The Greatness of Deva Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.350.1)

देवतीर्थे तु किं नाम माहात्म्यं समुदाहृतम्। फलं किं स्नानदानादिकारिणां जायते मुने

devatīrthe tu kiṁ nāma māhātmyaṁ samudāhṛtam| phalaṁ kiṁ snānadānādikāriṇāṁ jāyate mune

Yudhishthira said: What, then, is declared to be the greatness of Deva Tirtha? O sage, what fruit is obtained by those who bathe, give gifts, and perform other such acts there?

Verse 2 (skanda.5.350.2)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि देवैर्मुनिगणैरपि। सेवितानि महाबाहो तानि ध्यातानि विष्णुना

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni devairmunigaṇairapi| sevitāni mahābāho tāni dhyātāni viṣṇunā

Markandeya said: O mighty-armed one, whatever tirthas on earth are frequented by gods and by hosts of sages, all of these have been contemplated by Vishnu.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.350.3)

समागतान्येकतां वै तत्र तीर्थे युधिष्ठिर। तत्तीर्थं वैष्णवं पुण्यं देवतीर्थमिति श्रुतम्

samāgatānyekatāṁ vai tatra tīrthe yudhiṣṭhira| tattīrthaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ puṇyaṁ devatīrthamiti śrutam

O Yudhishthira, they have all become united as one in that very tirtha; that sacred Vaishnava tirtha is known by the name Deva Tirtha.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.350.4)

कुरुक्षेत्रं भुवि परमन्तरिक्षे त्रिपुष्करम्। पुरुषोत्तमं दिवि परं देवतीर्थं परात्परम्

kurukṣetraṁ bhuvi paramantarikṣe tripuṣkaram| puruṣottamaṁ divi paraṁ devatīrthaṁ parātparam

Kurukshetra is supreme on earth, Tripushkara supreme in the atmosphere, Purushottama supreme in heaven; but Deva Tirtha is the highest of the high, beyond even these.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.350.5)

देवतीर्थसमं नास्ति तीर्थमत्र परत्र च। यत्प्राप्य मनुजस्तप्येन्न कदाचिद्युधिष्ठिर

devatīrthasamaṁ nāsti tīrthamatra paratra ca| yatprāpya manujastapyenna kadācidyudhiṣṭhira

O Yudhishthira, there is no tirtha, in this world or the next, equal to Deva Tirtha, attaining which a man never again suffers anguish.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.350.6)

देवैरुक्तानि तीर्थानि योऽत्र स्नानं समाचरेत्। देवतीर्थे स सर्वत्र स्नातो भवति मानवः

devairuktāni tīrthāni yo'tra snānaṁ samācaret| devatīrthe sa sarvatra snāto bhavati mānavaḥ

Whatever tirthas have been proclaimed by the gods, a man who bathes at Deva Tirtha is thereby considered to have bathed in all of them.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.350.7)

एवमस्त्विति तैरुक्ता देवा ऋषिगणा अपि। संतुष्टाः श्रीशमभ्यर्च्य स्वं स्वं स्थानं तु भेजिरे

evamastviti tairuktā devā ṛṣigaṇā api| saṁtuṣṭāḥ śrīśamabhyarcya svaṁ svaṁ sthānaṁ tu bhejire

'So be it,' said the gods and the hosts of sages in agreement; and, content, having worshipped Shrisha, they returned each to their own abode.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.350.8)

सूर्यग्रहेऽत्र वै क्षेत्रे स्नात्वा यत्फलमश्नुते। स्नात्वा श्रीशं समभ्यर्च्य समुपोष्य यथाविधि

sūryagrahe'tra vai kṣetre snātvā yatphalamaśnute| snātvā śrīśaṁ samabhyarcya samupoṣya yathāvidhi

Whatever fruit is obtained by bathing in this land during a solar eclipse, and by bathing, duly worshipping Shrisha, and fasting according to rule—

Verse 9 (skanda.5.350.9)

