The Greatness of Lotaneshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.375.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततो गच्छेद्धराधीश लोटणेश्वरमुत्तमम्। उत्तरे नर्मदाकूले सर्वपातकनाशनम्।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tato gacchedharādhīśa loṭaṇeśvaramuttamam| uttare narmadākūle sarvapātakanāśanam|||

Shri Markandeya said: O lord of the earth, thereafter one should go to the excellent Lotaneshvara, situated on the northern bank of the Narmada, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.375.2)

तत्क्षणादेव तत्सर्वं सप्तजन्मार्जितं त्वघम्। नश्यते देवदेवस्य दर्शनादेव तन्नृप।

tatkṣaṇādeva tatsarvaṁ saptajanmārjitaṁ tvagham| naśyate devadevasya darśanādeva tannṛpa|||

O king, by the mere sight of that god of gods, at that very instant, all the sin accumulated across seven births is destroyed.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.375.3)

बाल्यात्प्रभृति यत्पापं यौवने चापि यत्कृतम्। तत्सर्वं विलयं याति देवदेवस्य दर्शनात्।

bālyātprabhṛti yatpāpaṁ yauvane cāpi yatkṛtam| tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ yāti devadevasya darśanāt|||

Whatever sin has been committed from childhood onward, and whatever was done even in youth - all of it dissolves at the sight of the god of gods.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.375.4)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। आश्चर्यभूतं लोकेषु नर्मदाचरितं महत्। त्वया वै कथितं विप्र सकलं पापनाशनम्।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| āścaryabhūtaṁ lokeṣu narmadācaritaṁ mahat| tvayā vai kathitaṁ vipra sakalaṁ pāpanāśanam|||

Yudhishthira said: O brahmin, you have told me this great deed of the Narmada, wondrous in the worlds and the destroyer of all sins entirely.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.375.5)

यदेकं परमं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं दयां कृत्वा वदाशु मे।

yadekaṁ paramaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvatīrthaphalapradam| śrotumicchāmi tatsarvaṁ dayāṁ kṛtvā vadāśu me|||

I wish to hear of that one supreme tirtha which bestows the fruit of all tirthas. Have mercy and tell me all of it quickly.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.375.6)

ये केचिद्दुर्लभाः प्रश्नास्त्रिषु लोकेषु सत्तम। त्वत्प्रसादेन ते सर्वे श्रुता मे सह बान्धवैः।

ye keciddurlabhāḥ praśnāstriṣu lokeṣu sattama| tvatprasādena te sarve śrutā me saha bāndhavaiḥ|||

O most excellent one, whatever questions are rare to have answered in the three worlds - all of them, by your grace, I together with my kinsmen have heard.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.375.7)

एतमेकं परं प्रश्नं सर्वप्रश्नविदां वर। श्रुत्वाहं त्वत्प्रसादेन यत्र यामि सबान्धवः।

etamekaṁ paraṁ praśnaṁ sarvapraśnavidāṁ vara| śrutvāhaṁ tvatprasādena yatra yāmi sabāndhavaḥ|||

O foremost among knowers of every question, having heard this one final question, by your grace I, together with my kinsmen, shall go wherever I wish.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.375.8)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। साधुसाधु महाप्राज्ञ यस्य ते मतिरीदृशी। दुर्लभं त्रिषु लोकेषु तस्य ते नास्ति किंचन।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| sādhusādhu mahāprājña yasya te matirīdṛśī| durlabhaṁ triṣu lokeṣu tasya te nāsti kiṁcana|||

Shri Markandeya said: Well said, well said, O man of great wisdom! For one whose intellect is such as yours, nothing in the three worlds remains difficult to attain.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.375.9)

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च मोक्षं च भरतर्षभ। काले काले च यो वेत्ति कर्तव्यस्तेन धीमता।

dharmamarthaṁ ca kāmaṁ ca mokṣaṁ ca bharatarṣabha| kāle kāle ca yo vetti kartavyastena dhīmatā|||

O bull among the Bharatas, he who knows Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, each in its proper season, is the wise man truly devoted to his duty.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.375.10)

तस्मात्ते सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रश्नस्यास्योत्तरं शुभम्। यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यन्ते भुवि मानवाः।

tasmātte sampravakṣyāmi praśnasyāsyottaraṁ śubham| yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyante bhuvi mānavāḥ|||

