The Fruit of Reading, Hearing, and Gifting the Reva Khanda, in the Dialogue of Markandeya and Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (skanda.5.384.1)

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच। एवं ते कथितं राजन्पुराणं धर्मसंहितम्। शिवप्रीत्या यथा प्रोक्तं वायुना देवसंसदि।

śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca| evaṁ te kathitaṁ rājanpurāṇaṁ dharmasaṁhitam| śivaprītyā yathā proktaṁ vāyunā devasaṁsadi||

Shri Markandeya said: Thus, O king, this Purana, a compendium of dharma, has been told to you, just as it was declared, out of love for Shiva, by Vayu in the assembly of the gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.384.2)

षष्टितीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोटिस्तथैव च। आदिमध्यावसानेषु नर्मदायां पदे पदे।

ṣaṣṭitīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭistathaiva ca| ādimadhyāvasāneṣu narmadāyāṁ pade pade||

Sixty thousand tirthas, and likewise sixty crores, exist at the beginning, middle, and end, at every place along the course of the Narmada.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.384.3)

मया द्वादशसाहस्री संहिता या श्रुता पुरा। देवदेवस्य गदतः साम्प्रतं कथिता तव।

mayā dvādaśasāhasrī saṁhitā yā śrutā purā| devadevasya gadataḥ sāmprataṁ kathitā tava||

The compendium of twelve thousand verses which I formerly heard from the mouth of the God of gods has now been told to you.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.384.4)

पृष्टस्त्वयाहं भूपाल पर्वतेऽमरकण्टके। स्थितः संक्षेपतः सर्वं मया तत्कथितं तव।

pṛṣṭastvayāhaṁ bhūpāla parvate'marakaṇṭake| sthitaḥ saṁkṣepataḥ sarvaṁ mayā tatkathitaṁ tava||

O king, having been asked by you while I abided on the mountain Amarakantaka, I have told you all of that in brief.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.384.5)

नर्मदाचरितं पुण्यं शृणु तस्यास्ति यत्फलम्। यत्फलं सर्ववेदैः स्यात्सषडङ्गपदक्रमैः।

narmadācaritaṁ puṇyaṁ śṛṇu tasyāsti yatphalam| yatphalaṁ sarvavedaiḥ syātsaṣaḍaṅgapadakramaiḥ||

Now hear the fruit belonging to this holy Narmada-charita. That fruit which would come from all the Vedas together with their six auxiliary sciences and the pada and krama methods of recitation —

Verse 6 (skanda.5.384.6)

पठितैश्च श्रुतैर्वापि तस्माद्बहुतरं भवेत्। सत्रयाजी फलं यत्र लभते द्वादशाब्दिकम्।

paṭhitaiśca śrutairvāpi tasmādbahutaraṁ bhavet| satrayājī phalaṁ yatra labhate dvādaśābdikam||

whether by reciting or by hearing them, this text's fruit is far greater than that. The fruit that a performer of the twelve-year sattra sacrifice obtains,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.384.7)

चरिते तु श्रुते देव्या लभते तादृशं फलम्। सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं स्नात्वा सागरमादितः।

carite tu śrute devyā labhate tādṛśaṁ phalam| sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṁ snātvā sāgaramāditaḥ||

that very fruit is obtained by hearing the account of the Goddess. Whatever merit there is in bathing at all the tirthas, beginning from the ocean,

Verse 8 (skanda.5.384.8)

सकृत्स्नात्वा तथा श्रुत्वा नर्मदायां फलं हि तत्। आदिमध्यावसानेन नर्मदाचरितं शुभम्।

sakṛtsnātvā tathā śrutvā narmadāyāṁ phalaṁ hi tat| ādimadhyāvasānena narmadācaritaṁ śubham||

that same fruit comes from bathing even once in the Narmada, or likewise from hearing it. Whoever hears this auspicious Narmada-charita, in its beginning, middle, and end,

Verse 9 (skanda.5.384.9)

यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु। स प्राप्य शिवसंस्थानं रुद्रकन्यासमावृतः।

yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā tasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu| sa prāpya śivasaṁsthānaṁ rudrakanyāsamāvṛtaḥ||

with devotion — hear his fruit of merit: having attained the abode of Shiva, surrounded by the daughters of Rudra,

Verse 10 (skanda.5.384.10)