यद्ददाति हिरण्यानि दानानि विधिवन्नृप। तदनन्तफलं सर्वं सूर्यस्य ग्रहणे यथा

yaddadāti hiraṇyāni dānāni vidhivannṛpa| tadanantaphalaṁ sarvaṁ sūryasya grahaṇe yathā

O king, whatever gifts of gold are duly given here bear infinite fruit, just as they do at a solar eclipse.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.350.10)

भूमिदानं धेनुदानं स्वर्णदानमनन्तकम्। वज्रदानमनन्तं च फलं प्राह शतक्रतुः

bhūmidānaṁ dhenudānaṁ svarṇadānamanantakam| vajradānamanantaṁ ca phalaṁ prāha śatakratuḥ

The gift of land, the gift of a cow, the gift of gold — all bear infinite fruit; Shatakratu declared that the gift of a diamond too bears infinite fruit.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.350.11)

सोमो वै वस्त्रदानेन मौक्तिकानां च भार्गवः। सुवर्णस्य रविर्दानं धर्मराजो ह्यनन्तकम्

somo vai vastradānena mauktikānāṁ ca bhārgavaḥ| suvarṇasya ravirdānaṁ dharmarājo hyanantakam

Soma declared the gift of garments, Bhargava the gift of pearls, the sun the gift of gold, and Dharmaraja too declared it to bear infinite fruit.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.350.12)

देवतीर्थे तु यद्दानं श्रद्धायुक्तेन दीयते। तदनन्तफलं प्राह बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः

devatīrthe tu yaddānaṁ śraddhāyuktena dīyate| tadanantaphalaṁ prāha bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ

Whatever gift is given at Deva Tirtha with faith, that too the generous-minded Brihaspati declared to bear infinite fruit.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.350.13)

देवतीर्थे भृगुक्षेत्रे सर्वतीर्थाधिक नृप। देवतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा श्रीपतिं योऽनुपश्यति

devatīrthe bhṛgukṣetre sarvatīrthādhika nṛpa| devatīrthe naraḥ snātvā śrīpatiṁ yo'nupaśyati

O king, at this Deva Tirtha within Bhrigukshetra, surpassing all other tirthas, the man who, having bathed, beholds Shripati—

Verse 14 (skanda.5.350.14)

सोमग्रहे कुलशतं स समुद्धृत्य नाकभाक्। दानानि द्विजमुख्येभ्यो देवतीर्थे नराधिप

somagrahe kulaśataṁ sa samuddhṛtya nākabhāk| dānāni dvijamukhyebhyo devatīrthe narādhipa

O lord of men, at the time of a lunar eclipse, he lifts up a hundred generations of his lineage and becomes a partaker of heaven — he who gives gifts to eminent brahmins at Deva Tirtha.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.350.15)

यैर्दत्तानि नरैर्भोगभागिनः प्रेत्य चेह ते। देवतीर्थे विप्रभोज्यं हरिमुद्दिश्य यश्चरेत्

yairdattāni narairbhogabhāginaḥ pretya ceha te| devatīrthe viprabhojyaṁ harimuddiśya yaścaret

Those men by whom gifts have been given become partakers of enjoyment, both here and in the world beyond. He who, at Deva Tirtha, dedicating the act to Hari, provides a feast for brahmins—

Verse 16 (skanda.5.350.16)

स सर्वाह्लादमाप्नोति स्वर्गलोके युधिष्ठिर। देवतीर्थे नरो नारी स्नात्वा नियतमानसौ

sa sarvāhlādamāpnoti svargaloke yudhiṣṭhira| devatīrthe naro nārī snātvā niyatamānasau

attains complete bliss in the world of heaven, O Yudhishthira. The man or woman who, having bathed at Deva Tirtha with disciplined mind—

Verse 17 (skanda.5.350.17)

उपोष्यैकादशीं भक्त्या पूजयेद्यः श्रियः पतिम्। रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा घृतेनोद्बोध्य दीपकम्

upoṣyaikādaśīṁ bhaktyā pūjayedyaḥ śriyaḥ patim| rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā ghṛtenodbodhya dīpakam

fasts on the eleventh day and devotedly worships the husband of Shri, and, kindling a lamp with ghee, keeps a night vigil—

