The Glory of Bhrigukachchha Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.337.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो भृगुः श्रिया चैव समेतः कच्छपं गतः । अभिनन्द्य यथान्यायमुवाच वचनं शुभम् ॥ १ ॥

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato bhṛguḥ śriyā caiva sametaḥ kacchapaṁ gataḥ | abhinandya yathānyāyamuvāca vacanaṁ śubham || 1 ||

Sri Markandeya said: Then Bhrigu, together with Shri, went to the tortoise; greeting it duly, he spoke these auspicious words:

Verse 2 (skanda.5.337.2)

त्वया धृता धरा सर्वा तथा लोकाश्चराचराः । तथैव पुण्यभावत्वात्स्थितस्तत्र महामते ॥ २ ॥

tvayā dhṛtā dharā sarvā tathā lokāścarācarāḥ | tathaiva puṇyabhāvatvātsthitastatra mahāmate || 2 ||

'By you is upheld the whole earth, and all the moving and unmoving worlds; and it is because of your meritorious nature that we are established here, O great-minded one.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.337.3)

चातुर्विद्यस्य संस्थानं करोमि रमया सह । यदि त्वं मन्यसे देव तदादेशय मां विभो ॥ ३ ॥

cāturvidyasya saṁsthānaṁ karomi ramayā saha | yadi tvaṁ manyase deva tadādeśaya māṁ vibho || 3 ||

I wish to establish here, together with Rama, a seat of the four orders. O god, if you consent, then instruct me, O mighty one.'

Verse 4 (skanda.5.337.4)

कूर्म उवाच। एवमेव द्विजश्रेष्ठ मम नामाङ्कितं पुरम् । भविष्यति महत्कालं ममोपरि सुसंस्थितम् ॥ ४ ॥

kūrma uvāca| evameva dvijaśreṣṭha mama nāmāṅkitaṁ puram | bhaviṣyati mahatkālaṁ mamopari susaṁsthitam || 4 ||

The Tortoise said: 'So be it, O best of brahmins. A city marked with my name shall stand well-established upon me for a great length of time.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.337.5)

अचलं सुस्थिरं तात न भीः कार्या सुलोचने । एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं कच्छपस्य मुखाच्च्युतम् ॥ ५ ॥

acalaṁ susthiraṁ tāta na bhīḥ kāryā sulocane | etacchrutvā śubhaṁ vākyaṁ kacchapasya mukhāccyutam || 5 ||

It shall be unshaken and stable, O son; O beautiful-eyed one, there is no need for fear.' Hearing this auspicious word issuing from the tortoise's mouth,

Verse 6 (skanda.5.337.6)

हृष्टस्तुष्टः श्रिया सार्द्धं पद्मयोनिसुतो भृगुः । अभीचि उदये प्राप्ते कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः ॥ ६ ॥

hṛṣṭastuṣṭaḥ śriyā sārddhaṁ padmayonisuto bhṛguḥ | abhīci udaye prāpte kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ || 6 ||

Bhrigu, the son of the lotus-born, overjoyed and satisfied, together with Shri, when the Abhijit nakshatra rose, performed the auspicious rites of consecration.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.337.7)

नन्दने वत्सरे माघे पञ्चम्यां भरतर्षभ । शस्ते तु ह्युत्तरायोगे कुम्भस्थे शशिमण्डले ॥ ७ ॥

nandane vatsare māghe pañcamyāṁ bharatarṣabha | śaste tu hyuttarāyoge kumbhasthe śaśimaṇḍale || 7 ||

O best of the Bharatas, in the year Nandana, in the month of Magha, on the fifth day, in the auspicious Uttara conjunction, with the lunar orb positioned in Kumbha,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.337.8)

रेवाया उत्तरे तीरे गम्भीरे चाभिवारुणि । प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे कोटितीर्थसमन्वितम् ॥ ८ ॥

revāyā uttare tīre gambhīre cābhivāruṇi | prāgudakpravaṇe deśe koṭitīrthasamanvitam || 8 ||

on the northern bank of the Reva, in a deep spot facing the west, in a land sloping to the north-east, endowed with a crore of tirthas —

Verse 9 (skanda.5.337.9)