Therefore I shall tell you the auspicious answer to this question, hearing which men on earth are freed from all their sins.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.375.11)

नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वतीर्थमयी शुभा। विशेषः कथितस्तस्या रेवासागरसङ्गमे।

narmadā saritāṁ śreṣṭhā sarvatīrthamayī śubhā| viśeṣaḥ kathitastasyā revāsāgarasaṅgame|||

The Narmada is the foremost among rivers, auspicious, embodying every tirtha. Its special glory is declared at the confluence of the Reva and the ocean.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.375.12)

आगच्छन्तीं नृपश्रेष्ठ दृष्ट्वा रेवां महोदधिः। प्रणम्य च पुनर्देवीं सङ्गमे रेवया सह।

āgacchantīṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha dṛṣṭvā revāṁ mahodadhiḥ| praṇamya ca punardevīṁ saṅgame revayā saha|||

O best of kings, beholding the Reva as she approached, the great ocean, bowing once more to that goddess at the confluence,

Verse 13 (skanda.5.375.13)

संचिन्त्य मनसा केयमिति मां वै सरिद्वरा। ज्ञात्वा संचिन्त्य मनसा रेवां लिङ्गोद्भवां पराम्।

saṁcintya manasā keyamiti māṁ vai saridvarā| jñātvā saṁcintya manasā revāṁ liṅgodbhavāṁ parām|||

pondered in his mind, "Who is this who comes to me?" - and knowing in his heart that this excellent river Reva was a supreme goddess born from the Linga,

Verse 14 (skanda.5.375.14)

लुठन्वै सम्मुखस्तात गतो रेवां महोदधिः। समुद्रे नर्मदा यत्र प्रविष्टास्ति महानदी।

luṭhanvai sammukhastāta gato revāṁ mahodadhiḥ| samudre narmadā yatra praviṣṭāsti mahānadī|||

O son, the great ocean, rolling in waves, came forth to meet that Reva. There where that great river Narmada enters the sea,

Verse 15 (skanda.5.375.15)

तत्र देवाधिदेवस्य समुद्रे लिङ्गमुत्थितम्। लिङ्गोद्भूता महाभागा नर्मदा सरितां वरा।

tatra devādhidevasya samudre liṅgamutthitam| liṅgodbhūtā mahābhāgā narmadā saritāṁ varā|||

there in the sea stands the Linga of the god of gods. That most fortunate and excellent of rivers, the Narmada, arose from that very Linga.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.375.16)

लयं गता तत्र लिङ्गे तेन पुण्यतमा हि सा। नर्मदायां वसन्नित्यं नर्मदाम्बु पिबन्सदा। दीक्षितः सर्वयज्ञेषु सोमपानं दिने दिने।

layaṁ gatā tatra liṅge tena puṇyatamā hi sā| narmadāyāṁ vasannityaṁ narmadāmbu pibansadā| dīkṣitaḥ sarvayajñeṣu somapānaṁ dine dine|||

There she merges again into that very Linga, and thereby she is most sacred. One who ever dwells by the Narmada, ever drinking her water, is as one initiated into every sacrifice, drinking the Soma each day.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.375.17)

सङ्गमे तत्र यः स्नात्वा लोटणेश्वरमर्चयेत्। सोऽश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः।

saṅgame tatra yaḥ snātvā loṭaṇeśvaramarcayet| so'śvamedhasya yajñasya phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ|||

That man who, having bathed at that confluence, worships Lotaneshvara, obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.375.18)

वाचिकं मानसं पापं कर्मणा यत्कृतं नृप। लोटणेश्वरमासाद्य सर्वं विलयतां व्रजेत्।

vācikaṁ mānasaṁ pāpaṁ karmaṇā yatkṛtaṁ nṛpa| loṭaṇeśvaramāsādya sarvaṁ vilayatāṁ vrajet|||

O king, whatever sin has been committed by speech, mind, and deed, having attained Lotaneshvara, all of it goes to dissolution.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.375.19)

कार्त्तिक्यां तु विशेषेण कथितं शङ्करेण तु। तच्छृणुष्व नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वपापापनोदनम्।

kārttikyāṁ tu viśeṣeṇa kathitaṁ śaṅkareṇa tu| tacchṛṇuṣva nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvapāpāpanodanam|||

What Shankara has especially declared concerning the month of Kartika, O best of kings, hear that rite which removes all sins.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.375.20)