रुद्रस्यानुचरो भूत्वा तेनैव सह मोदते। एतद्धर्ममुपाख्यानं सर्वशास्त्रेषु सत्तमम्।

rudrasyānucaro bhūtvā tenaiva saha modate| etaddharmamupākhyānaṁ sarvaśāstreṣu sattamam||

becoming an attendant of Rudra, he rejoices there with him. This narrative of dharma is the foremost among all scriptures.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.384.11)

देशे वा मण्डले वापि वा ग्रामे नगरेऽपि वा। गृहे वा तिष्ठते यस्य चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य भारत।

deśe vā maṇḍale vāpi vā grāme nagare'pi vā| gṛhe vā tiṣṭhate yasya cāturvarṇyasya bhārata||

O Bharata, in whatever country, district, village, city, or house this text resides for any of the four varnas,

Verse 12 (skanda.5.384.12)

स ब्रह्मा स शिवः साक्षात्स च देवो जनार्दनः। त्रिविधं कारणं लोके धर्मपन्थानमुत्तमम्।

sa brahmā sa śivaḥ sākṣātsa ca devo janārdanaḥ| trividhaṁ kāraṇaṁ loke dharmapanthānamuttamam||

he is Brahma in person, he is Shiva, and he is also the god Janardana. The threefold cause of the supreme path of dharma in the world —

Verse 13 (skanda.5.384.13)

देवतानां गुरुं शास्त्रं परमं सिद्धिकारणम्। श्रुत्वेश्वरमुखात्पार्थ मयापि तव कीर्तितम्।

devatānāṁ guruṁ śāstraṁ paramaṁ siddhikāraṇam| śrutveśvaramukhātpārtha mayāpi tava kīrtitam||

the scripture that is the guru of the gods, the supreme cause of accomplishment — O Partha, having heard it from the mouth of Ishvara, I too have declared it to you.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.384.14)

दक्षिणे चोत्तरे कूले यानि तीर्थानि कानिचित्। प्रधानतः सुपुण्यानि कथितानि विशेषतः।

dakṣiṇe cottare kūle yāni tīrthāni kānicit| pradhānataḥ supuṇyāni kathitāni viśeṣataḥ||

Whatever tirthas there are on the southern and northern banks, the especially holy ones among them have been told in particular, according to their importance.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.384.15)

स्पर्शनाद्दर्शनात्तेषां कीर्तनाच्छ्रवणात्तथा। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति।

sparśanāddarśanātteṣāṁ kīrtanācchravaṇāttathā| mucyate sarvapāpebhyo rudralokaṁ sa gacchati||

By touching them, by seeing them, by reciting of them, and likewise by hearing of them, one is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Rudra.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.384.16)

इदं यः शृणुयान्नित्यं पुराणं शिवभाषितम्। ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्यावान् क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत्।

idaṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ purāṇaṁ śivabhāṣitam| brāhmaṇo vedavidyāvān kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet||

Whoever constantly listens to this Purana spoken by Shiva — a brahmin becomes accomplished in the knowledge of the Vedas, a kshatriya becomes victorious,

Verse 17 (skanda.5.384.17)

धनभागी भवेद्वैश्यः शूद्रो वै धर्मभाग्भवेत्। सौभाग्यं सन्ततिं स्वर्गं नारी श्रुत्वाप्नुयाद्धनम्।

dhanabhāgī bhavedvaiśyaḥ śūdro vai dharmabhāgbhavet| saubhāgyaṁ santatiṁ svargaṁ nārī śrutvāpnuyāddhanam||

a vaishya becomes possessed of wealth, and a shudra becomes possessed of dharma; a woman, by hearing it, obtains good fortune, progeny, heaven, and wealth.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.384.18)

ब्रह्मघ्नश्च सुरापश्च स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः। माहात्म्यं नर्मदायास्तु श्रुत्वा पापबहिष्कृताः।

brahmaghnaśca surāpaśca steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ| māhātmyaṁ narmadāyāstu śrutvā pāpabahiṣkṛtāḥ||

A slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, and one who violates his guru's wife — all of these, having heard the greatness of the Narmada, are freed from sin.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.384.19)

पापभेदी कृतघ्नश्च स्वामिविश्वासघातकः। गोघ्नश्च गरदश्चैव कन्याविक्रयकारकः।

pāpabhedī kṛtaghnaśca svāmiviśvāsaghātakaḥ| goghnaśca garadaścaiva kanyāvikrayakārakaḥ||

