The Greatness of Kotishvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.379.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। ततः क्रोशान्तरे पार्थ तीर्थं कोटीश्वरं परम्। यत्र स्नानं च दानं च जपहोमार्चनादिकम्। भक्त्या कृतं नरैस्तत्र सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्।

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| tataḥ krośāntare pārtha tīrthaṁ koṭīśvaraṁ param| yatra snānaṁ ca dānaṁ ca japahomārcanādikam| bhaktyā kṛtaṁ naraistatra sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet||

Markandeya said: Thereafter, O Partha, at a distance of one krosha, is the supreme tirtha named Kotishvara, where bathing, charity, japa, homa, worship, and the like, when performed by men with devotion, all become crore-fold in merit.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.379.2)

तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः। जलधिं प्रतिगच्छन्ति नर्मदां वीक्षितुं किल।

tatra devāḥ sagandharvā ṛṣayaḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ| jaladhiṁ pratigacchanti narmadāṁ vīkṣituṁ kila||

There, gods together with gandharvas, sages, siddhas, and charanas go toward the ocean to behold the Narmada.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.379.3)

मिलिताः कोटिशो राजन्रेवासागरसङ्गमे। विनोदमतुलं दृष्ट्वा रेवार्णवसमागमे।

militāḥ koṭiśo rājanrevāsāgarasaṅgame| vinodamatulaṁ dṛṣṭvā revārṇavasamāgame||

O king, gathered there in their crores at the confluence of the Reva and the ocean, having beheld the matchless delight at the meeting of the Reva and the sea,

Verse 4 (skanda.5.379.4)

स्नात्वा शिवं च संस्थाप्य पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम्। कोटीश्वराभिधानं तु स्वस्वभक्त्या विधानतः।

snātvā śivaṁ ca saṁsthāpya pūjayitvā maheśvaram| koṭīśvarābhidhānaṁ tu svasvabhaktyā vidhānataḥ||

having bathed, established Shiva, and worshipped Maheshvara under the name Kotishvara, each according to his own devotion and due rite,

Verse 5 (skanda.5.379.5)

कोटीतीर्थे परां सिद्धिं सम्प्राप्ताः सर्वतोषणात्। तेन तत्पुण्यमतुलं सर्वतीर्थेषु चोत्तमम्।

koṭītīrthe parāṁ siddhiṁ samprāptāḥ sarvatoṣaṇāt| tena tatpuṇyamatulaṁ sarvatīrtheṣu cottamam||

through the satisfaction of all, they attained supreme perfection at the Koti tirtha; therefore that matchless merit is foremost among all tirthas.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.379.6)

तत्र तीर्थे तु यत्किंचिच्छुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। क्रियते नृपशार्दूल सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्।

tatra tīrthe tu yatkiṁcicchubhaṁ vā yadi vāśubham| kriyate nṛpaśārdūla sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ bhavet||

O tiger among kings, whatever is done at that tirtha, whether auspicious or inauspicious, all becomes crore-fold.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.379.7)

तत्र तीर्थे तु मार्गस्था ये केचिदृषिसत्तमाः। सिद्धामृतपदं यान्ति पितृलोकं तथोत्तमम्।

tatra tīrthe tu mārgasthā ye kecidṛṣisattamāḥ| siddhāmṛtapadaṁ yānti pitṛlokaṁ tathottamam||

Whichever best of sages happen to be on the path at that tirtha attain the immortal state of the perfected ones, and likewise the supreme world of the ancestors.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.379.8)

उत्तरे नर्मदातीरे दक्षिणे चाश्रिताश्च ये। देवलोकं गतास्तत्र इति मे निश्चिता मतिः।

uttare narmadātīre dakṣiṇe cāśritāśca ye| devalokaṁ gatāstatra iti me niścitā matiḥ||

Those who take refuge on the northern bank of the Narmada, and likewise on the southern, go to the world of the gods there — this is my firm conviction.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.379.9)

बिल्वार्कपुष्पैर्धत्तूरकुशकाशप्रसूनकैः। ऋतूद्भवैस्तथान्यैश्च पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम्।

bilvārkapuṣpairdhattūrakuśakāśaprasūnakaiḥ| ṛtūdbhavaistathānyaiśca pūjayitvā maheśvaram||

With bilva and arka flowers, with datura, kusha, and kasha blossoms, and with other flowers born of the season, having worshipped Maheshvara,

Verse 10 (skanda.5.379.10)

नानोपचारैर्विधिवन्मन्त्रपूर्वं युधिष्ठिर। धूपदीपार्धनैवेद्यैस्तोषयित्वा च धूर्जटिम्।

nānopacārairvidhivanmantrapūrvaṁ yudhiṣṭhira| dhūpadīpārdhanaivedyaistoṣayitvā ca dhūrjaṭim||

O Yudhishthira, with manifold offerings duly preceded by mantras, having satisfied Dhurjati with incense, lamps, and offerings of water and food,

Verse 11 (skanda.5.379.11)

शिवलोकमवाप्नोति यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश। पौषकृष्णाष्टमीयोगे विशेषः पूजने स्मृतः।

śivalokamavāpnoti yāvadindrāścaturdaśa| pauṣakṛṣṇāṣṭamīyoge viśeṣaḥ pūjane smṛtaḥ||

one attains the world of Shiva for as long as fourteen Indras reign. Special merit in worship is declared for the conjunction of the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Pausha.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.379.12)

नित्यं च नृपतिश्रेष्ठ चतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु च। शिवमभ्यर्च्य विप्रांश्च भोजयेद्भक्तितो वरान्।

nityaṁ ca nṛpatiśreṣṭha caturdaśyaṣṭamīṣu ca| śivamabhyarcya viprāṁśca bhojayedbhaktito varān||

O best of kings, and daily too, on the fourteenth and eighth lunar days, having worshipped Shiva, one should feed excellent brahmins with devotion.