सम्प्राप्तां कार्त्तिकीं दृष्ट्वा गत्वा तत्र नृपोत्तम। चतुर्दश्यामुपोष्यैव स्नात्वा वै नर्मदाजले।

samprāptāṁ kārttikīṁ dṛṣṭvā gatvā tatra nṛpottama| caturdaśyāmupoṣyaiva snātvā vai narmadājale|||

O best of kings, seeing that the month of Kartika has arrived, going there, fasting on the fourteenth day, and bathing in the waters of the Narmada,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.375.21)

संतर्प्य पितृदेवांश्च श्राद्धं कृत्वा यथाविधि। रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यात्सम्पूज्य लोटणेश्वरम्।

saṁtarpya pitṛdevāṁśca śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhi| rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryātsampūjya loṭaṇeśvaram|||

and offering libation to the ancestral deities, having duly performed the shraddha rite, and having worshipped Lotaneshvara, one should keep vigil through the night.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.375.22)

सफलं जीवितं तस्य सफलं तस्य चेष्टितम्। पङ्गवस्ते न सन्देहो जन्म तेषां निरर्थकम्।

saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ tasya saphalaṁ tasya ceṣṭitam| paṅgavaste na sandeho janma teṣāṁ nirarthakam|||

Fruitful is the life, fruitful the endeavor, of him who does this. But those who do not are, without doubt, as good as crippled - their very birth is in vain.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.375.23)

एकाग्रमनसा यैस्तु न दृष्टो लोटणेश्वरः। पिशाचत्वं वियोनित्वं न भवेत्तस्य वै कुले।

ekāgramanasā yaistu na dṛṣṭo loṭaṇeśvaraḥ| piśācatvaṁ viyonitvaṁ na bhavettasya vai kule|||

For those who behold Lotaneshvara with a single-pointed mind, pishacahood and rebirth in a degraded species shall not occur in their lineage.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.375.24)

सङ्गमे तत्र यो गत्वा स्नानं कृत्वा यथाविधि। पुण्यैश्चैव तथा कुर्याद्गीतैर्नृत्यैः प्रबोधनम्।

saṅgame tatra yo gatvā snānaṁ kṛtvā yathāvidhi| puṇyaiścaiva tathā kuryādgītairnṛtyaiḥ prabodhanam|||

Whoever goes to that confluence and bathes according to rule should, with meritorious acts, songs, and dances, perform the awakening rite of the god.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.375.25)

ततः प्रभातां रजनीं दृष्ट्वा नत्वा महोदधिम्। आमन्त्र्य स्नानविधिना स्नानं तत्र तु कारयेत्।

tataḥ prabhātāṁ rajanīṁ dṛṣṭvā natvā mahodadhim| āmantrya snānavidhinā snānaṁ tatra tu kārayet|||

Then, seeing the night turn to dawn, bowing to the great ocean, and inviting it according to the bathing rite, one should perform the bath there.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.375.26)

ओं नमो विष्णुरूपाय तीर्थनाथाय ते नमः। सान्निध्यं कुरु मे देव समुद्र लवणाम्भसि। इत्यामन्त्रणमन्त्रः।

oṁ namo viṣṇurūpāya tīrthanāthāya te namaḥ| sānnidhyaṁ kuru me deva samudra lavaṇāmbhasi| ityāmantraṇamantraḥ|||

"Om, salutations to the form of Vishnu, salutations to you, O lord of the tirtha. O ocean god, grant me your presence in this salt water." - This is the mantra of invitation.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.375.27)

अग्निश्च तेजो मृडया च देहो रेतोऽधा विष्णुरमृतस्य नाभिः। एवं ब्रुवन् पाण्डव सत्यवाक्यं ततोऽवगाहेत पतिं नदीनाम्। इति स्नानमन्त्रः।

agniśca tejo mṛḍayā ca deho reto'dhā viṣṇuramṛtasya nābhiḥ| evaṁ bruvan pāṇḍava satyavākyaṁ tato'vagāhet patiṁ nadīnām| iti snānamantraḥ|||

"Fire is splendor, and that which is seed in the body of Mridaya (Shiva) is the same; and Vishnu is the navel of immortality" - O Pandava, uttering this true declaration, one should then plunge into the lord of rivers. This is the bathing mantra.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.375.28)

