The Special Rules for Pilgrimage and Related Procedures

Verse 1 (skanda.5.382.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। एतानि तव संक्षेपात्प्राधान्यात्कथितानि च। न शक्तो विस्तराद्वक्तुं संख्यां तीर्थेषु पाण्डव।

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| etāni tava saṁkṣepātprādhānyātkathitāni ca| na śakto vistarādvaktuṁ saṁkhyāṁ tīrtheṣu pāṇḍava||

Markandeya said: These tirthas have been told to you in brief, according to their importance, O Pandava; I am not able to state in detail the full number of the tirthas.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.382.2)

एषा पवित्रा विमला नदी त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता। नर्मदा सरितां श्रेष्ठा महादेवस्य वल्लभा।

eṣā pavitrā vimalā nadī trailokyaviśrutā| narmadā saritāṁ śreṣṭhā mahādevasya vallabhā||

This pure, stainless river, renowned throughout the three worlds, the Narmada, is the foremost among rivers and the beloved of Mahadeva.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.382.3)

मनसा संस्मरेद्यस्तु नर्मदां सततं नृप। चान्द्रायणशतस्याशु लभते फलमुत्तमम्।

manasā saṁsmaredyastu narmadāṁ satataṁ nṛpa| cāndrāyaṇaśatasyāśu labhate phalamuttamam||

O king, whoever constantly remembers the Narmada in mind swiftly obtains the excellent fruit of a hundred chandrayana vows.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.382.4)

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा नास्तिकाश्चात्र ये स्थिताः। पतन्ति नरके घोरे प्राहैवं परमेश्वरः।

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā nāstikāścātra ye sthitāḥ| patanti narake ghore prāhaivaṁ parameśvaraḥ||

Faithless men, and those who are atheists on this matter, fall into terrible hell — thus spoke the Supreme Lord himself.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.382.5)

नर्मदां सेवते नित्यं स्वयं देवो महेश्वरः। तेन पुण्या नदी ज्ञेया ब्रह्महत्यापहारिणी।

narmadāṁ sevate nityaṁ svayaṁ devo maheśvaraḥ| tena puṇyā nadī jñeyā brahmahatyāpahāriṇī||

The god Maheshvara himself constantly resorts to the Narmada; therefore this river should be known as sacred, one that removes even the sin of slaying a brahmin.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.382.6)

इयं माहेश्वरी गङ्गा महेश्वरतनूद्भवा। प्रोक्ता दक्षिणगङ्गेति भारतस्य युधिष्ठिर।

iyaṁ māheśvarī gaṅgā maheśvaratanūdbhavā| proktā dakṣiṇagaṅgeti bhāratasya yudhiṣṭhira||

This is the Maheshvari Ganga, born from Mahadeva's own body. O Yudhishthira, it is called the "southern Ganga" of the land of Bharata.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.382.7)

जाह्नवी वैष्णवी गङ्गा ब्राह्मी गङ्गा सरस्वती। इयं माहेश्वरी गङ्गा रेवा नास्त्यत्र संशयः।

jāhnavī vaiṣṇavī gaṅgā brāhmī gaṅgā sarasvatī| iyaṁ māheśvarī gaṅgā revā nāstyatra saṁśayaḥ||

The Jahnavi is the Vaishnavi Ganga, and Sarasvati is the Brahmi Ganga; this Reva is the Maheshvari Ganga — there is no doubt in this.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.382.8)

यथा हि पुरुषे देवस्त्रैमूर्तत्वमुपाश्रितः। ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाख्यं न भेदस्तत्र वै यथा। तथा सरित्त्रये पार्थ भेदं मनसि मा कृथाः।

yathā hi puruṣe devastraimūrtatvamupāśritaḥ| brahmaviṣṇumaheśākhyaṁ na bhedastatra vai yathā| tathā sarittraye pārtha bhedaṁ manasi mā kṛthāḥ||

Just as the divinity residing in the Purusha has taken refuge in the threefold form called Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha, and there is indeed no difference among them, so too, O Partha, do not make a distinction in your mind among these three rivers.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.382.9)