क्रोशप्रमाणं तत्क्षेत्रं प्रासादशतसंकुलम् । अचिरेणैव कालेन तपोबलसमन्वितः । विचिन्त्य विश्वकर्माणं चकार भृगुसत्तमः ॥ ९ ॥

krośapramāṇaṁ tatkṣetraṁ prāsādaśatasaṅkulam | acireṇaiva kālena tapobalasamanvitaḥ | vicintya viśvakarmāṇaṁ cakāra bhṛgusattamaḥ || 9 ||

— that field, measuring a krosha, crowded with a hundred palaces, was established in a very short time; that best of the Bhrigus, endowed with the power of his austerity, invoked Vishvakarma in thought and had it built.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.337.10)

ब्राह्मणा वेदविद्वांसः क्षत्रिया राज्यपालकाः । वैश्या वृत्तिरतास्तत्र शूद्राः शुश्रूषकास्त्रिषु ॥ १० ॥

brāhmaṇā vedavidvāṁsaḥ kṣatriyā rājyapālakāḥ | vaiśyā vṛttiratāstatra śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣakāstriṣu || 10 ||

There, the brahmins were learned in the Vedas, the kshatriyas were rulers of the realm, the vaishyas were engaged in trade, and the shudras served the other three.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.337.11)

एवं श्रिया वृतं क्षेत्रं परमानन्दनन्दितम् । निर्मितं भृगुणा तात सर्वपातकनाशनम् । इति भृगुकच्छोत्पत्तिः ॥ ११ ॥

evaṁ śriyā vṛtaṁ kṣetraṁ paramānandananditam | nirmitaṁ bhṛguṇā tāta sarvapātakanāśanam | iti bhṛgukacchotpattiḥ || 11 ||

Thus, O son, was this field, chosen by Shri, filled with supreme joy, established by Bhrigu, the destroyer of all sins. Thus ends the origin of Bhrigukachchha.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.337.12)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततः कालेन महता कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे । देवलोकं जगामाशु लक्ष्मीरृषिसमागमे ॥ १२ ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tataḥ kālena mahatā kasmiṁścitkāraṇāntare | devalokaṁ jagāmāśu lakṣmīrṛṣisamāgame || 12 ||

Markandeya said: Then, after a long time, for some particular reason, Lakshmi went swiftly to the world of the gods, leaving the sages' company,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.337.13)

समर्प्य कुञ्चिकाट्टालं भृगवे ब्रह्मवादिने । पालयस्व यथार्थं वै स्थानकं मम सुव्रत ॥ १३ ॥

samarpya kuñcikāṭṭālaṁ bhṛgave brahmavādine | pālayasva yathārthaṁ vai sthānakaṁ mama suvrata || 13 ||

— having entrusted the key of her treasury to Bhrigu, the expounder of Brahman: 'O one of good vows, faithfully guard my dwelling.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.337.14)

देवकार्याण्यशेषाणि कृत्वा श्रीः पुनरागता । आजगाम रमा देवी भृगुकच्छं त्वरान्विता ॥ १४ ॥

devakāryāṇyaśeṣāṇi kṛtvā śrīḥ punarāgatā | ājagāma ramā devī bhṛgukacchaṁ tvarānvitā || 14 ||

Having accomplished all her business with the gods, Shri returned; the goddess Rama came back to Bhrigukachchha in haste.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.337.15)

प्रार्थितं कुञ्चिकाट्टालं स्वगृहं सपरिग्रहम् । भृगुर्यदा तदा पार्थ मिथ्या नास्ति तदा वदत ॥ १५ ॥

prārthitaṁ kuñcikāṭṭālaṁ svagṛhaṁ saparigraham | bhṛguryadā tadā pārtha mithyā nāsti tadā vadata || 15 ||

O son of Pritha, when she requested from Bhrigu the return of the key to her own house with its possessions, he then declared, 'There is no falsehood in my claim to it' —

Verse 16 (skanda.5.337.16)

एव विवादः सुमहान्संजातश्च नरेश्वर । ममेति मम चैवेति परस्परसमागमे ॥ १६ ॥

eva vivādaḥ sumahānsaṁjātaśca nareśvara | mameti mama caiveti parasparasamāgame || 16 ||

— and thus, O lord of men, a great dispute arose between them, meeting each other, each saying, 'It is mine, it is mine!'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.337.17)