आजन्मशतसाहस्रं यत्पापं कृतवान्नरः। सकृत्स्नानाद्व्यपोहेत पापौघं लवणाम्भसि।

ājanmaśatasāhasraṁ yatpāpaṁ kṛtavānnaraḥ| sakṛtsnānādvyapoheta pāpaughaṁ lavaṇāmbhasi|||

Whatever sin a man has committed over a hundred thousand births, he dispels that entire mass of sin by a single bath in that salt water.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.375.29)

अन्यथा हि कुरुश्रेष्ठ देवयोनिरसौ विभुः। कुशाग्रेणापि विबुधैर्न स्प्रष्टव्यो महार्णवः।

anyathā hi kuruśreṣṭha devayonirasau vibhuḥ| kuśāgreṇāpi vibudhairna spraṣṭavyo mahārṇavaḥ|||

Otherwise, O best of the Kurus, since this mighty ocean is itself of divine origin, even the learned should not touch this great sea, even with the tip of a kusha blade, without due rite.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.375.30)

सर्वरत्नप्रधानस्त्वं सर्वरत्नाकराकर। सर्वामरप्रधानेश गृहाणार्घं नमोऽस्तु ते। इति अर्घमन्त्रः।

sarvaratnapradhānastvaṁ sarvaratnākarākara| sarvāmarapradhāneśa gṛhāṇārghaṁ namo'stu te| ityarghamantraḥ|||

"You are foremost among all gems, the very source of all mines of gems. O supreme lord of all the immortals, accept this offering; salutations to you." - This is the mantra of the offering.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.375.31)

पितृदेवमनुष्यांश्च संतर्प्य तदनन्तरम्। उत्तीर्य तीरे तस्यैव पञ्चभिर्द्विजपुंगवैः।

pitṛdevamanuṣyāṁśca saṁtarpya tadanantaram| uttīrya tīre tasyaiva pañcabhirdvijapuṅgavaiḥ|||

Having offered libations to the ancestors, the gods, and men, and thereafter coming ashore on that very bank, together with five foremost brahmins,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.375.32)

श्राद्धं समाचरेत्पश्चाल्लोकपालानुरूपिभिः। कृत्वाग्रे लोकपालांस्तु प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविधि।

śrāddhaṁ samācaretpaścāllokapālānurūpibhiḥ| kṛtvāgre lokapālāṁstu pratiṣṭhāpya yathāvidhi|||

having made them representatives of the guardians of the quarters, and having first duly installed those guardian deities, one should then perform the shraddha rite.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.375.33)

सम्पूज्य च यथान्यायं तानेव ब्राह्मणैः सह। सुकृतं दुष्कृतं पश्चात्तेभ्यः सर्वं निवेदयेत्।

sampūjya ca yathānyāyaṁ tāneva brāhmaṇaiḥ saha| sukṛtaṁ duṣkṛtaṁ paścāttebhyaḥ sarvaṁ nivedayet|||

Having duly worshipped those very brahmins, one should then declare to them all one's good deeds and misdeeds.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.375.34)

बाल्यात्प्रभृति यत्पापं कृतं वार्धकयौवने। प्रख्यापयित्वा तेभ्योऽग्रे लोकपालान्निमन्त्रयेत्।

bālyātprabhṛti yatpāpaṁ kṛtaṁ vārdhakayauvane| prakhyāpayitvā tebhyo'gre lokapālānnimantrayet|||

Whatever sin has been committed from childhood, in old age, and in youth, having declared it before them, one should then invite the guardians of the quarters.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.375.35)

बाल्यात्प्रभृति यत्किंचित्कृतमा जन्मतोऽशुभम्। विप्रेभ्यः कथितं सर्वं तत्सांनिध्यं स्थितेषु मे।

bālyātprabhṛti yatkiṁcitkṛtamā janmato'śubham| viprebhyaḥ kathitaṁ sarvaṁ tatsānnidhyaṁ sthiteṣu me|||

"Whatever inauspicious deed I have done from birth through childhood - all of it I have declared before these brahmins, who stand present here at my side."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.375.36)

इत्युक्त्वा स लुठेत्पश्चात्तेभ्योऽग्रेण च सम्मुखम्। अनुमान्य च तान्पञ्च पश्चात्स्नानं समाचरेत्।

ityuktvā sa luṭhetpaścāttebhyo'greṇa ca sammukham| anumānya ca tānpañca paścātsnānaṁ samācaret|||