कोटिशो ह्यत्र तीर्थानि लक्षशश्चापि भारत। तथा सहस्रशो रेवातीरद्वयगतानि तु।

koṭiśo hyatra tīrthāni lakṣaśaścāpi bhārata| tathā sahasraśo revātīradvayagatāni tu||

O Bharata, here there are tirthas in their crores and also in their hundreds of thousands, and likewise in their thousands, situated on both banks of the Reva.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.382.10)

वृक्षान्तरिक्षसंस्थानि जलस्थलगतानि च। कः शक्तस्तानि निर्णेतुं वागीशो वा महेश्वरः।

vṛkṣāntarikṣasaṁsthāni jalasthalagatāni ca| kaḥ śaktastāni nirṇetuṁ vāgīśo vā maheśvaraḥ||

Those situated in trees, in the sky, in water, and on land — who is capable of enumerating them, whether the Lord of Speech himself or even Maheshvara?

Verse 11 (skanda.5.382.11)

स्मरणाज्जन्मजनितं दर्शनाच्च त्रिजन्मजम्। सप्तजन्मकृतं नश्येत्पापं रेवावगाहनात्।

smaraṇājjanmajanitaṁ darśanācca trijanmajam| saptajanmakṛtaṁ naśyetpāpaṁ revāvagāhanāt||

By mere remembrance, the sin of this birth is destroyed; by sight, that of three births; and by immersion in the Reva, sin committed over seven births is destroyed.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.382.12)

देवकार्यं कृतं तेन अग्नयो विधिवद्धुताः। वेदा अधीताश्चत्वारो येन रेवावगाहिता।

devakāryaṁ kṛtaṁ tena agnayo vidhivaddhutāḥ| vedā adhītāścatvāro yena revāvagāhitā||

By whom the Reva has been bathed in — by him the work of the gods has been accomplished, the sacred fires duly offered into, and the four Vedas studied.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.382.13)

प्राधान्याच्चापि संक्षेपात्तीर्थान्युक्तानि ते मया। न शक्यो विस्तरः पार्थ श्रोतुं वक्तुं च वै मया।

prādhānyāccāpi saṁkṣepāttīrthānyuktāni te mayā| na śakyo vistaraḥ pārtha śrotuṁ vaktuṁ ca vai mayā||

O Partha, the tirthas have been told to you by me according to their importance and in brief; their full extent can be neither heard nor told even by me.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.382.14)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। विधानं च यमांश्चैव नियमांश्च वदस्व मे। प्रायश्चित्तार्थगमने को विधिस्तं वदस्व मे।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| vidhānaṁ ca yamāṁścaiva niyamāṁśca vadasva me| prāyaścittārthagamane ko vidhistaṁ vadasva me||

Yudhishthira said: Tell me the procedure, and the restraints and the observances. Tell me what rule there is for going on pilgrimage for the sake of expiation.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.382.15)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। साधु पृष्टं महाराज यच्छ्रेयः पारलौकिकम्। शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा यथाज्ञानं वदामि ते।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ mahārāja yacchreyaḥ pāralaukikam| śṛṇuṣvāvahito bhūtvā yathājñānaṁ vadāmi te||

Shri Markandeya said: O great king, you have asked well concerning that which is beneficial for the world beyond. Listen attentively — I shall tell you according to my knowledge.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.382.16)

अध्रुवेण शरीरेण ध्रुवं कर्म समाचरेत्। अवश्यमेव यास्यन्ति प्राणाः प्राघूर्णिका इव।

adhruveṇa śarīreṇa dhruvaṁ karma samācaret| avaśyameva yāsyanti prāṇāḥ prāghūrṇikā iva||

With this impermanent body one should perform enduring deeds; the life-breaths will certainly depart, like guests only passing through.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.382.17)

दानं वित्तादृतं वाचः कीर्तिधर्मौ तथा ख्युषः। परोपकरणं कायादसारात्सारमुद्धरेत्।

dānaṁ vittādṛtaṁ vācaḥ kīrtidharmau tathā khyuṣaḥ| paropakaraṇaṁ kāyādasārātsāramuddharet||

From wealth one should extract charity, from speech truth, and likewise fame and righteousness; and from the body, the service of others — thus one should extract the essence from what is without essence.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.382.18)

