The Glory of Chandrahasya Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.345.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल सोमतीर्थमनुत्तमम्। चन्द्रहासेति विख्यातं सर्वदैवतपूजितम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchenmahīpāla somatīrthamanuttamam| candrahāseti vikhyātaṁ sarvadaivatapūjitam

Shri Markandeya said: O protector of the earth, then one should go to the unequalled Soma Tirtha, renowned as Chandrahasa, worshipped by all the gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.345.2)

यत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप्तः सोमो राजा सुरोत्तमः

yatra siddhiṁ parāṁ prāptaḥ somo rājā surottamaḥ

Where King Soma, foremost among the gods, attained the highest accomplishment.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.345.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। कथं सिद्धिमनुप्राप्तः सोमो राजा जगत्पतिः। तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथयस्व ममानघ

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| kathaṁ siddhimanuprāptaḥ somo rājā jagatpatiḥ| tatsarvaṁ śrotumicchāmi kathayasva mamānagha

Yudhishthira said: How did King Soma, lord of the world, attain that accomplishment? O sinless one, I wish to hear it all — please tell me.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.345.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। पुरा शप्तो मुनीन्द्रेण दक्षेण किल भारत। असेवनाद्धि दाराणां क्षयरोगी भविष्यसि

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| purā śapto munīndreṇa dakṣeṇa kila bhārata| asevanāddhi dārāṇāṁ kṣayarogī bhaviṣyasi

Markandeya said: O descendant of Bharata, long ago he was cursed by the sage-lord Daksha: 'Because you neglect your wives, you shall become afflicted with the wasting disease.'

Verse 5 (skanda.5.345.5)

उद्वाहितानां पत्नीनां ये न कुर्वन्ति सेवनम्। या निष्ठा जायते तेषां तां शृणुष्व नरोत्तम

udvāhitānāṁ patnīnāṁ ye na kurvanti sevanam| yā niṣṭhā jāyate teṣāṁ tāṁ śṛṇuṣva narottama

Hear, O best of men, what end befalls those who fail to attend to their wedded wives.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.345.6)

ऋतुकाले तु नारीणां सेवनाज्जायते सुतः। सुतात्स्वर्गश्च मोक्षश्च हीत्येवं श्रुतिनोदना

ṛtukāle tu nārīṇāṁ sevanājjāyate sutaḥ| sutātsvargaśca mokṣaśca hītyevaṁ śrutinodanā

By attending to women during their fertile season a son is born, and from a son come heaven and liberation — thus the scriptures instruct.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.345.7)

तत्कालोचितधर्मेण ये न सेवन्ति तां नराः। तेषां ब्रह्मघ्नजं पापं जायते नात्र संशयः

tatkālocitadharmeṇa ye na sevanti tāṁ narāḥ| teṣāṁ brahmaghnajaṁ pāpaṁ jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Those men who, at that proper time, do not fulfil this duty toward her incur, without doubt, sin equal to the killing of a brahmin.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.345.8)

तेन पापेन घोरेण वेष्टतो रौरवे पतेत्। तस्य तद्रुधिरं पापाः पिबन्ते कालमीप्सितम्

tena pāpena ghoreṇa veṣṭato raurave patet| tasya tadrudhiraṁ pāpāḥ pibante kālamīpsitam

Enveloped in that terrible sin, he falls into the hell called Raurava, where the sinful drink his very blood for as long as fate decrees.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.345.9)

ततोऽवतीर्णकालेन यां यां योनिं प्रयास्यति। तस्यां तस्यां स दुष्टात्मा दुर्भगो जायते सदा

tato'vatīrṇakālena yāṁ yāṁ yoniṁ prayāsyati| tasyāṁ tasyāṁ sa duṣṭātmā durbhago jāyate sadā

Then, when that time has passed, into whatever womb he descends, in that very womb that wicked soul is ever born ill-fated.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.345.10)

नारीणां तु सदा कामो ह्यधिकः परिवर्तते। विशेषेण ऋतोः काले भिद्यते कामसायकैः

nārīṇāṁ tu sadā kāmo hyadhikaḥ parivartate| viśeṣeṇa ṛtoḥ kāle bhidyate kāmasāyakaiḥ

In women desire is ever greater than in men; especially at the fertile season, they are pierced through by the arrows of passion.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.345.11)

परिभूता हि सा भर्त्रा ध्यायतेऽन्यं पतिं ततः। तस्याः पुत्रः समुत्पन्नो ह्यटते कुलमुत्तमम्

paribhūtā hi sā bhartrā dhyāyate'nyaṁ patiṁ tataḥ| tasyāḥ putraḥ samutpanno hyaṭate kulamuttamam

Spurned by her husband, she comes to think of another man; the son then born of her brings ruin even upon a noble family.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.345.12)

स्वर्गस्थास्तेन पितरः पूर्वं जाता महीपते। पतन्ति जातमात्रेण कुलटस्तेन चोच्यते

svargasthāstena pitaraḥ pūrvaṁ jātā mahīpate| patanti jātamātreṇa kulaṭastena cocyate

