The Completion of the Reva Khanda: The Greatness of Gifting the Book of the Reva Khanda

Verse 1 (skanda.5.387.1)

सूत उवाच। इति वः कथितं विप्रा रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। यथोपदिष्टं पार्थाय मार्कण्डेयेन वै पुरा।

sūta uvāca| iti vaḥ kathitaṁ viprā revāmāhātmyamuttamam| yathopadiṣṭaṁ pārthāya mārkaṇḍeyena vai purā||

Suta said: O brahmins, thus has the excellent greatness of the Reva been told to you, just as it was formerly taught to Partha by Markandeya.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.387.2)

तथा तीर्थकदम्बाश्च तेषु तीर्थविशेषतः। प्राधान्येन मया ख्याता यथासङ्ख्यं यथाक्रमम्।

tathā tīrthakadambāśca teṣu tīrthaviśeṣataḥ| prādhānyena mayā khyātā yathāsaṅkhyaṁ yathākramam||

And likewise the clusters of tirthas, and among them the particular tirthas, have been declared by me according to their importance, in their number and in due order.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.387.3)

एतत्पवित्रमतुलं ह्येतत्पापहरं परम्। नर्मदाचरितं पुण्यं माहात्म्यं मुनिभाषितम्।

etatpavitramatulaṁ hyetatpāpaharaṁ param| narmadācaritaṁ puṇyaṁ māhātmyaṁ munibhāṣitam||

This is matchlessly pure, this is a supreme remover of sin — this holy "Narmada-charita," the greatness spoken by the sage.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.387.4)

सप्तकल्पानुगो विप्रो नर्मदायां मुनीश्वराः। मृकण्डतनयो धीमान्परमार्थविदुत्तमः।

saptakalpānugo vipro narmadāyāṁ munīśvarāḥ| mṛkaṇḍatanayo dhīmānparamārthaviduttamaḥ||

O lords of sages, the brahmin who lived through seven kalpas, the best knower of the supreme truth — the wise son of Mrikandu —

Verse 5 (skanda.5.387.5)

संसेव्य सर्वतीर्थानि नदीः सर्वाश्च वै पुरा। बहुकल्पस्मरां रेवामालक्ष्य शिवदेहजाम्।

saṁsevya sarvatīrthāni nadīḥ sarvāśca vai purā| bahukalpasmarāṁ revāmālakṣya śivadehajām||

having formerly resorted to all the tirthas and all the rivers, having beheld the Reva — she who remembers many kalpas, born from the body of Shiva,

Verse 6 (skanda.5.387.6)

मे कलेति च शर्वोक्तां शरणं शर्वजां ययौ। अजराममरां देवीं दैत्यध्वंसकरीं पराम्।

me kaleti ca śarvoktāṁ śaraṇaṁ śarvajāṁ yayau| ajarāmamarāṁ devīṁ daityadhvaṁsakarīṁ parām||

and called by Shiva his "own portion" — he went for refuge to her, the daughter of Shiva, the supreme goddess free from age and death, the destroyer of the daityas,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.387.7)

महाविभवसंयुक्तां भवघ्नीं भवजाह्नवीम्। तस्यामाबध्य सत्प्रेम जातः सोऽप्यजरामरः।

mahāvibhavasaṁyuktāṁ bhavaghnīṁ bhavajāhnavīm| tasyāmābadhya satprema jātaḥ so'pyajarāmaraḥ||

endowed with great majesty, the destroyer of worldly bondage, the Ganga born of Shiva — having bound his true love upon her, he too became free from age and death.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.387.8)

षष्टितीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यश्च सत्तमाः। व्यवस्थितानि रेवायास्तीरयुग्मे पदे पदे।

ṣaṣṭitīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭyaśca sattamāḥ| vyavasthitāni revāyāstīrayugme pade pade||

O most excellent ones, sixty thousand tirthas, and sixty crores, are established at every place on the pair of banks of the Reva.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.387.9)

सारितः परितः सन्ति सतीर्थास्तु सहस्रशः। न तुलां यान्ति रेवायास्ताश्च मन्ये मुनीश्वराः।

sāritaḥ paritaḥ santi satīrthāstu sahasraśaḥ| na tulāṁ yānti revāyāstāśca manye munīśvarāḥ||

O lords of sages, all around there are thousands of rivers with their own tirthas; but I consider that they do not come to equal the Reva.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.387.10)

एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं यत्पृष्टमखिलं द्विजाः। यन्महेशमुखाच्छ्रुत्वा वायुराह ऋषीन्प्रति।

etadvaḥ kathitaṁ sarvaṁ yatpṛṣṭamakhilaṁ dvijāḥ| yanmaheśamukhācchrutvā vāyurāha ṛṣīnprati||

O brahmins, all that was asked has been told to you in full — that which Vayu, having heard from the mouth of Mahesha, declared to the sages.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.387.11)

तद्वन्मृकण्डतनयोऽप्यनुभूयाखिलां नदीम्। सतीर्थां पदशः प्राह पाण्डुपुत्राय पावनीम्।

tadvanmṛkaṇḍatanayo'pyanubhūyākhilāṁ nadīm| satīrthāṁ padaśaḥ prāha pāṇḍuputrāya pāvanīm||