अस्मिन्महामोहमये कटाहे सूर्याग्निना रात्रिदिवेन्धनेन। मासर्तुदर्वीपरिघट्टनेन भूतानि कालः पचतीति वार्ता।

asminmahāmohamaye kaṭāhe sūryāgninā rātridivendhanena| māsartudarvīparighaṭṭanena bhūtāni kālaḥ pacatīti vārtā||

In this cauldron made of great delusion, with the fire of the sun, with day and night as fuel, by the stirring of the ladle of months and seasons, Time cooks all beings — so it is said.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.382.19)

ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि। नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः।

jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi| nāyaṁ loko'sti na paro na sukhaṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ||

Having known the deed prescribed by the injunction of scripture, one ought to perform it here; for one whose mind is full of doubt, there is neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.382.20)

मन्त्रे तीर्थे द्विजे देवे दैवज्ञे भेषजे गुरौ। यादृशी भावना यस्य सिद्धिर्भवति तादृशी।

mantre tīrthe dvije deve daivajñe bheṣaje gurau| yādṛśī bhāvanā yasya siddhirbhavati tādṛśī||

In mantra, in a tirtha, in a brahmin, in a deity, in an astrologer, in medicine, and in a guru — as is a person's faith, so is the attainment.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.382.21)

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्। असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह।

aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapastaptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat| asadityucyate pārtha na ca tatpretya no iha||

Whatever oblation, gift, or austerity is performed without faith, O Partha, is called "unreal" — and it avails neither in the next world nor in this one.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.382.22)

यः शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य वर्तते कामकारतः। न स सिद्धिमवाप्नोति न सुखं न परां गतिम्।

yaḥ śāstravidhimutsṛjya vartate kāmakārataḥ| na sa siddhimavāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim||

Whoever, abandoning the injunction of scripture, acts according to his own desire, attains neither success, nor happiness, nor the supreme goal.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.382.23)

सन्तीह विविधोपाया नृणां देहविशोधनाः। तीर्थसेवासमं नास्ति स्वशरीरस्य शोधनम्।

santīha vividhopāyā nṛṇāṁ dehaviśodhanāḥ| tīrthasevāsamaṁ nāsti svaśarīrasya śodhanam||

There exist here various means for the purification of men's bodies; but there is nothing equal to resorting to tirthas for the purification of one's own body.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.382.24)

कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणाद्यैर्वा द्वितीयं तीर्थसेवया। यदा तीर्थं समुद्दिश्य प्रयाति पुरुषो नृप। तदा देवाश्च पितरस्तं व्रजन्त्यनु खेचराः।

kṛcchracāndrāyaṇādyairvā dvitīyaṁ tīrthasevayā| yadā tīrthaṁ samuddiśya prayāti puruṣo nṛpa| tadā devāśca pitarastaṁ vrajantyanu khecarāḥ||

Or, secondly, there is the resort to tirthas, equal in merit to krichchhra, chandrayana, and the like. O king, when a man sets out with a tirtha as his goal, then the gods, the ancestors, and the sky-wanderers go along after him.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.382.25)

परमा मोदपूर्णास्ते प्रयान्त्यस्यानुयायिनः। कृत्वाभ्युदयिकं श्राद्धं समापृच्छय तु देवताम्।

paramā modapūrṇāste prayāntyasyānuyāyinaḥ| kṛtvābhyudayikaṁ śrāddhaṁ samāpṛcchaya tu devatām||

Filled with the highest joy, they go along as his followers. Having performed the abhyudayika shraddha and taken leave of the household deity,

Verse 26 (skanda.5.382.26)

इष्टबन्धूंश्च विष्णुं च शङ्करं सगणेश्वरम्। व्रजेद्द्विजाभ्यनुज्ञातो गृहीत्वा नियमानपि।

iṣṭabandhūṁśca viṣṇuṁ ca śaṅkaraṁ sagaṇeśvaram| vrajeddvijābhyanujñāto gṛhītvā niyamānapi||

and of dear kinsmen, of Vishnu, and of Shankara together with Ganeshvara, he should set out with the permission of brahmins, having also taken up the observances.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.382.27)

