The Greatness of Vasaveshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.378.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततः क्रोशान्तरे पार्थ वासवं तीर्थमुत्तमम्। वसुभिः स्थापितं तत्र स्थित्वा वै द्वादशाब्दकम्।

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tataḥ krośāntare pārtha vāsavaṁ tīrthamuttamam| vasubhiḥ sthāpitaṁ tatra sthitvā vai dvādaśābdakam||

Markandeya said: Thereafter, O Partha, at a distance of one krosha, is the excellent tirtha named Vasava, established by the Vasus, where they dwelt for twelve years.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.378.2)

धरो ध्रुवश्च सोमश्च आपश्चैवानिलोऽनलः। प्रत्यूषश्च प्रभासश्च वसवोऽष्टाविमे पुरा।

dharo dhruvaśca somaśca āpaścaivānilo'nalaḥ| pratyūṣaśca prabhāsaśca vasavo'ṣṭāvime purā||

Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Apa, and likewise Anila and Anala, Pratyusha and Prabhasa — these are the eight Vasus of old.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.378.3)

पितृशापपरिक्लिष्टा गर्भवासाय भारत। नार्मदं तीर्थमासाद्य तपश्चक्रुर्यतेन्द्रियाः।

pitṛśāpaparikliṣṭā garbhavāsāya bhārata| nārmadaṁ tīrthamāsādya tapaścakruryatendriyāḥ||

O Bharata, afflicted by their father's curse and destined for a womb-birth, having reached a tirtha of the Narmada, they, with senses conquered, performed austerity.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.378.4)

आराधयन्तः परमं भवानीपतिमव्यम्। द्वादशाब्दानि राजेन्द्र ततस्तुष्टो महेश्वरः।

ārādhayantaḥ paramaṁ bhavānīpatimavyam| dvādaśābdāni rājendra tatastuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ||

O king of kings, for twelve years they worshipped the supreme, imperishable Lord of Bhavani; then Maheshvara became pleased.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.378.5)

प्रत्यक्षः प्रददौ तेभ्यस्त्वभीष्टं वरमुत्तमम्। ततः स्वनाम्ना संस्थाप्य वसवस्तं महेश्वरम्। जग्मुराकाशमाविश्य प्रसन्ने सति शङ्करे।

pratyakṣaḥ pradadau tebhyastvabhīṣṭaṁ varamuttamam| tataḥ svanāmnā saṁsthāpya vasavastaṁ maheśvaram| jagmurākāśamāviśya prasanne sati śaṅkare||

He appeared before them in person and granted them the excellent boon they desired. Then the Vasus, having established that Maheshvara under their own name, and with Shankara satisfied, departed, entering the sky.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.378.6)

ततः प्रभृति विख्यातं तीर्थं तद्वासवाह्वयम्। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महाराज यो भक्त्या पूजयेच्छिवम्। यथालब्धोपहारैश्च दीपं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः।

tataḥ prabhṛti vikhyātaṁ tīrthaṁ tadvāsavāhvayam| tasmiṁstīrthe mahārāja yo bhaktyā pūjayecchivam| yathālabdhopahāraiśca dīpaṁ dadyātprayatnataḥ||

From then on that tirtha became renowned by the name Vasava. O great king, whoever at that tirtha worships Shiva with devotion, and carefully offers a lamp along with whatever offerings can be obtained,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.378.7)

शुक्लपक्षे तदाष्टम्यां प्रत्यहं वापि शक्तितः। अष्टौ वर्षसहस्राणि स वसेच्छिवसंनिधौ।

śuklapakṣe tadāṣṭamyāṁ pratyahaṁ vāpi śaktitaḥ| aṣṭau varṣasahasrāṇi sa vasecchivasaṁnidhau||

on the eighth day of the bright fortnight, or daily according to his ability, he dwells for eight thousand years in Shiva's presence.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.378.8)

ततः शिवालयं याति गर्भवासं न पश्यति। पुष्पैर्वा पल्लवैर्वापि फलैर्धान्यैस्तथापि वा।

tataḥ śivālayaṁ yāti garbhavāsaṁ na paśyati| puṣpairvā pallavairvāpi phalairdhānyaistathāpi vā||

Thereafter he goes to Shiva's abode and does not again experience dwelling in the womb. Whoever, with flowers, or with shoots, or even with fruits and grain,

Verse 9 (skanda.5.378.9)

पूजयेद्देवमीशानं स दैन्यं नाप्नुयात्क्वचित्। सर्वशोकविनिर्मुक्तः स्वर्गलोके महीयते।

pūjayeddevamīśānaṁ sa dainyaṁ nāpnuyātkvacit| sarvaśokavinirmuktaḥ svargaloke mahīyate||

worships the Lord Ishana never attains wretchedness; freed from all sorrow, he is exalted in the heavenly world.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.378.10)

एकाहमपि कौन्तेय यो वसेद्वासवेश्वरे। पापराशिं विनिर्धूय भानुवद्दिवि मोदते।

ekāhamapi kaunteya yo vasedvāsaveśvare| pāparāśiṁ vinirdhūya bhānuvaddivi modate||

O son of Kunti, whoever dwells even a single day at Vasaveshvara, shaking off his heap of sins, rejoices in heaven like the sun.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.378.11)

विप्रांश्च भोजयेद्भक्त्या दद्याद्वासांसि दक्षिणाम्।

viprāṁśca bhojayedbhaktyā dadyādvāsāṁsi dakṣiṇām||

And he should feed brahmins with devotion, and give garments as the sacrificial fee.