Likewise, the son of Mrikandu too, having experienced the entire purifying river with her tirthas, declared her place by place to the son of Pandu.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.387.12)

एतच्च कथितं सर्वं संक्षेपेण द्विजोत्तमाः। नर्मदाचरितं पुण्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम्।

etacca kathitaṁ sarvaṁ saṁkṣepeṇa dvijottamāḥ| narmadācaritaṁ puṇyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu durlabham||

O best of the twice-born, all this has been told in summary — this holy "Narmada-charita," which is hard to obtain in the three worlds.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.387.13)

किमन्यैः सरितां तोयैः सेवितैस्तु सहस्रशः। यदि संसेव्यते तोयं रेवायाः पापनाशनम्।

kimanyaiḥ saritāṁ toyaiḥ sevitaistu sahasraśaḥ| yadi saṁsevyate toyaṁ revāyāḥ pāpanāśanam||

What use are the waters of other rivers, resorted to though they be by thousands, if instead the sin-destroying water of the Reva is resorted to?

Verse 14 (skanda.5.387.14)

मेकलाजलसंसेवी मुक्तिमाप्नोति शाश्वतीम्।

mekalājalasaṁsevī muktimāpnoti śāśvatīm||

One who resorts to the water of the Mekala attains eternal liberation.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.387.15)

यथा यथा भजेन्मर्त्यो यद्यदिच्छति तीर्थगः। तत्तदाप्नोति नियतं श्रद्धयाश्रद्धयापि च।

yathā yathā bhajenmartyo yadyadicchati tīrthagaḥ| tattadāpnoti niyataṁ śraddhayāśraddhayāpi ca||

In whatever manner a pilgrim worships, whatever he desires, that he certainly obtains — whether with faith or even without faith.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.387.16)

इदं ब्रह्मा हरिरिदमिदं साक्षात्परो हरः। इदं ब्रह्म निराकारं कैवल्यं नर्मदाजलम्।

idaṁ brahmā hariridamidaṁ sākṣātparo haraḥ| idaṁ brahma nirākāraṁ kaivalyaṁ narmadājalam||

This water is Brahma, this is Hari, this is indeed Hara himself; this water of the Narmada is the formless Brahman, the state of kaivalya.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.387.17)

तावद्गर्जन्ति तीर्थानि नद्यो हृदयफलप्रदाः। यावन्न स्मर्यते रेवा सेवाहेवा कलौ नरैः।

tāvadgarjanti tīrthāni nadyo hṛdayaphalapradāḥ| yāvanna smaryate revā sevāhevā kalau naraiḥ||

So long as, in the Kali age, the Reva, worthy of service, is not remembered by men, the other tirthas and rivers, though granting the fruit desired by the heart, keep on boasting.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.387.18)

ध्रुवं लोके हितार्थाय शिवेन स्वशरीरतः। शक्तिः कापि सरिद्रूपा रेवेयमवतारिता।

dhruvaṁ loke hitārthāya śivena svaśarīrataḥ| śaktiḥ kāpi saridrūpā reveyamavatāritā||

Certainly, for the welfare of the world, Shiva has brought down, from his own body, a certain Shakti in the form of a river — this Reva.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.387.19)

तावद्गर्जन्ति यज्ञाश्च वनक्षेत्रादयो भृशम्। यावन्न नर्मदानामकीर्तनं क्रियते कलौ।

tāvadgarjanti yajñāśca vanakṣetrādayo bhṛśam| yāvanna narmadānāmakīrtanaṁ kriyate kalau||

So long as, in the Kali age, the recitation of the Narmada's name is not performed, sacrifices, forests, sacred fields, and the like keep on boasting greatly.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.387.20)

गरिमा गाण्यते तावत्तपोदानव्रतादिषु। नरैर्वा प्राप्यते यावद्भुवि भर्गभवा धुनी।

garimā gāṇyate tāvattapodānavratādiṣu| narairvā prāpyate yāvadbhuvi bhargabhavā dhunī||

So long as men do not attain on earth this river born of Shiva, the glory of austerity, charity, vows, and the like continues to be sung.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.387.21)

ये वसन्त्युत्तरे कूले रुद्रस्यानुचरा हि ते। वसन्ति याम्यतीरे ये लोकं ते यान्ति वैष्णवम्।

ye vasantyuttare kūle rudrasyānucarā hi te| vasanti yāmyatīre ye lokaṁ te yānti vaiṣṇavam||

Those who dwell on the northern bank become attendants of Rudra; those who dwell on the southern bank go to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.387.22)

धन्यास्ते देशवर्यास्ते येषु देशेषु नर्मदा। नरकान्तकरी शश्वत्संश्रिता शर्वनिर्मिता।

dhanyāste deśavaryāste yeṣu deśeṣu narmadā| narakāntakarī śaśvatsaṁśritā śarvanirmitā||

Blessed, and the best of lands, are those regions in which the Narmada, the destroyer of hell, made by Shiva, ever abides.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.387.23)