एकाशनं ब्रह्मचर्यं भूशय्यां सत्यवादिताम्। वर्जनं च परान्नस्य प्रतिग्रहविवर्जनम्।

ekāśanaṁ brahmacaryaṁ bhūśayyāṁ satyavāditām| varjanaṁ ca parānnasya pratigrahavivarjanam||

Eating once a day, celibacy, sleeping on the ground, speaking truth, avoiding another's food, and abstaining from accepting gifts,

Verse 28 (skanda.5.382.28)

वर्जयित्वा तथा द्रोहवञ्चनादि नृपोत्तम। साधुवेषं समास्थाय विनयेन विभूषितः।

varjayitvā tathā drohavañcanādi nṛpottama| sādhuveṣaṁ samāsthāya vinayena vibhūṣitaḥ||

and likewise avoiding malice and deceit, O best of kings; adopting the garb of a sadhu, adorned with humility,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.382.29)

दम्भाहङ्कारमुक्तो यः स तीर्थफलमश्नुते। यस्य हस्तौ च पादौ च मनश्चैव सुसंयतम्।

dambhāhaṅkāramukto yaḥ sa tīrthaphalamaśnute| yasya hastau ca pādau ca manaścaiva susaṁyatam||

whoever is free from hypocrisy and pride enjoys the fruit of the pilgrimage. One whose hands, feet, and mind are all well restrained,

Verse 30 (skanda.5.382.30)

विद्या तपश्च कीर्तिश्च स तीर्थफलमश्नुते। अक्रोधनश्च राजेन्द्र सत्यशीलो दृढव्रतः।

vidyā tapaśca kīrtiśca sa tīrthaphalamaśnute| akrodhanaśca rājendra satyaśīlo dṛḍhavrataḥ||

who has learning, austerity, and fame, enjoys the fruit of the pilgrimage. O king of kings, one who is free from anger, truthful in character, firm in vows,

Verse 31 (skanda.5.382.31)

आत्मोपमश्च भूतेषु स तीर्थफलमश्नुते। मुण्डनं चोपवासश्च सर्वतीर्थेष्वयं विधिः।

ātmopamaśca bhūteṣu sa tīrthaphalamaśnute| muṇḍanaṁ copavāsaśca sarvatīrtheṣvayaṁ vidhiḥ||

and who regards all beings as equal to himself, enjoys the fruit of the pilgrimage. Tonsure and fasting — this is the rule at all tirthas,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.382.32)

वर्जयित्वा कुरुक्षेत्रं विशालां विरजां गयाम्। स्नानं सुरार्चनं चैव श्राद्धे वै पिण्डपातनम्।

varjayitvā kurukṣetraṁ viśālāṁ virajāṁ gayām| snānaṁ surārcanaṁ caiva śrāddhe vai piṇḍapātanam||

excepting Kurukshetra, Vishala, Viraja, and Gaya. Bathing, worship of the gods, and the offering of the pinda in shraddha,

Verse 33 (skanda.5.382.33)

विप्राणां भोजनं शक्त्या सर्वतीर्थेष्वयं विधिः। प्रायश्चित्तनिमित्तं च यो व्रजेद्यतमानसः।

viprāṇāṁ bhojanaṁ śaktyā sarvatīrtheṣvayaṁ vidhiḥ| prāyaścittanimittaṁ ca yo vrajedyatamānasaḥ||

and the feeding of brahmins according to one's ability — this is the rule at all tirthas. And for one who, with a controlled mind, goes on pilgrimage for the sake of expiation,

Verse 34 (skanda.5.382.34)

तस्यापि च विधिं वक्ष्ये शृणु पार्थ समाहितः। एकाशनं ब्रह्मचर्यमक्षारलवणाशनम्।

tasyāpi ca vidhiṁ vakṣye śṛṇu pārtha samāhitaḥ| ekāśanaṁ brahmacaryamakṣāralavaṇāśanam||

for him too I shall tell the rule; listen attentively, O Partha: eating once a day, celibacy, eating food without alkali or salt,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.382.35)