ततः कालेन महता भृगुणा परमर्षिणा । चातुर्विद्यप्रमाणार्थं चकार महतीं स्थितिम् ॥ १७ ॥

tataḥ kālena mahatā bhṛguṇā paramarṣiṇā | cāturvidyapramāṇārthaṁ cakāra mahatīṁ sthitim || 17 ||

Then, after a long time, the great sage Bhrigu, in order to establish proof through the testimony of those learned in the four branches of knowledge, arranged a great assembly.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.337.18)

अस्मदीयं यथा सर्वं नगरं मृगलोचने । चातुर्विद्या द्विजाः सर्वे तथा जानन्ति सुन्दरि ॥ १८ ॥

asmadīyaṁ yathā sarvaṁ nagaraṁ mṛgalocane | cāturvidyā dvijāḥ sarve tathā jānanti sundari || 18 ||

He said: 'O deer-eyed one, that this whole city is mine — O beautiful one, all the brahmins learned in the four branches of knowledge know this to be so.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.337.19)

श्रीरुवाच। प्रमाणं मम विप्रेन्द्र चातुर्वण्या न संशयः । मदीयं वा त्वदीयं वा कथयन्तु द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ १९ ॥

śrīruvāca| pramāṇaṁ mama viprendra cāturvaṇyā na saṁśayaḥ | madīyaṁ vā tvadīyaṁ vā kathayantu dvijottamāḥ || 19 ||

Shri said: 'O foremost of brahmins, let the proof be established by the four varnas, without doubt; let the best of brahmins declare whether it is mine or yours.'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.337.20)

ततः समस्तैर्विबुधैः सम्प्रधार्य परस्परम् । द्विधा तैर्वाक्स्थलं दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणा नृपसंहितम् ॥ २० ॥

tataḥ samastairvibudhaiḥ sampradhārya parasparam | dvidhā tairvākasthalaṁ dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇā nṛpasaṁhitam || 20 ||

Then, all the wise ones, deliberating among themselves, seeing the matter was divisive, the brahmins, along with the assembled king —

Verse 21 (skanda.5.337.21)

अष्टादशसहस्राणि नोचुर्वै किंचिदुत्तरम् । अष्टादशसहस्रेषु भृगुकोपभयान्नृप । उक्तं च तालकं हस्ते यस्य तस्येदमुत्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi nocurvai kiṁcidauttaram | aṣṭādaśasahasreṣu bhṛgukopabhayānnṛpa | uktaṁ ca tālakaṁ haste yasya tasyedamauttaram || 21 ||

— eighteen thousand of them spoke no answer at all; O king, among those eighteen thousand, out of fear of Bhrigu's anger, it was declared: 'The answer belongs to whoever holds the key in hand.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.337.22)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु सा देवी निगमं नैगमैः कृतम् । क्रोधेन महताविष्टा शशाप द्विजपुंगवान् ॥ २२ ॥

etacchrutvā tu sā devī nigamaṁ naigamaiḥ kṛtam | krodhena mahatāviṣṭā śaśāpa dvijapuṅgavān || 22 ||

Hearing this decision made by the learned assembly, that goddess, overcome by great anger, cursed those chief brahmins:

Verse 23 (skanda.5.337.23)

श्रीदेव्युवाच। यस्मात्सत्यं समुत्सृज्य लोभोपहतमानसैः । मदीयं लोपितं स्थानं तस्माच्छृण्वन्तु मे गिरम् ॥ २३ ॥

śrīdevyuvāca| yasmātsatyaṁ samutsṛjya lobhopahatamānasaiḥ | madīyaṁ lopitaṁ sthānaṁ tasmācchṛṇvantu me giram || 23 ||

Shri Devi said: 'Since, abandoning truth, with minds overcome by greed, you have taken away what is mine — therefore hear my word.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.337.24)

त्रिपौरुषा भवेद्विद्या त्रिपुरुषं न भवेद्धनम् । न द्वितीयस्तु वो वेदः पठितो भवति द्विजाः ॥ २४ ॥

tripauruṣā bhavedvidyā tripuruṣaṁ na bhaveddhanam | na dvitīyastu vo vedaḥ paṭhito bhavati dvijāḥ || 24 ||

Your learning shall last only three generations; your wealth shall not last three generations either; and, O brahmins, a second time you shall never have the Vedas fully studied.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.337.25)