O king, because of this, even the ancestors who had previously attained heaven fall the moment such a one is born, and he is called the ruiner of the family.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.345.13)

तेन कर्मविपाकेन क्षयरोगी शशी ह्यभूत्। त्यक्त्वा लोकं सुरेन्द्राणां मर्त्यलोकमुपागतः

tena karmavipākena kṣayarogī śaśī hyabhūt| tyaktvā lokaṁ surendrāṇāṁ martyalokamupāgataḥ

As the fruit of that very deed the moon became afflicted with the wasting disease, and, abandoning the realm of the lords of gods, came down to the world of mortals.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.345.14)

तत्र तीर्थान्यनेकानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च। भ्रमित्वा नर्मदां प्राप्तः सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्

tatra tīrthānyanekāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca| bhramitvā narmadāṁ prāptaḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm

Having wandered there among many tirthas and sacred abodes, he came at last to the Narmada, destroyer of all sin.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.345.15)

उपवासस्तु दानानि व्रतानि नियमाश्च ये। चचार द्वादशाब्दानि ततो मुक्तः स किल्बिषैः

upavāsastu dānāni vratāni niyamāśca ye| cacāra dvādaśābdāni tato muktaḥ sa kilbiṣaiḥ

He then observed fasting, almsgiving, vows, and disciplines for twelve years, and thereby became freed from his sins.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.345.16)

स्थापयित्वा महादेवं सर्वपातकनाशनम्। जगाम प्रभया पूर्णः सोमलोकमनुत्तमम्

sthāpayitvā mahādevaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam| jagāma prabhayā pūrṇaḥ somalokamanuttamam

Having installed there Mahadeva, destroyer of all sins, he, now full of radiance, departed to the unequalled realm of Soma.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.345.17)

येनैव स्थापितो देवः पूज्यते वर्षसंख्यया। तावद्युगसहस्राणि तस्य लोकं समश्नुते

yenaiva sthāpito devaḥ pūjyate varṣasaṁkhyayā| tāvadyugasahasrāṇi tasya lokaṁ samaśnute

For as many years as the god so installed is worshipped, for that many thousand ages does one who installed him enjoy his world.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.345.18)

तेन देवान् विधानोक्तान् स्थापयन्ति नरा भुवि। अक्षयं चाव्ययं यस्मात्फलं भवति नान्यथा

tena devān vidhānoktān sthāpayanti narā bhuvi| akṣayaṁ cāvyayaṁ yasmātphalaṁ bhavati nānyathā

For this reason men install duly ordained deities on earth, since from this comes imperishable and unfailing fruit, and not otherwise.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.345.19)

सोमतीर्थे तु यः स्नात्वा पूजयेद्देवमीश्वरम्। जायते स नरो भूत्वा सोमवित्प्रियदर्शनः

somatīrthe tu yaḥ snātvā pūjayeddevamīśvaram| jāyate sa naro bhūtvā somavitpriyadarśanaḥ

He who bathes at the Soma Tirtha and worships the Lord God is, when born as a man, of pleasing appearance like the moon.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.345.20)

चन्द्रप्रभासे यो गत्वा स्नानं विधिवदाचरेत्। व्याधिना नाभिभूतः स्यात्क्षयरोगेण वा युतः

candraprabhāse yo gatvā snānaṁ vidhivadācaret| vyādhinā nābhibhūtaḥ syātkṣayarogeṇa vā yutaḥ

He who goes to Chandraprabhasa and bathes there according to rule is never overcome by disease, nor ever afflicted with the wasting sickness.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.345.21)

चन्द्रहास्ये नरः स्नात्वा द्वादश्यां तु नरेश्वर। चतुर्दश्यामुपोष्यैव क्षीरस्य जुहुयाच्चरुम्

candrahāsye naraḥ snātvā dvādaśyāṁ tu nareśvara| caturdaśyāmupoṣyaiva kṣīrasya juhuyāccarum

O lord of men, a man, having bathed at Chandrahasya on the twelfth day, and having fasted on the fourteenth, should offer an oblation of a rice-pudding cooked in milk.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.345.22)

मन्त्रैः पञ्चभिरीशानं पुरुषस्त्र्यम्बकं यजेत्। हविःशेषं स्वयं प्राश्य चन्द्रहास्येशमीक्षयेत्

mantraiḥ pañcabhirīśānaṁ puruṣastryambakaṁ yajet| haviḥśeṣaṁ svayaṁ prāśya candrahāsyeśamīkṣayet

One should worship Ishana, the three-eyed one, with the five mantras, and, having himself partaken of the remaining oblation, should behold the lord of Chandrahasya.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.345.23)