स्नात्वा तीर्थाभिगमनं हविष्यैकान्नभोजनम्। वर्जयेत्पतितालापं बहुभाषणमेव च।

snātvā tīrthābhigamanaṁ haviṣyaikānnabhojanam| varjayetpatitālāpaṁ bahubhāṣaṇameva ca||

going to the tirtha after bathing, eating consecrated food as a single meal; he should avoid conversing with outcastes and speaking excessively,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.382.36)

परीवादं परान्नं च नीचसङ्गं विवर्जयेत्। व्रजेच्च निरुपानत्को वसानो वाससी शुचिः।

parīvādaṁ parānnaṁ ca nīcasaṅgaṁ vivarjayet| vrajecca nirupānatko vasāno vāsasī śuciḥ||

he should avoid slander, another's food, and the company of the base; he should travel without footwear, wearing two pure garments.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.382.37)

संकल्पं मनसा कृत्वा ब्राह्मणानुज्ञया व्रजेत्। तीर्थे गत्वा तथा स्नात्वा कृत्वा चैव सुरार्चनम्।

saṁkalpaṁ manasā kṛtvā brāhmaṇānujñayā vrajet| tīrthe gatvā tathā snātvā kṛtvā caiva surārcanam||

Having made a resolve in his mind, he should travel with the permission of brahmins; having gone to the tirtha, and having bathed and worshipped the gods,

Verse 38 (skanda.5.382.38)

दुष्कर्मतो विमुक्तः स्यादनुतापी भवेद्यदि। वेदे तीर्थे च देवे च दैवज्ञे चौषधे गुरौ।

duṣkarmato vimuktaḥ syādanutāpī bhavedyadi| vede tīrthe ca deve ca daivajñe cauṣadhe gurau||

if he is repentant, he becomes freed from his evil deed. In the Veda, in a tirtha, in a deity, in an astrologer, in medicine, and in a guru,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.382.39)

यादृशी भावना यस्य सिद्धिर्भवति तादृशी। उक्ततीर्थफलानां च पुराणेषु स्मृतिष्वपि।

yādṛśī bhāvanā yasya siddhirbhavati tādṛśī| uktatīrthaphalānāṁ ca purāṇeṣu smṛtiṣvapi||

as is a person's faith, so is the attainment. And regarding the fruits of tirthas declared in the Puranas and also in the Smritis,

Verse 40 (skanda.5.382.40)

अर्थवादभवां शङ्कां विहाय भरतर्षभ। कृत्वा विचारं शास्त्रोक्तं परिकल्प्य यथोचितम्।

arthavādabhavāṁ śaṅkāṁ vihāya bharatarṣabha| kṛtvā vicāraṁ śāstroktaṁ parikalpya yathocitam||

O bull among the Bharatas, having set aside the doubt arising from treating them as mere rhetorical praise, and having reflected as stated in scripture, and determined what is fitting,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.382.41)

कायेन कृच्छ्रचरणे ह्यशक्तानां विशुद्धये। ज्ञात्वा तीर्थाविशेषं हि प्रायश्चित्तं समाचरेत्।

kāyena kṛcchracaraṇe hyaśaktānāṁ viśuddhaye| jñātvā tīrthāviśeṣaṁ hi prāyaścittaṁ samācaret||

for those unable to undertake bodily penances, for the sake of their purification, having known the particular merit of the tirtha, one should perform expiation accordingly.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.382.42)

तच्छृणुष्व महाराज नर्मदायां यथोचितम्। चतुर्विंशतिसंख्येभ्यो योजनेभ्यो व्रजेन्नरः।

tacchṛṇuṣva mahārāja narmadāyāṁ yathocitam| caturviṁśatisaṁkhyebhyo yojanebhyo vrajennaraḥ||

Hear that, O great king, as is fitting concerning the Narmada: a man who travels from a distance of twenty-four yojanas,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.382.43)

चतुर्विंशतिकृच्छ्राणां फलमाप्नोति शोभनम्। अत ऊर्ध्वं योजनेषु पादकृच्छ्रमुदाहृतः।

caturviṁśatikṛcchrāṇāṁ phalamāpnoti śobhanam| ata ūrdhvaṁ yojaneṣu pādakṛcchramudāhṛtaḥ||

obtains the excellent fruit of twenty-four krichchhra vows. Beyond that, for each additional yojana, a quarter-krichchhra is declared.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.382.44)