गृहाणि न द्विभौमानि न च भूतिः स्थिरा द्विजाः । पक्षपातेन वो धर्मो न च निःश्रेयभावतः ॥ २५ ॥

gṛhāṇi na dvibhaumāni na ca bhūtiḥ sthirā dvijāḥ | pakṣapātena vo dharmo na ca niḥśreyabhāvataḥ || 25 ||

Your houses shall not have two storeys, nor shall your prosperity be stable, O brahmins; your dharma shall be practised with partiality, not from a sincere wish for the highest good.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.337.26)

इष्टो गोत्रजनः कश्चिल्लोभेनावृतमानसः । न च द्वैधं परित्यज्य ह्येकं सत्यं भविष्यति ॥ २६ ॥

iṣṭo gotrajanaḥ kaścillobhenāvṛtamānasaḥ | na ca dvaidhaṁ parityajya hyekaṁ satyaṁ bhaviṣyati || 26 ||

Some kinsman will be favoured by you, your minds enveloped by greed; and, unable to abandon duplicity, a single unwavering truth shall never be yours.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.337.27)

अद्यप्रभृति सर्वेषामहङ्कारो द्विजन्मनाम् । न पिता पुत्रवाक्येन न पुत्रः पितृकर्मणि ॥ २७ ॥

adyaprabhṛti sarveṣāmahaṅkāro dvijanmanām | na pitā putravākyena na putraḥ pitṛkarmaṇi || 27 ||

From today onward, all the twice-born shall be full of ego; the father shall not heed the son's word, nor the son the father's counsel,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.337.28)

अहङ्कारकृताः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति न संशयः । इति शप्त्वा रमादेवी तदैव च दिवं ययौ ॥ २८ ॥

ahaṅkārakṛtāḥ sarve bhaviṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ | iti śaptvā ramādevī tadaiva ca divaṁ yayau || 28 ||

— all shall be governed by ego; of this there is no doubt.' Having thus cursed them, the goddess Rama departed for heaven at that very moment.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.337.29)

ततो गतायां वै लक्ष्म्यां देवा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः । क्रोधलोभमिदं स्थानं तेऽपि चोक्त्वा दिवं ययुः ॥ २९ ॥

tato gatāyāṁ vai lakṣmyāṁ devā brahmarṣayo'malāḥ | krodhalobhamidaṁ sthānaṁ te'pi coktvā divaṁ yayuḥ || 29 ||

Then, when Lakshmi had departed, the gods and the pure Brahmarshis, declaring this place to now be one of anger and greed, they too departed for heaven.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.337.30)

गतां दृष्ट्वा ततो देवीमृषींश्चैव तपोधनान् । भृगुश्च परमेष्ठी स विषादमगमत्परम् । प्रसादयामास पुनः शङ्करं त्रिपुरान्तकम् ॥ ३० ॥

gatāṁ dṛṣṭvā tato devīmṛṣīṁścaiva tapodhanān | bhṛguśca parameṣṭhī sa viṣādamagamatparam | prasādayāmāsa punaḥ śaṅkaraṁ tripurāntakam || 30 ||

Seeing the goddess and the sages, rich in austerity, thus departed, Bhrigu, that supreme being, fell into deep despair; he once again sought to propitiate Shankara, the destroyer of Tripura.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.337.31)

तपसा महता पार्थ ततस्तुष्टो महेश्वरः । उवाच वचनं काले हर्षयन् भृगुसत्तमम् ॥ ३१ ॥

tapasā mahatā pārtha tatastuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ | uvāca vacanaṁ kāle harṣayan bhṛgusattamam || 31 ||

O son of Pritha, through great austerity, Maheshvara was then pleased; in due time, he spoke words gladdening that best of the Bhrigus:

Verse 32 (skanda.5.337.32)

किं विषण्णोऽसि विप्रेन्द्र किं वा सन्तापकारणम् । मयि प्रसन्नेऽपि तव ह्येतत्कथय मेऽनघ ॥ ३२ ॥

kiṁ viṣaṇṇo'si viprendra kiṁ vā santāpakāraṇam | mayi prasanne'pi tava hyetatkathaya me'nagha || 32 ||

'O foremost of brahmins, why are you despondent? What is the cause of your anguish, even when I am pleased with you? Tell me this, O sinless one.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.337.33)