Having said this, he should then prostrate himself, rolling upon the ground before them, facing them. Then, having obtained the leave of those five, he should perform his bath.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.375.37)

श्राद्धं च कार्यं विधिवत्पितृभ्यो नृपसत्तम। एवं कृते नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्।

śrāddhaṁ ca kāryaṁ vidhivatpitṛbhyo nṛpasattama| evaṁ kṛte nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet|||

O best of kings, the shraddha rite should be performed for the ancestors according to rule. O best of kings, when this is done, the destruction of all sins comes about.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.375.38)

जिज्ञासार्थं तु यः कश्चिदात्मानं ज्ञातुमिच्छति। शुभाशुभं च यत्कर्म तस्य निष्ठामिमां शृणु।

jijñāsārthaṁ tu yaḥ kaścidātmānaṁ jñātumicchati| śubhāśubhaṁ ca yatkarma tasya niṣṭhāmimāṁ śṛṇu|||

Whoever, out of a desire to know, wishes to understand himself and whatever auspicious or inauspicious deed he has done, hear for him this ascertained method.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.375.39)

स्नात्वा तत्र महातीर्थे लुठमानो व्रजेन्नरः। पापकर्मान्यतो याति धर्मकर्मा व्रजेन्नदीम्।

snātvā tatra mahātīrthe luṭhamāno vrajennaraḥ| pāpakarmānyato yāti dharmakarmā vrajennadīm|||

Having bathed at that great tirtha, let the man proceed, rolling upon the ground. He whose deeds are sinful wanders astray elsewhere, while he whose deeds are righteous proceeds straight to the river.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.375.40)

पापकर्मा ततो ज्ञात्वा पापं मे पूर्वसंचितम्। स्नात्वा तीर्थवरे तस्मिन्दानं दद्याद्यथाविधि।

pāpakarmā tato jñātvā pāpaṁ me pūrvasaṁcitam| snātvā tīrthavare tasmindānaṁ dadyādyathāvidhi|||

Then, knowing that this sin was accumulated by him previously, that man of sinful deeds, having bathed at that excellent tirtha, should give gifts according to rule.

Verse 41 (skanda.5.375.41)

लोटणेश्वरमभ्यर्च्य सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। अवक्रगमनं गत्वा मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः।

loṭaṇeśvaramabhyarcya sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate| avakragamanaṁ gatvā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ|||

By worshipping Lotaneshvara, he becomes freed from all sins. By going straight, without deviation, toward the river, he becomes freed from all his transgressions.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.375.42)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ज्ञात्वैवं नृपसत्तम। स्नातव्यं मानवैस्तत्र यत्र संनिहितो हरः।

tasmātsarvaprayatnena jñātvaivaṁ nṛpasattama| snātavyaṁ mānavaistatra yatra sannihito haraḥ|||

Therefore, O best of kings, knowing this, men should with every effort bathe precisely where Hara himself is present.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.375.43)

एवं स्नात्वा विधानेन ब्राह्मणान् वेदपारगान्। पूजयेत्पृथिवीपाल सर्वपापोपशान्तये।

evaṁ snātvā vidhānena brāhmaṇān vedapāragān| pūjayetpṛthivīpāla sarvapāpopaśāntaye|||

O protector of the earth, having thus bathed according to rule, one should worship brahmins learned in the Vedas, so that all sins may be pacified.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.375.44)

एवं गुणविशिष्टं हि तत्तीर्थं नृपसत्तम। तस्य तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं शृणुष्वैकमना नृप।

evaṁ guṇaviśiṣṭaṁ hi tattīrthaṁ nṛpasattama| tasya tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ śṛṇuṣvaikamanā nṛpa|||

O best of kings, that tirtha is thus distinguished by these qualities. O king, hear the greatness of that tirtha with a focused mind.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.375.45)

तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः। श्राद्धं यः कुरुते तत्र पितॄणां भक्तिभावितः।

tatra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā saṁtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ| śrāddhaṁ yaḥ kurute tatra pitṝṇāṁ bhaktibhāvitaḥ|||

That man who, having bathed at that tirtha, offered libation to the ancestral deities, and, filled with devotion toward the ancestors, performs the shraddha rite there,

Verse 46 (skanda.5.375.46)