तन्मध्ये च महाराज यो व्रजेच्छुद्धिकाङ्क्षया। योजने योजने तस्य प्रायश्चित्तं विदुर्बुधाः।

tanmadhye ca mahārāja yo vrajecchuddhikāṅkṣayā| yojane yojane tasya prāyaścittaṁ vidurbudhāḥ||

O great king, and for one who travels within that range desiring purification, the wise know the expiation due for every single yojana.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.382.45)

प्रणवाख्ये महाराज तथा रेवोरिसंगमे। भृगुक्षेत्रे तथा गत्वा फलं तद्द्विगुणं स्मृतम्।

praṇavākhye mahārāja tathā revorisaṁgame| bhṛgukṣetre tathā gatvā phalaṁ taddviguṇaṁ smṛtam||

O great king, at the place called Pranava, and likewise at the confluence of the Reva and the Ori, and having gone to Bhrigukshetra, double the fruit is declared.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.382.46)

सङ्गमे देवनद्याश्च शूलभेदे नृपोत्तम। द्विगुणं पादहीनं स्यात्करजासंगमे तथा।

saṅgame devanadyāśca śūlabhede nṛpottama| dviguṇaṁ pādahīnaṁ syātkarajāsaṁgame tathā||

O best of kings, at the confluence with the celestial river and at Shulabheda, the fruit is double less a quarter, and likewise at the confluence with the Karaja.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.382.47)

एरण्डीसङ्गमे तद्वत्कपिलायाश्च संगमे। केचित्त्रिगुणितं प्राहुः कुब्जारेवोत्थसङ्गमे।

eraṇḍīsaṅgame tadvatkapilāyāśca saṁgame| kecittriguṇitaṁ prāhuḥ kubjārevotthasaṅgame||

Likewise at the confluence with the Erandi and at the confluence with the Kapila. Some declare threefold merit at the confluence where the Kubja arises from the Reva.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.382.48)

ओंकारे च महाराज तदपि स्यात्समञ्जसम्। सङ्गमेषु तथान्यासां नदीनां रेवया सह।

oṁkāre ca mahārāja tadapi syātsamañjasam| saṅgameṣu tathānyāsāṁ nadīnāṁ revayā saha||

O great king, at Omkara too, that same [threefold measure] is fitting; and likewise at the confluences of the other rivers with the Reva,

Verse 49 (skanda.5.382.49)

प्राहुस्ते सार्धकृच्छ्रं वै फलं पूर्वं युधिष्ठिर। त्रिगुणं कृच्छ्रमाप्नोति रेवासागरसङ्गमे।

prāhuste sārdhakṛcchraṁ vai phalaṁ pūrvaṁ yudhiṣṭhira| triguṇaṁ kṛcchramāpnoti revāsāgarasaṅgame||

O Yudhishthira, they declare the previously mentioned fruit to be a krichchhra-and-a-half. At the confluence of the Reva and the ocean, one obtains threefold krichchhra-fruit.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.382.50)

कृच्छ्रं चतुर्गुणं प्रोक्तं शुक्लतीर्थे युधिष्ठिर। योजने योजने गत्वा चतुर्विंशतियोजनम्। तत्र तत्र वसेद्यस्तु सुचिरं नृवरोत्तम।

kṛcchraṁ caturguṇaṁ proktaṁ śuklatīrthe yudhiṣṭhira| yojane yojane gatvā caturviṁśatiyojanam| tatra tatra vasedyastu suciraṁ nṛvarottama||

O Yudhishthira, at the Shukla tirtha fourfold krichchhra is declared. O best of kings, whoever, travelling yojana by yojana over twenty-four yojanas, dwells for a long time at each and every place,

Verse 51 (skanda.5.382.51)

रेवासेवासमाचारः संयुक्तः शुद्धबुद्धिमान्। दम्भाहङ्काररहितः शुद्ध्यर्थं स विमुच्यते।

revāsevāsamācāraḥ saṁyuktaḥ śuddhabuddhimān| dambhāhaṅkārarahitaḥ śuddhyarthaṁ sa vimucyate||

constantly devoted to the practice of attending upon the Reva, of pure understanding, free from hypocrisy and pride — for the sake of purification, he is liberated.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.382.52)