भृगुरुवाच। शापयित्वा द्विजान्सर्वान्पुरा लक्ष्मीर्विनिर्गता । अपवित्रमिदं चोक्त्वा ततो देवा विनिर्गताः ॥ ३३ ॥

bhṛguruvāca| śāpayitvā dvijānsarvānpurā lakṣmīrvinirgatā | apavitramidaṁ coktvā tato devā vinirgatāḥ || 33 ||

Bhrigu said: 'Having cursed all the brahmins, Lakshmi has already departed; and declaring this place impure, the gods too have departed.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.337.34)

ईश्वर उवाच। पुरा मया यथा प्रोक्तं तत्तथा न तदन्यथा । क्रोधस्थानमसंदेहं तथान्यदपि तच्छृणु ॥ ३४ ॥

īśvara uvāca| purā mayā yathā proktaṁ tattathā na tadanyathā | krodhasthānamasaṁdehaṁ tathānyadapi tacchṛṇu || 34 ||

Ishvara said: 'As I declared before, so it is, not otherwise — this is without doubt a place of anger. Now hear something else as well.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.337.35)

तत्र स्थानसमुद्भूता महद्भयविवर्जिताः । ब्राह्मणा मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यन्ति न संशयः ॥ ३५ ॥

tatra sthānasamudbhūtā mahadbhayavivarjitāḥ | brāhmaṇā matprasādena bhaviṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ || 35 ||

By my grace, the brahmins born of this place shall, without doubt, be free from great fear.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.337.36)

वेदविद्याव्रतस्नाताः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः । येऽपि ते शतसाहस्रास्त्वरिता ह्यागतास्त्विह ॥ ३६ ॥

vedavidyāvratasnātāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ | ye'pi te śatasāhasrāstvaritā hyāgatāstviha || 36 ||

Even those hundreds of thousands who, having completed the vows of Vedic learning and become expert in all the shastras, come hastily here —

Verse 37 (skanda.5.337.37)

अपठस्यापि मूर्खस्य सर्वावस्थां गतस्य च । उत्तरादुत्तरं शक्रो दातुं न तु भृगूत्तम ॥ ३७ ॥

apaṭhasyāpi mūrkhasya sarvāvasthāṁ gatasya ca | uttarādauttaraṁ śakro dātuṁ na tu bhṛgūttama || 37 ||

— O best of the Bhrigus, even Indra himself is not able to grant an ever-higher word than that of one who is unlearned, foolish, and fallen to the lowest condition, yet devoted here.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.337.38)

कोटितीर्थमिदं स्थानं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । अद्यप्रभृति विप्रेन्द्र भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ ३८ ॥

koṭitīrthamidaṁ sthānaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam | adyaprabhṛti viprendra bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ || 38 ||

O foremost of brahmins, from today onward this place shall, without doubt, be known as Koti-tirtha, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.337.39)

मत्प्रसादाद्देवगणैः सेवितं च भविष्यति । भृगुक्षेत्रे मृता ये तु कृमिकीटपतंगकाः ॥ ३९ ॥

matprasādāddevagaṇaiḥ sevitaṁ ca bhaviṣyati | bhṛgukṣetre mṛtā ye tu kṛmikīṭapataṁgakāḥ || 39 ||

By my grace, it shall also be served by hosts of gods. Whatever worms, insects, and moths die in Bhrigukshetra —

Verse 40 (skanda.5.337.40)

वासस्तेषां शिवे लोके मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यति । वृषखाते नरः स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम् ॥ ४० ॥

vāsasteṣāṁ śive loke matprasādādbhaviṣyati | vṛṣakhāte naraḥ snātvā pūjayitvā maheśvaram || 40 ||

— their abode, by my grace, shall be in the world of Shiva. A man who bathes at Vrishakhata and worships Maheshvara —

Verse 41 (skanda.5.337.41)

सर्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम् । भृगुतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः ॥ ४१ ॥

sarvamedhasya yajñasya phalaṁ prāpnotyasaṁśayam | bhṛgutīrthe naraḥ snātvā tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ || 41 ||

— obtains, without doubt, the fruit of the Sarvamedha sacrifice. A man who bathes at Bhrigutirtha and offers tarpana to the ancestor-deities —

Verse 42 (skanda.5.337.42)