दानं ददाति विप्रेभ्यो गोभूतिलहिरण्यकम्। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि कोटिर्वर्षशतानि च।

dānaṁ dadāti viprebhyo gobhūtilahiraṇyakam| ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi koṭirvarṣaśatāni ca|||

and gives gifts to brahmins of cows, land, sesame, and gold - for sixty thousand years, and for a hundred billion years,

Verse 47 (skanda.5.375.47)

विमानवरमारूढः स्वर्गलोके महीयते। नर्मदासर्वतीर्थेभ्यः स्नाने दाने च यत्फलम्।

vimānavaramārūḍhaḥ svargaloke mahīyate| narmadāsarvatīrthebhyaḥ snāne dāne ca yatphalam|||

mounted upon an excellent celestial chariot, he is honored in the world of heaven. Whatever fruit is obtained by bathing and giving gifts at all the tirthas of the Narmada,

Verse 48 (skanda.5.375.48)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति रेवासागरसङ्गमे। सुवर्णं रजतं ताम्रं मणिमौक्तिकभूषणम्।

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti revāsāgarasaṅgame| suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ tāmraṁ maṇimauktikabhūṣaṇam|||

that entire fruit is obtained at the confluence of the Reva and the ocean. Gold, silver, copper, and ornaments of gems and pearls,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.375.49)

गोवृषं च महीं धान्यं तत्र दत्त्वाक्षयं फलम्। शुभस्याप्यशुभस्यापि तत्र तीर्थे न संशयः।

govṛṣaṁ ca mahīṁ dhānyaṁ tatra dattvākṣayaṁ phalam| śubhasyāpyaśubhasyāpi tatra tīrthe na saṁśayaḥ|||

and cows, bulls, land, and grain - by giving these there, one obtains imperishable fruit. At that tirtha, both what is auspicious and what is inauspicious yield their effect - of this there is no doubt.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.375.50)

तत्र तीर्थे नरः कश्चित्प्राणत्यागं युधिष्ठिर। करोति भक्त्या विधिवत्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु।

tatra tīrthe naraḥ kaścitprāṇatyāgaṁ yudhiṣṭhira| karoti bhaktyā vidhivattasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu|||

O Yudhishthira, whatever man, at that tirtha, with devotion, duly relinquishes his life - hear the meritorious fruit that is his.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.375.51)

कोटिवर्षं तु वर्षाणां क्रीडित्वा शिवमन्दिरे। वेदवेदाङ्गविद्विप्रो जायते विमले कुले।

koṭivarṣaṁ tu varṣāṇāṁ krīḍitvā śivamandire| vedavedāṅgavidvipro jāyate vimale kule|||

Having sported for a hundred million years in the temple of Shiva, he is born as a brahmin learned in the Vedas and their ancillary sciences, in a spotless family.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.375.52)

पुत्रपौत्रसमृद्धोऽसौ धनधान्यसमन्वितः। सर्वव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तो जीवेच्च शरदांशतम्।

putrapautrasamṛddho'sau dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ| sarvavyādhivinirmukto jīvecca śaradāṁśatam|||

Prosperous with sons and grandsons, possessed of wealth and grain, free from all disease, he lives for a hundred autumns.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.375.53)

अपि द्वादशयात्रासु सोमनाथे यदर्चिते। कार्त्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे तत्पुण्यं लोटणेश्वरे।

api dvādaśayātrāsu somanāthe yadarcite| kārttikyāṁ kṛttikāyoge tatpuṇyaṁ loṭaṇeśvare|||

Whatever merit is obtained by worship at Somanatha during the twelve pilgrimages, that same merit is obtained at Lotaneshvara during the conjunction of Krittika in the month of Kartika.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.375.54)

गया गङ्गा कुरुक्षेत्रे नैमिषे पुष्करे तथा। तत्पुण्यं लभते पार्थ लोटणेश्वरदर्शनात्।

gayā gaṅgā kurukṣetre naimiṣe puṣkare tathā| tatpuṇyaṁ labhate pārtha loṭaṇeśvaradarśanāt|||

O Partha, whatever merit is obtained at Gaya, the Ganga, Kurukshetra, Naimisha, and Pushkara - all of it is obtained by the mere sight of Lotaneshvara.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.375.55)

यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या पठ्यमानमिदं शुभम्। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति।

yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā paṭhyamānamidaṁ śubham| sarvapāpavinirmukto rudralokaṁ sa gacchati|||

That man who, with devotion, hears this auspicious account as it is recited, becomes freed from all sins and goes to the world of Rudra.