इति ते कथितं पार्थ प्रायश्चित्तार्थलक्षणम्। रेवायात्राविधानं च गुह्यमेतद्युधिष्ठिर।

iti te kathitaṁ pārtha prāyaścittārthalakṣaṇam| revāyātrāvidhānaṁ ca guhyametadyudhiṣṭhira||

Thus, O Partha, the characteristics pertaining to the purpose of expiation have been told to you. O Yudhishthira, this procedure for the pilgrimage to the Reva is a secret.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.382.53)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच। योजनस्य प्रमाणं मे वद त्वं मुनिसत्तम। यज्ज्ञात्वा निश्चितं मे स्यान्मनःशुद्धेस्तु कारणम्।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca| yojanasya pramāṇaṁ me vada tvaṁ munisattama| yajjñātvā niścitaṁ me syānmanaḥśuddhestu kāraṇam||

Yudhishthira said: O best of sages, tell me the measure of a yojana, knowing which the cause for the purity of my mind may become settled.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.382.54)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। शृणु पाण्डव वक्ष्यामि प्रमाणं योजनस्य यत्। तथा यात्राविशेषेण विशेषं कृच्छ्रसम्भवम्।

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| śṛṇu pāṇḍava vakṣyāmi pramāṇaṁ yojanasya yat| tathā yātrāviśeṣeṇa viśeṣaṁ kṛcchrasambhavam||

Markandeya said: Listen, O Pandava, I shall tell the measure of a yojana, and likewise the particular merit arising from the krichchhra according to the specifics of the journey.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.382.55)

तिर्यग्यवोदराण्यष्टावूर्ध्वा वा व्रीहयस्त्रयः। प्रमाणमङ्गुलस्याहुर्वितस्तिर्द्वादशांगुला।

tiryagyavodarāṇyaṣṭāvūrdhvā vā vrīhayastrayaḥ| pramāṇamaṅgulasyāhurvitastirdvādaśāṁgulā||

Eight barley-corns placed crosswise, or alternatively three rice-grains placed lengthwise, are said to be the measure of one angula; twelve angulas make one vitasti.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.382.56)

वितस्तिद्वितयं हस्तश्चतुर्हस्तं धनुः स्मृतम्। स एव दण्डो गदितो विशेषज्ञैर्युधिष्ठिर।

vitastidvitayaṁ hastaścaturhastaṁ dhanuḥ smṛtam| sa eva daṇḍo gadito viśeṣajñairyudhiṣṭhira||

Two vitastis make one hasta; four hastas are declared to be one dhanus; O Yudhishthira, that very measure is also called a danda by those who know these particulars.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.382.57)

धनुःसहस्रे द्वे क्रोशश्चतुःक्रोशं च योजनम्। एतद्योजनमानं ते कथितं भरतर्षभ।

dhanuḥsahasre dve krośaścatuḥkrośaṁ ca yojanam| etadyojanamānaṁ te kathitaṁ bharatarṣabha||

Two thousand dhanus make one krosha, and four kroshas make one yojana. O bull among the Bharatas, this measure of a yojana has been told to you.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.382.58)

येन यात्रां व्रजन् वेत्ति फलमानं निजार्जितम्। उक्तं कृच्छ्रफलं तीर्थे जलरूपे नृपोत्तम।

yena yātrāṁ vrajan vetti phalamānaṁ nijārjitam| uktaṁ kṛcchraphalaṁ tīrthe jalarūpe nṛpottama||

Knowing this, one travelling on pilgrimage may know the measure of the merit he has earned. O best of kings, the krichchhra-fruit has been declared with respect to the tirtha in the form of water,

Verse 59 (skanda.5.382.59)

यथाविशेषं ते वच्मि पूर्वोक्ते तत्र तत्र च। तन्मे शृणु महीपाल श्रद्दधानाय कथ्यते।

yathāviśeṣaṁ te vacmi pūrvokte tatra tatra ca| tanme śṛṇu mahīpāla śraddadhānāya kathyate||

I shall tell you its particulars for each of the previously mentioned places. O lord of the earth, this is told only for one who has faith — hear it from me.