Verse 18 (skanda.5.350.18)

द्वादश्यां प्रातरुत्थाय तथा वै नर्मदाजले। विप्रदाम्पत्यमभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्कुरुनन्दन

dvādaśyāṁ prātarutthāya tathā vai narmadājale| vipradāmpatyamabhyarcya vidhivatkurunandana

and, rising at dawn on the twelfth day, bathes in the waters of the Narmada, and duly worships a brahmin couple, O descendant of Kuru—

Verse 19 (skanda.5.350.19)

वस्त्राभरणताम्बूलपुष्पधूपविलेपनैः। अक्षये विष्णुलोकेऽसौ मोदते चरितव्रतः

vastrābharaṇatāmbūlapuṣpadhūpavilepanaiḥ| akṣaye viṣṇuloke'sau modate caritavrataḥ

with garments, ornaments, betel leaf, flowers, incense, and sandal-paste — such a one, having fulfilled his vow, rejoices in the imperishable world of Vishnu.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.350.20)

यः सदैकादशीतिथौ स्नात्वोपोष्यार्चयेद्धरिम्। रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्याद्वेदशास्त्रविधानतः

yaḥ sadaikādaśītithau snātvopoṣyārcayeddharim| rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryādvedaśāstravidhānataḥ

He who always, on the eleventh lunar day, bathes, fasts, and worships Hari, and keeps a night vigil in accordance with the ordinance of the Vedic scriptures—

Verse 21 (skanda.5.350.21)

धर्मराजकृतां पापां न स पश्यति यातनाम्। पञ्चरात्रविधानेन श्रीपतिं योऽर्चयिष्यति

dharmarājakṛtāṁ pāpāṁ na sa paśyati yātanām| pañcarātravidhānena śrīpatiṁ yo'rcayiṣyati

does not behold the torment of sin inflicted by Dharmaraja. He who shall worship Shripati according to the Pancharatra ordinance—

Verse 22 (skanda.5.350.22)

दीक्षामवाप्य विधिवद्वैष्णवीं पापनाशिनीम्। स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदां पुण्यां भोगदां वित्तदामथ

dīkṣāmavāpya vidhivadvaiṣṇavīṁ pāpanāśinīm| svargamokṣapradāṁ puṇyāṁ bhogadāṁ vittadāmatha

having duly received the Vaishnava initiation that destroys sin, bestows heaven and liberation, is sacred, and grants enjoyment and wealth—

Verse 23 (skanda.5.350.23)

राज्यदां वा महाभाग पुत्रदां भाग्यदामथ। सुकलत्रप्रदां वापि विष्णोर्भक्तिप्रदामिति

rājyadāṁ vā mahābhāga putradāṁ bhāgyadāmatha| sukalatrapradāṁ vāpi viṣṇorbhaktipradāmiti

O illustrious one, that grants a kingdom, a son, good fortune, a virtuous wife, and, above all, devotion to Vishnu —

Verse 24 (skanda.5.350.24)

तरिष्यति भवाम्भोधिं स नरः कुरुनन्दन। योऽर्चयिष्यति तत्रैव देवतीर्थे श्रियः पतिम्

tariṣyati bhavāmbhodhiṁ sa naraḥ kurunandana| yo'rcayiṣyati tatraiva devatīrthe śriyaḥ patim

O descendant of Kuru, that man who shall worship the husband of Shri right there at Deva Tirtha shall cross over the ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.350.25)

विश्वरूपमथो सम्यङ्मूलश्रीपतिमेव वा। नारायणगिरिं वापि गृहे वैकादशीतिथौ

viśvarūpamatho samyaṅmūlaśrīpatimeva vā| nārāyaṇagiriṁ vāpi gṛhe vaikādaśītithau

The universal form, or Mulashripati, or Narayanagiri, whether here or at home, on the eleventh lunar day—

