gods.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.331.30)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। नदीषु देवखातेषु तडागेषु सरित्सु च । स्नानं समाचरेन्नित्यं नरः पापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ ३० ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| nadīṣu devakhāteṣu taḍāgeṣu saritsu ca | snānaṁ samācarennityaṁ naraḥ pāpaiḥ pramucyate || 30 ||

Markandeya said: Whoever regularly bathes in rivers, in Devakhatas, in tanks, and in streams, is freed from sins.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.331.31)

षष्टितीर्थसहस्रेषु षष्टितीर्थशतेषु च । यत्फलं स्नानदानेषु देवखाते ततोऽधिकम् ॥ ३१ ॥

ṣaṣṭitīrthasahasreṣu ṣaṣṭitīrthaśateṣu ca | yatphalaṁ snānadāneṣu devakhāte tato'dhikam || 31 ||

Whatever fruit is gained by bathing and giving gifts at sixty thousand tirthas, and at six thousand more tirthas — at the Devakhata the fruit is even greater than that.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.331.32)

देवखातेषु यः स्नात्वा तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्नृप । पूजयेद्देवदेवेशं पिङ्गलेश्वरमुत्तमम् ॥ ३२ ॥

devakhāteṣu yaḥ snātvā tarpayitvā pitṝnnṛpa | pūjayeddevadeveśaṁ piṅgaleśvaramuttamam || 32 ||

O king, whoever bathes at the Devakhata, offers tarpana to the ancestors, and worships the supreme lord of gods, Pingaleshvara —

Verse 33 (skanda.5.331.33)

सोऽश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य वाजपेयस्य भारत । द्वयोः पुण्यमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ३३ ॥

so'śvamedhasya yajñasya vājapeyasya bhārata | dvayoḥ puṇyamavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 33 ||

O Bharata, he obtains the combined merit of both the Ashvamedha and Vajapeya sacrifices — of this there should be no doubt.