तस्य ते द्वादशाब्दानि शान्तिं गच्छन्ति तर्पिताः । दधिक्षीरेण तोयेन घृतेन मधुना सह ॥ ४२ ॥

tasya te dvādaśābdāni śāntiṁ gacchanti tarpitāḥ | dadhikṣīreṇa toyena ghṛtena madhunā saha || 42 ||

— his ancestors, thus satisfied, attain peace for twelve years. Those who bathe Virupaksha with curd, milk, water, ghee, and honey together —

Verse 43 (skanda.5.337.43)

ये स्नपन्ति विरूपाक्षं तेषां वासस्त्रिविष्टपे । मत्प्रसादाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वदेवानुसेवितम् ॥ ४३ ॥

ye snapanti virūpākṣaṁ teṣāṁ vāsastriviṣṭape | matprasādāddvijaśreṣṭha sarvadevānusevitam || 43 ||

— their abode is in heaven. O best of brahmins, by my grace, this Bhrigukshetra shall be served by all the gods,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.337.44)

भविष्यति भृगुक्षेत्रं कुरुक्षेत्रादिभिः समम् । मार्तण्डग्रहणे प्राप्ते यवं कृत्वा हिरण्मयम् ॥ ४४ ॥

bhaviṣyati bhṛgukṣetraṁ kurukṣetrādibhiḥ samam | mārtaṇḍagrahaṇe prāpte yavaṁ kṛtvā hiraṇmayam || 44 ||

— and shall be equal to Kurukshetra and the like. When a solar eclipse occurs, having made a barley-grain of gold,

Verse 45 (skanda.5.337.45)

दत्त्वा शिरसि यः स्नाति भृगुक्षेत्रे द्विजोत्तम । अविचारेण तं विद्धि संस्नातं कुरुजाङ्गले ॥ ४५ ॥

dattvā śirasi yaḥ snāti bhṛgukṣetre dvijottama | avicāreṇa taṁ viddhi saṁsnātaṁ kurujāṅgale || 45 ||

— offering it upon the head and bathing at Bhrigukshetra, O best of brahmins, know without doubt that such a person has as much merit as if he bathed at Kurujangala.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.337.46)

अहं चैव वसिष्यामि अम्बिका च मम प्रिया । सर्वदुःखापहा देवी नाम्ना सौभाग्यसुन्दरी ॥ ४६ ॥

ahaṁ caiva vasiṣyāmi ambikā ca mama priyā | sarvaduḥkhāpahā devī nāmnā saubhāgyasundarī || 46 ||

I myself shall dwell here, together with my beloved Ambika — the goddess who removes all sorrow, named Saubhagyasundari.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.337.47)

वसिष्यामि तया देव्या सहितो भृगुकच्छके । एवमुक्त्वा स्थितो देवो भृगुकच्छेऽम्बिका तथा ॥ ४७ ॥

vasiṣyāmi tayā devyā sahito bhṛgukacchake | evamuktvā sthito devo bhṛgukacche'mbikā tathā || 47 ||

I shall dwell at Bhrigukachchha together with that goddess.' Having said this, the god remained at Bhrigukachchha, together with Ambika.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.337.48)

भृगुस्तु स्वपुरं प्रायाद्ब्रह्मघोषनिनादितम् । ऋग्यजुःसामघोषेण ह्यथर्वणनिनादितम् ॥ ४८ ॥

bhṛgustu svapuraṁ prāyādbrahmaghoṣaninaditam | ṛgyajuḥsāmaghoṣeṇa hyatharvaṇaninaditam || 48 ||

Bhrigu then went to his own city, resounding with the sound of Brahman-chanting, echoing with the recitation of Rig, Yajus, Sama, and Atharva.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.337.49)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा वृषमुत्सृजते नरः । स याति शिवसायुज्यमित्येवं शङ्करोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ४९ ॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā vṛṣamutsṛjate naraḥ | sa yāti śivasāyujyamityevaṁ śaṅkaro'bravīt || 49 ||

Whoever bathes at that tirtha and releases a bull attains union with Shiva — thus Shankara has declared.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.337.50)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा चैत्रे मासि समाचरेत् । दद्याच्च लवणं विप्रे पूज्य सौभाग्यसुन्दरीम् ॥ ५० ॥

tatra tīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā caitre māsi samācaret | dadyācca lavaṇaṁ vipre pūjya saubhāgyasundarīm || 50 ||

Whoever bathes at that tirtha and observes this practice in the month of Chaitra, gives salt to a brahmin, and worships Saubhagyasundari,