Verse 26 (skanda.5.350.26)

भक्तिमाञ्छ्रद्धया युक्तः क्षीरैस्तीर्थोदकैरपि। सुसूक्ष्मैरहतैर्वस्त्रैर्महाकौशेयकैर्नृप

bhaktimāñchraddhayā yuktaḥ kṣīraistīrthodakairapi| susūkṣmairahatairvastrairmahākauśeyakairnṛpa

O king, with devotion and faith, with milk, with the waters of the tirtha, with fine, unworn garments and precious silks—

Verse 27 (skanda.5.350.27)

विचित्रैर्नेत्रजैर्वापि धूपैरगुरुचन्दनैः। गुग्गुलैर्घृतमिश्रैश्च नैवेद्यैर्विविधैरपि

vicitrairnetrajairvāpi dhūpairaguruchandanaiḥ| guggulairghṛtamiśraiśca naivedyairvividhairapi

with wondrous silken cloths, with incense of aloewood and sandal, with guggulu mixed with ghee, and with manifold offerings of food—

Verse 28 (skanda.5.350.28)

पायसाद्यैर्मनुष्येन्द्र पयसा वा युधिष्ठिर। पिष्टदीपैः सुविमलैर्वर्धमानैर्मनोहरैः

pāyasādyairmanuṣyendra payasā vā yudhiṣṭhira| piṣṭadīpaiḥ suvimalairvardhamānairmanoharaiḥ

O lord of men, Yudhishthira, with rice-pudding and other such offerings, with milk, and with lovely, ever-brightening lamps made of flour—

Verse 29 (skanda.5.350.29)

पूजयित्वा नरो याति यथा तच्छृणु भारत। शङ्खी चक्री गदी पद्मी भूत्वासौ गरुडध्वजः

pūjayitvā naro yāti yathā tacchṛṇu bhārata| śaṅkhī cakrī gadī padmī bhūtvāsau garuḍadhvajaḥ

having thus worshipped, a man departs — hear how, O descendant of Bharata: he becomes, like the Lord himself, a bearer of conch, discus, mace, and lotus, under the banner of Garuda.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.350.30)

देवलोकानतिक्रम्य विष्णुलोकं प्रपद्यते। यस्तु वै परया भक्त्या श्रीपतेः पादपङ्कजम्

devalokānatikramya viṣṇulokaṁ prapadyate| yastu vai parayā bhaktyā śrīpateḥ pādapaṅkajam

and, passing beyond the worlds of the gods, attains the world of Vishnu. He who, with the highest devotion, beholds the lotus feet of Shripati—

Verse 31 (skanda.5.350.31)

चतुर्धाधिष्ठितं पश्येच्छ्रियं त्रैलोक्यमातरम्। नृत्यगीतविनोदेन मुच्यते पातकर्ध्रुवम्

caturdhādhiṣṭhitaṁ paśyecchriyaṁ trailokyamātaram| nṛtyagītavinodena mucyate pātakardhruvam

established in fourfold form, and Shri, mother of the three worlds — even through the delight of dance and song, is surely freed from sin.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.350.32)

नीराजने तु देवस्य प्रातर्मध्ये दिने तथा। सायं च नियतो नित्यं यः पश्येत्पूजयेद्धरिम्

nīrājane tu devasya prātarmadhye dine tathā| sāyaṁ ca niyato nityaṁ yaḥ paśyetpūjayeddharim

He who, morning, midday, and evening, disciplined and constant, beholds and worships Hari at the god's lamp-offering, the niranjana—

Verse 33 (skanda.5.350.33)

स तीर्त्वा ह्यापदं दुर्गां नैवार्तिं समवाप्नुयात्। आयुःश्रीवर्धनं पुंसां चक्षुषामपि पूरकम्

sa tīrtvā hyāpadaṁ durgāṁ naivārtiṁ samavāpnuyāt| āyuḥśrīvardhanaṁ puṁsāṁ cakṣuṣāmapi pūrakam

crosses over even the most impassable calamities and never encounters distress. This lamp-offering increases the lifespan and prosperity of men, and fills even the eyes with satisfaction.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.350.34)