अनेन विधिना राजंस्तुष्टो देवो महेश्वरः। विधिना तीर्थयोगेन क्षयरोगाद्विमुच्यते

anena vidhinā rājaṁstuṣṭo devo maheśvaraḥ| vidhinā tīrthayogena kṣayarogādvimucyate

O king, by this rite the god Maheshvara is pleased, and through the ritual combined with this tirtha, one is freed from the wasting disease.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.345.24)

सप्तभिः सोमवारैर्यः स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्। स वै कर्णकृताद्रोगान्मुच्यते पूजयञ्छिवम्

saptabhiḥ somavāraiḥ yaḥ snānaṁ tatra samācaret| sa vai karṇakṛtādrogānmucyate pūjayañchivam

He who bathes there for seven Mondays in succession, worshipping Shiva, is freed from ailments of the ear.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.345.25)

अक्षिरोगस्तथा राजंश्चन्द्रहास्ये विनश्यति। चन्द्रहास्ये तु यो गत्वा ग्रहणे चन्द्रसूर्ययोः। स्नानं समाचरेद्भक्त्या मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः

akṣirogastathā rājaṁścandrahāsye vinaśyati| candrahāsye tu yo gatvā grahaṇe candrasūryayoḥ| snānaṁ samācaredbhaktyā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

O king, likewise eye disease is destroyed at Chandrahasya. And he who goes to Chandrahasya during an eclipse of the moon or the sun and bathes there with devotion is freed from all sins.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.345.26)

तत्र स्नानं च दानं च चन्द्रहास्ये शुभाशुभम्। कृतं नृपवरश्रेष्ठ सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम्

tatra snānaṁ ca dānaṁ ca candrahāsye śubhāśubham| kṛtaṁ nṛpavaraśreṣṭha sarvaṁ bhavati cākṣayam

O best of kings, whatever bathing and giving of gifts, whether for merit or in atonement, is performed there at Chandrahasya, all of it becomes imperishable in its fruit.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.345.27)

ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानस्तेषां जन्म सुजीवितम्। चन्द्रहास्ये तु ये स्नात्वा पश्यन्ति ग्रहणं नराः

te dhanyāste mahātmānasteṣāṁ janma sujīvitam| candrahāsye tu ye snātvā paśyanti grahaṇaṁ narāḥ

Blessed indeed are they, great souls indeed, and truly fruitful their birth and life — those men who, having bathed at Chandrahasya, behold the eclipse.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.345.28)

वाचिकं मानसं पापं कर्मजं यत्पुरा कृतम्। स्नानमात्रात्तु राजेन्द्र तत्र तीर्थे प्रणश्यति

vācikaṁ mānasaṁ pāpaṁ karmajaṁ yatpurā kṛtam| snānamātrāttu rājendra tatra tīrthe praṇaśyati

O Rajendra, whatever sin — of speech, mind, or deed — has previously been committed is destroyed by the mere act of bathing at that tirtha.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.345.29)

बहवस्तन्न जानन्ति महामोहसमन्विताः। देहस्थ इव सर्वेषां परमात्मेव संस्थितम्

bahavastanna jānanti mahāmohasamanvitāḥ| dehastha iva sarveṣāṁ paramātmeva saṁsthitam

Many, overcome by great delusion, do not know this — that, as though dwelling within the body, he is present in all beings as the Supreme Self.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.345.30)

पश्चिमे सागरे गत्वा सोमतीर्थे तु यत्फलम्। तत्समग्रमवाप्नोति चन्द्रहास्ये न संशयः

paścime sāgare gatvā somatīrthe tu yatphalam| tatsamagramavāpnoti candrahāsye na saṁśayaḥ

Whatever fruit is obtained by going to the Soma Tirtha on the western ocean, that entire fruit is obtained at Chandrahasya — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.345.31)

संक्रान्तौ च व्यतीपाते विषुवे चायने तथा। चन्द्रहास्ये नरः स्नात्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

saṁkrāntau ca vyatīpāte viṣuve cāyane tathā| candrahāsye naraḥ snātvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

At the solar transit, at the Vyatipata conjunction, at the equinox, and at the solstice, a man who bathes at Chandrahasya is freed from all sins.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.345.32)

ते मूढास्ते दुराचारास्तेषां जन्म निरर्थकम्। चन्द्रहास्यं न जानन्ति नर्मदायां व्यवस्थितम्

te mūḍhāste durācārāsteṣāṁ janma nirarthakam| candrahāsyaṁ na jānanti narmadāyāṁ vyavasthitam

Foolish indeed are they, wicked in conduct, their birth in vain, who do not know this Chandrahasya established on the Narmada.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.345.33)

चन्द्रहास्ये तु यः कश्चित्संन्यासं कुरुते नृप। अनिवर्तिका गतिस्तस्य सोमलोकात्कदाचन

candrahāsye tu yaḥ kaścitsaṁnyāsaṁ kurute nṛpa| anivartikā gatistasya somalokātkadācana

O king, whoever renounces the body at Chandrahasya attains a state from which there is never any return from the world of Soma.