Verse 51 (skanda.5.337.51)

गोभूहिरण्यं विप्रेभ्यः प्रीयेतां ललिताशिवौ । न दुःखं दुर्भगत्वं च वियोगं पतिना सह ॥ ५१ ॥

gobhūhiraṇyaṁ viprebhyaḥ prīyetāṁ lalitāśivau | na duḥkhaṁ durbhagatvaṁ ca viyogaṁ patinā saha || 51 ||

— and gives cows, land, and gold to brahmins, thereby pleasing Lalita and Shiva — such a woman shall never know sorrow, misfortune, or separation from her husband.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.337.52)

प्राप्नोति नारी राजेन्द्र भृगुतीर्थाप्लवेन च । यस्तु नित्यं भृगुं देवं पश्येद्वै पाण्डुनन्दन ॥ ५२ ॥

prāpnoti nārī rājendra bhṛgutīrthāplavena ca | yastu nityaṁ bhṛguṁ devaṁ paśyedvai pāṇḍunandana || 52 ||

O lord of kings, a woman obtains this by bathing at Bhrigutirtha. O son of Pandu, whoever daily beholds the god Bhrigu —

Verse 53 (skanda.5.337.53)

आ ब्रह्मसदनं यावत्तत्रस्थैर्दैवतैः सह । यत्फलं समवाप्नोति तच्छृणुष्व नृपोत्तम ॥ ५३ ॥

ā brahmasadanaṁ yāvattatrasthairdaivataiḥ saha | yatphalaṁ samavāpnoti tacchṛṇuṣva nṛpottama || 53 ||

— up to the abode of Brahma, together with the deities residing there, hear now, O best of kings, what fruit he obtains.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.337.54)

सुवर्णशृङ्गीं कपिलां पयस्विनीं साध्वीं सुशीलां तरुणीं सवत्साम् । दत्त्वा द्विजे सर्वव्रतोपपन्ने फलं च यत्स्यात्तदिहैव नूनम् ॥ ५४ ॥

suvarṇaśṛṅgīṁ kapilāṁ payasvinīṁ sādhvīṁ suśīlāṁ taruṇīṁ savatsām | dattvā dvije sarvavratopapanne phalaṁ ca yatsyāttadihaiva nūnam || 54 ||

The fruit that comes from giving a young, milk-yielding, gentle, well-natured tawny cow with golden-tipped horns and her calf to a brahmin accomplished in every vow — that same fruit is obtained here, indeed.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.337.55)

समाः सहस्राणि तु सप्त वै जले म्रियेल्लभेद्द्वादशवह्निमध्ये । त्यजंस्तनुं शूरवृत्त्या नरेन्द्र शक्रातिथ्यं याति वै मर्त्यधर्मा ॥ ५५ ॥

samāḥ sahasrāṇi tu sapta vai jale mriyellabheddvādaśavahnimadhye | tyajaṁstanuṁ śūravṛttyā narendra śakrātithyaṁ yāti vai martyadharmā || 55 ||

One who dies in water there obtains merit equal to seven thousand years of penance; one who dies in fire, twelve thousand. O lord of men, one who, mortal by nature, gives up the body in the manner of a hero, becomes a guest of Indra.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.337.56)

आख्यानमेतच्च सदा यशस्यं स्वर्ग्यं धन्यं पुत्र्यमायुष्यकारि । शृण्वंल्लभेत्सर्वमेतद्धि भक्त्या पर्वणि पर्वण्याजमीढस्सदैव ॥ ५६ ॥

ākhyānametacca sadā yaśasyaṁ svargyaṁ dhanyaṁ putryamāyuṣyakāri | śṛṇvanllabhetsarvametaddhi bhaktyā parvaṇi parvaṇyājamīḍhassadaiva || 56 ||

O descendant of Ajamidha, this narrative is ever glorious, heaven-bestowing, blessed, granting progeny and long life; whoever hears it with devotion on every parva day obtains all of this indeed, always.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.337.57)

संन्यासं कुरुते यस्तु भृगुतीर्थे विधानतः । स मृतः परमं स्थानं गच्छेद्वै यच्च दुर्लभम् ॥ ५७ ॥

saṁnyāsaṁ kurute yastu bhṛgutīrthe vidhānataḥ | sa mṛtaḥ paramaṁ sthānaṁ gacchedvai yacca durlabham || 57 ||