उपपापहरं चैव सदा नीराजनं हरेः। तदा नीराजनाकाले यो हरेः पठति स्तवम्

upapāpaharaṁ caiva sadā nīrājanaṁ hareḥ| tadā nīrājanākāle yo hareḥ paṭhati stavam

The lamp-offering to Hari ever removes even the lesser sins as well. He who, at the time of that offering, recites a hymn of praise to Hari—

Verse 35 (skanda.5.350.35)

स धन्यो देवदेवस्य प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना। हरेर्नीराजनाशेषं पाणिभ्यां यः प्रयच्छति

sa dhanyo devadevasya prasannenāntarātmanā| harernīrājanāśeṣaṁ pāṇibhyāṁ yaḥ prayacchati

becomes blessed, gladdened in the depths of his own soul, by the god of gods. He who receives with both hands the remaining glow of Hari's lamp-offering—

Verse 36 (skanda.5.350.36)

संगृह्य चक्षुषी तेन योजयेन्मार्जयन्मुखम्। तिमिरादीनक्षिरोगान्नाशयेद्दीप्तिमन्मुखम्

saṁgṛhya cakṣuṣī tena yojayenmārjayanmukham| timirādīnakṣirogānnāśayeddīptimanmukham

and touches it to his eyes and passes it over his face destroys eye-diseases such as cataracts, and his face becomes radiant.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.350.37)

भवत्यशेषदुष्टानां नाशायालं नरोत्तम। दीपप्रज्वलनं यस्य नित्यमग्रे श्रियः पतेः

bhavatyaśeṣaduṣṭānāṁ nāśāyālaṁ narottama| dīpaprajvalanaṁ yasya nityamagre śriyaḥ pateḥ

O best of men, this becomes sufficient for the destruction of every evil — this constant kindling of a lamp before the husband of Shri.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.350.38)

स्नात्वा रेवाजले पुण्ये प्रदद्यादधिकं व्रती। सप्तद्वीपवती तेन ससागरवनापगा

snātvā revājale puṇye pradadyādadhikaṁ vratī| saptadvīpavatī tena sasāgaravanāpagā

Having bathed in the sacred waters of the Reva, the observer of the vow should give further gifts, by which this earth — with its seven continents, oceans, forests, and rivers—

Verse 39 (skanda.5.350.39)

प्रदक्षिणीकृता स्याद्वै धरणी शङ्करोऽब्रवीत्। इदं यः पठ्यमानं तु शृणुयात्पठतेऽपि वा

pradakṣiṇīkṛtā syādvai dharaṇī śaṅkaro'bravīt| idaṁ yaḥ paṭhyamānaṁ tu śṛṇuyātpaṭhate'pi vā

is deemed to have been circumambulated — thus spoke Shankara. He who hears this narrative as it is recited, or recites it himself—

Verse 40 (skanda.5.350.40)

स्मरणं सोऽतसमये विपाप्मा प्राप्नुयाद्धरेः। इदं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं पितृगुणप्रियम्

smaraṇaṁ so'tasamaye vipāpmā prāpnuyāddhareḥ| idaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ svargyaṁ pitṛguṇapriyam

attains, freed of sin, the remembrance of Hari at his final hour. This narrative confers fame, long life, and heaven, and is dear and beneficial to the ancestors.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.350.41)

माहात्म्यं श्रावयेद्विप्राञ्छ्रीपतेः श्राद्धकर्मणि। घृतेन मधुना तेन तर्पिताः स्युः पितामहाः

māhātmyaṁ śrāvayedviprāñchrīpateḥ śrāddhakarmaṇi| ghṛtena madhunā tena tarpitāḥ syuḥ pitāmahāḥ

One should have brahmins recite this glory of Shripati during the shraddha rite for the ancestors; by this, the forefathers become satisfied as if with ghee and honey.