One who instigates sin, an ingrate, a betrayer of his master's trust, a killer of a cow, a poisoner, and one who sells his daughter —

Verse 20 (skanda.5.384.20)

एते श्रुत्वैव पापेभ्यो मुच्यन्ते नात्र संशयः। ये पुनर्भावितात्मानः शृण्वन्ति सततं नृप।

ete śrutvaiva pāpebhyo mucyante nātra saṁśayaḥ| ye punarbhāvitātmānaḥ śṛṇvanti satataṁ nṛpa||

all of these are freed from their sins merely by hearing it — there is no doubt in this. And O king, those of pure heart who constantly listen to it,

Verse 21 (skanda.5.384.21)

पूजयन्त इदं देवाः पूजिता गुरवश्च तैः। नर्मदा पूजिता तेन भगवांश्च महेश्वरः।

pūjayanta idaṁ devāḥ pūjitā guravaśca taiḥ| narmadā pūjitā tena bhagavāṁśca maheśvaraḥ||

by honoring this text — through them the gods are honored, and their gurus too are honored; thereby the Narmada is honored, and so is the Lord Maheshvara.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.384.22)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गन्धपुष्पविभूषणैः। पूजितं परया भक्त्या शास्त्रमेतत्फलप्रदम्।

tasmātsarvaprayatnena gandhapuṣpavibhūṣaṇaiḥ| pūjitaṁ parayā bhaktyā śāstrametatphalapradam||

Therefore, with every effort, with fragrance, flowers, and ornaments, this scripture, honored with the highest devotion, bestows its fruit.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.384.23)

लेखापयित्वा सकलं नर्मदाचरितं शुभम्। उत्तमं सर्वशास्त्रेभ्यो यो ददाति द्विजन्मने।

lekhāpayitvā sakalaṁ narmadācaritaṁ śubham| uttamaṁ sarvaśāstrebhyo yo dadāti dvijanmane||

Whoever, having had the entire auspicious Narmada-charita — the foremost of all scriptures — copied out, gives it to a twice-born,

Verse 24 (skanda.5.384.24)

नर्मदासर्वतीर्थेषु स्नाने दाने च यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति स नरो नात्र संशयः।

narmadāsarvatīrtheṣu snāne dāne ca yatphalam| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti sa naro nātra saṁśayaḥ||

obtains the very fruit that comes from bathing and giving gifts at all the tirthas of the Narmada — there is no doubt of this.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.384.25)

एतत्पुराणं रुद्रोक्तं महापुण्यफलप्रदम्। स्वर्गदं पुत्रदं धन्यं यशस्यं कीर्तिवर्धनम्।

etatpurāṇaṁ rudroktaṁ mahāpuṇyaphalapradam| svargadaṁ putradaṁ dhanyaṁ yaśasyaṁ kīrtivardhanam||

This Purana, spoken by Rudra, bestows the fruit of great merit; it grants heaven, grants sons, is auspicious, brings fame, and increases renown.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.384.26)

सर्वपापहरं पार्थ दुःखदुःस्वप्ननाशनम्। पठतां शृण्वतां राजन् सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम्।

sarvapāpaharaṁ pārtha duḥkhaduḥsvapnanāśanam| paṭhatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ rājan sarvakāmārthasiddhidam||

O Partha, it removes all sin and destroys sorrow and evil dreams. O king, for those who recite or hear it, it grants the fulfillment of all desires and aims.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.384.27)

शान्तिरस्तु शिवं चास्तु लोकाः सन्तु निरामयाः। गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः स्वस्त्यस्तु धर्मं धर्मात्मजाश्रयः।

śāntirastu śivaṁ cāstu lokāḥ santu nirāmayāḥ| gobrāhmaṇebhyaḥ svastyastu dharmaṁ dharmātmajāśrayaḥ||

May there be peace, may there be auspiciousness, may the worlds be free from disease; may there be well-being for cows and brahmins; may dharma be the refuge of the sons of the righteous.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.384.28)

नरकान्तकरी रेवा सतीर्था विश्वपावनी। नर्मदा धर्मदा चास्तु शर्मदा पार्थ ते सदा।

narakāntakarī revā satīrthā viśvapāvanī| narmadā dharmadā cāstu śarmadā pārtha te sadā||

May this Reva, the destroyer of hell, together with her sacred tirthas, the purifier of the universe — may this Narmada, O Partha, ever be the bestower of dharma and happiness for you.