Verse 60 (skanda.5.382.60)

यस्मिंस्तीर्थे हि यत्प्रोक्तं फलं कृच्छ्रादिकं नृप। तत्राप्युपोषणात्कृच्छ्रफलं प्राप्नोत्यथाधिकम्।

yasmiṁstīrthe hi yatproktaṁ phalaṁ kṛcchrādikaṁ nṛpa| tatrāpyupoṣaṇātkṛcchraphalaṁ prāpnotyathādhikam||

O king, whatever fruit — krichchhra and so on — is declared for a given tirtha, there, through fasting, one obtains even more than that krichchhra-fruit.

Verse 61 (skanda.5.382.61)

दिनजाप्याच्च लभते फलं कृच्छ्रस्य शक्तितः। तत्र विख्यातदेवेशं स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वाभिपूज्य च।

dinajāpyācca labhate phalaṁ kṛcchrasya śaktitaḥ| tatra vikhyātadeveśaṁ snātvā dṛṣṭvābhipūjya ca||

And by a day's recitation too, one obtains the fruit of a krichchhra according to one's ability. There, having bathed, beheld, and duly worshipped the renowned Lord of gods,

Verse 62 (skanda.5.382.62)

प्रणम्य लभते पार्थ फलं कृच्छ्रभवं सुधीः। तीर्थे मुख्यफलं स्नानाद्द्वितीयं चाप्युपोषणात्।

praṇamya labhate pārtha phalaṁ kṛcchrabhavaṁ sudhīḥ| tīrthe mukhyaphalaṁ snānāddvitīyaṁ cāpyupoṣaṇāt||

and having bowed, O Partha, the wise man obtains the fruit arising from a krichchhra. At the tirtha, the principal fruit is from bathing, the second from fasting,

Verse 63 (skanda.5.382.63)

तृतीयं ख्यातदेवस्य दर्शनाभ्यर्चनादिभिः। चतुर्थं जाप्ययोगेन देहशक्त्या त्वहर्निशम्।

tṛtīyaṁ khyātadevasya darśanābhyarcanādibhiḥ| caturthaṁ jāpyayogena dehaśaktyā tvaharniśam||

the third from beholding and worshipping the renowned deity and the like, the fourth by the practice of recitation, day and night, according to the strength of the body.

Verse 64 (skanda.5.382.64)

पञ्चमं सर्वतीर्थेषु कल्पनीयं हि दूरतः। तीरस्थो योजनादर्वाग्दशांशं लभते फलम्।

pañcamaṁ sarvatīrtheṣu kalpanīyaṁ hi dūrataḥ| tīrastho yojanādarvāgdaśāṁśaṁ labhate phalam||

The fifth fruit is to be reckoned at all tirthas even from a distance. One who stays on the bank within a yojana obtains a tenth part of the fruit.

Verse 65 (skanda.5.382.65)

उक्ततीर्थफलात्पार्थ नात्र कार्या विचारणा।

uktatīrthaphalātpārtha nātra kāryā vicāraṇā||

O Partha, regarding the fruit of the tirthas thus declared, no doubt need be entertained here.

Verse 66 (skanda.5.382.66)

उपवासेन सहितं महानद्यां हि मज्जनम्। अप्यर्वाग्योजनात्पार्थ दद्यात्कृच्छ्रफलं नृणाम्।

upavāsena sahitaṁ mahānadyāṁ hi majjanam| apyarvāgyojanātpārtha dadyātkṛcchraphalaṁ nṛṇām||

Immersion in a great river, accompanied by fasting — O Partha, even when done within a single yojana of it — grants men the fruit of a krichchhra.

Verse 67 (skanda.5.382.67)

षड्योजनवहा कुल्य नद्योऽल्पा द्वादशैव च। चतुर्विंशतिगा नद्यो महानद्यस्ततोऽधिकाः।

ṣaḍyojanavahā kulya nadyo'lpā dvādaśaiva ca| caturviṁśatigā nadyo mahānadyastato'dhikāḥ||

Streams flowing for six yojanas are called kulyas; those flowing for twelve are called small rivers; those flowing for twenty-four are called ordinary rivers; and those flowing beyond that are called great rivers.