The Glory of Mulasthana Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.352.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। तस्यैवानन्तरं गच्छेत्सूर्यतीर्थमनुत्तमम्। मूलस्थानमिति ख्यातं पद्मजस्थापितं शुभम्

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tasyaivānantaraṁ gacchetsūryatīrthamanuttamam| mūlasthānamiti khyātaṁ padmajasthāpitaṁ śubham

Shri Markandeya said: Immediately after that, one should go to the unequalled Surya Tirtha, known by the name Mulasthana, auspicious, established by the lotus-born Brahma.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.352.2)

मूलश्रीपतिना देवी प्रोक्ता स्थापय भास्करम्। श्रुत्वा देवोदितं देवी स्थापयामास भास्करम्

mūlaśrīpatinā devī proktā sthāpaya bhāskaram| śrutvā devoditaṁ devī sthāpayāmāsa bhāskaram

Mulashripati said to the goddess: Establish the sun here. Hearing the god's words, the goddess installed the sun.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.352.3)

प्रोच्यते नर्मदातीरे मूलस्थानाख्यभास्करः

procyate narmadātīre mūlasthānākhyabhāskaraḥ

On the bank of the Narmada, that sun is spoken of under the name Mulasthana.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.352.4)

तत्र तीर्थे नरो यस्तु स्नात्वा नियतमानसः। संतर्प्य पितृदेवांश्च पिण्डेन सलिलेन च

tatra tīrthe naro yastu snātvā niyatamānasaḥ| saṁtarpya pitṛdevāṁśca piṇḍena salilena ca

That man who, at this tirtha, bathes with a disciplined mind and offers libations of water and rice-balls to the ancestors and gods—

Verse 5 (skanda.5.352.5)

मूलस्थानं ततः पश्येत्स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम्। गुह्याद्गुह्यतरस्तत्र विशेषस्तु श्रुतो मया

mūlasthānaṁ tataḥ paśyetsa gacchetparamāṁ gatim| guhyādguhyatarastatra viśeṣastu śruto mayā

and then beholds Mulasthana, attains the supreme state. I have heard of a particular observance there, more secret than the secret itself.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.352.6)

समागमे मुनीनां तु शङ्कराच्छशिशेखरात्। सदा वै शुक्लसप्तम्यां मूलमादित्यवासरः

samāgame munīnāṁ tu śaṅkarācchaśiśekharāt| sadā vai śuklasaptamyāṁ mūlamādityavāsaraḥ

This was heard, in a gathering of sages, from Shankara, the moon-crested one — the conjunction of the lunar mansion Mula, the seventh bright-fortnight day, and a Sunday is always especially auspicious.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.352.7)

तदा रेवाजलं गत्वा स्नात्वा संतर्प्य देवताः। पितॄंश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ दत्त्वा दानं स्वशक्तितः

tadā revājalaṁ gatvā snātvā saṁtarpya devatāḥ| pitṝṁśca bharataśreṣṭha dattvā dānaṁ svaśaktitaḥ

At that time, going to the waters of the Reva and bathing, offering libations to the gods and ancestors, O best of the Bharatas, and giving gifts according to one's means—

Verse 8 (skanda.5.352.8)

करवीरैस्ततो गत्वा रक्तचन्दनवारिणा। संस्थाप्य भास्करं भक्त्या सम्पूज्य च यथाविधि

karavīraistato gatvā raktacandanavāriṇā| saṁsthāpya bhāskaraṁ bhaktyā sampūjya ca yathāvidhi

then, with oleander flowers and water mixed with red sandalwood, devotedly installing the sun and worshipping him according to rule—

Verse 9 (skanda.5.352.9)

ततः सागुरुकैर्धूपैः कुन्दरैश्च विशेषतः। धूपयेद्देवदेवेशं दीपान् बोध्य दिशो दश

tataḥ sāgurukairdhūpaiḥ kundaraiśca viśeṣataḥ| dhūpayeddevadeveśaṁ dīpān bodhya diśo daśa

then one should offer incense of aloewood and, especially, frankincense to the lord of gods, and kindle lamps in the ten directions.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.352.10)

उपोष्य जागरं कुर्याद्गीतवाद्यं विशेषतः। एवं कृते महीपाल न भवेदुग्रदुःखभाक्

upoṣya jāgaraṁ kuryādgītavādyaṁ viśeṣataḥ| evaṁ kṛte mahīpāla na bhavedugraduḥkhabhāk

One should fast and keep a night vigil, especially with song and music. O king, by doing thus, one never becomes subject to severe suffering.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.352.11)

सूर्यलोके वसेत्तावद्यावत्कल्पशतत्रयम्। गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च सेव्यमानो नृपोत्तम

sūryaloke vasettāvadyāvatkalpaśatatrayam| gandharvairapsarobhiśca sevyamāno nṛpottama

O best of kings, he dwells in the realm of the sun for three hundred kalpas, attended by gandharvas and apsaras.