Whoever takes formal renunciation at Bhrigutirtha according to the rites — upon death he attains the supreme state, which is otherwise so hard to attain.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.337.58)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा भृगुश्रेष्ठो देवदेवेन भाषितम् । प्रहृष्टवदनो भूत्वा तत्रैव संस्थितो द्विजः ॥ ५८ ॥

etacchrutvā bhṛguśreṣṭho devadevena bhāṣitam | prahṛṣṭavadano bhūtvā tatraiva saṁsthito dvijaḥ || 58 ||

Hearing this spoken by the god of gods, Bhrigu, best of his line, his face lit with joy, remained established there as a brahmin.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.337.59)

तिरोभावं गते देवे भृगुः श्रेष्ठो द्विजोत्तमः । स्वमूर्ति तत्र मुक्त्वा तु ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह ॥ ५९ ॥

tirobhāvaṁ gate deve bhṛguḥ śreṣṭho dvijottamaḥ | svamūrti tatra muktvā tu brahmalokaṁ jagāma ha || 59 ||

When the god had vanished from sight, Bhrigu, that best of brahmins, leaving his own form there, went to the world of Brahma.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.337.60)

भृगुकच्छस्य चोत्पत्तिः कथिता तव पाण्डव । संक्षेपेण महाराज सर्वपापप्रणाशनी ॥ ६० ॥

bhṛgukacchasya cotpattiḥ kathitā tava pāṇḍava | saṅkṣepeṇa mahārāja sarvapāpapraṇāśanī || 60 ||

O Pandava, the origin of Bhrigukachchha has been told to you in brief, O great king — it is the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.337.61)

एतत्पुण्यं पापहरं क्षेत्रं देवेन कीर्तितम् । चतुर्युगसहस्रेण पितामहदिनं स्मृतम् ॥ ६१ ॥

etatpuṇyaṁ pāpaharaṁ kṣetraṁ devena kīrtitam | caturyugasahasreṇa pitāmahadinaṁ smṛtam || 61 ||

This meritorious, sin-removing field has been proclaimed by the god himself. A thousand cycles of four yugas is remembered as a single day of the Grandsire.

Verse 62 (skanda.5.337.62)

प्राप्ते ब्रह्मदिने विप्रा जायते युगसम्भवः । न पश्यामि त्विदं क्षेत्रमिति रुद्रः स्वयं जगौ ॥ ६२ ॥

prāpte brahmadine viprā jāyate yugasambhavaḥ | na paśyāmi tvidaṁ kṣetramiti rudraḥ svayaṁ jagau || 62 ||

O brahmins, when Brahma's day arrives, and the ages come round again — 'I have never seen anything to equal this field,' so Rudra himself declared.

Verse 63 (skanda.5.337.63)

यः शृणोति त्विदं भक्त्या नारी वा पुरुषोऽपि वा । स याति परमं लोकमिति रुद्रः स्वयं जगौ ॥ ६३ ॥

yaḥ śṛṇoti tvidaṁ bhaktyā nārī vā puruṣo'pi vā | sa yāti paramaṁ lokamiti rudraḥ svayaṁ jagau || 63 ||

Whoever hears this with devotion, whether woman or man, attains the supreme realm — so Rudra himself declared.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.337.64)

देवखाते नरः स्नात्वा पिण्डदानादिसत्क्रियाम् । यां करोति नृपश्रेष्ठ तामक्षयफलां विदुः ॥ ६४ ॥

devakhāte naraḥ snātvā piṇḍadānādisatkriyām | yāṁ karoti nṛpaśreṣṭha tāmakṣayaphalāṁ viduḥ || 64 ||

O best of kings, whatever sacred rite of pinda-giving and the like a man performs, having bathed at the Devakhata, that is known to bear imperishable fruit.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.337.65)

य इमं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या भृगुकच्छस्य विस्तरम् । कोटितीर्थफलं तस्य भवेद्वै नात्र संशयः ॥ ६५ ॥

ya imaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā bhṛgukacchasya vistaram | koṭitīrthaphalaṁ tasya bhavedvai nātra saṁśayaḥ || 65 ||

Whoever listens with devotion to this extended account of Bhrigukachchha obtains the fruit of a crore tirthas; of this there is no doubt.