कृतपुण्याश्च ते लोकाः शोकाय न भवन्ति ते। ये पिबन्ति जलं पुण्यं पार्वतीपतिसिन्धुजम्।

kṛtapuṇyāśca te lokāḥ śokāya na bhavanti te| ye pibanti jalaṁ puṇyaṁ pārvatīpatisindhujam||

Those people are of accomplished merit and are not destined for sorrow, who drink the holy water born of the river of Parvati's lord.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.387.24)

इदं पवित्रमतुलं रेवायाश्चरितं द्विजाः। शृणोति यः कीर्तयते मुच्यते सर्वपातकः।

idaṁ pavitramatulaṁ revāyāścaritaṁ dvijāḥ| śṛṇoti yaḥ kīrtayate mucyate sarvapātakaḥ||

O brahmins, whoever hears or recites this matchlessly pure account of the Reva is freed from every sin.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.387.25)

यत्फलं सर्ववेदैश्च सषडङ्गपदक्रमैः। श्रुतैश्च पठितैस्तस्मात्फलमष्टगुणं भवेत्।

yatphalaṁ sarvavedaiśca saṣaḍaṅgapadakramaiḥ| śrutaiśca paṭhitaistasmātphalamaṣṭaguṇaṁ bhavet||

Whatever fruit there is from hearing or reciting all the Vedas together with their six auxiliaries and the pada and krama methods — the fruit of this text is eight times greater than that.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.387.26)

सत्रयाजी फलं यच्च लभते द्वादशाब्दिकम्। श्रुत्वा सकृच्च रेवायाश्चरितं तत्फलं लभेत्।

satrayājī phalaṁ yacca labhate dvādaśābdikam| śrutvā sakṛcca revāyāścaritaṁ tatphalaṁ labhet||

The fruit that a performer of the twelve-year sattra sacrifice obtains — that same fruit one obtains merely by hearing the account of the Reva even once.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.387.27)

सर्वतीर्थावगाहाच्च यत्फलं सागरादिषु। सकृच्छ्रुत्वा च माहात्म्यं रेवायास्तत्फलं लभेत्।

sarvatīrthāvagāhācca yatphalaṁ sāgarādiṣu| sakṛcchrutvā ca māhātmyaṁ revāyāstatphalaṁ labhet||

Whatever fruit there is from immersion at all the tirthas, beginning with the ocean — that same fruit one obtains merely by hearing the greatness of the Reva once.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.387.28)

एतद्धर्म्यमुपाख्यानं सर्वशास्त्रेष्वनुत्तमम्। देशे वा मण्डले वापि नगरे ग्राममध्यतः।

etaddharmyamupākhyānaṁ sarvaśāstreṣvanuttamam| deśe vā maṇḍale vāpi nagare grāmamadhyataḥ||

This righteous narrative is unsurpassed among all scriptures. In whatever country, or district, or city, or in the midst of a village,

Verse 29 (skanda.5.387.29)

गृहे वा तिष्ठते यस्य लिखितं सार्ववार्णिकम्। स ब्रह्मा स शिवः साक्षात्स च देवो जनार्दनः।

gṛhe vā tiṣṭhate yasya likhitaṁ sārvavārṇikam| sa brahmā sa śivaḥ sākṣātsa ca devo janārdanaḥ||

or house, a written copy of it resides, accessible to all the varnas, that person is Brahma in person, is Shiva, and is also the god Janardana.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.387.30)

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां मार्गेऽयं देवसेवितः। गुरूणां च गुरुः शास्त्रं परमं सिद्धिकारणम्।

dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṁ mārge'yaṁ devasevitaḥ| gurūṇāṁ ca guruḥ śāstraṁ paramaṁ siddhikāraṇam||

On the path of dharma, artha, kama, and moksha, this text, honored by the gods, is the guru of gurus, the supreme cause of accomplishment.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.387.31)

यश्चेदं शृणुयान्नित्यं पुराणं देवभाषितम्। ब्राह्मणो वेदवान्भूयात्क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत्।

yaścedaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ purāṇaṁ devabhāṣitam| brāhmaṇo vedavānbhūyātkṣatriyo vijayī bhavet||

Whoever constantly hears this Purana spoken by the god — a brahmin becomes learned in the Vedas, a kshatriya becomes victorious,

Verse 32 (skanda.5.387.32)

धनाढ्यो जायते वैश्यः शूद्रो वै धर्मभाग्भवेत्।

dhanāḍhyo jāyate vaiśyaḥ śūdro vai dharmabhāgbhavet||

a vaishya becomes wealthy, and a shudra becomes possessed of dharma.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.387.33)

सौभाग्यसन्ततिं नारी श्रुत्वैतत्समवाप्नुयात्। श्रियं सौख्यं स्वर्गवासं जन्म चैवोत्तमे कुले।

saubhāgyasantatiṁ nārī śrutvaitatsamavāpnuyāt| śriyaṁ saukhyaṁ svargavāsaṁ janma caivottame kule||

A woman, by hearing this, obtains good fortune and progeny, and likewise prosperity, happiness, dwelling in heaven, and birth in an excellent family.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.387.34)

रसभेदी कृतघ्नश्च स्वामिध्रुङ्मित्रवञ्चकः। गोघ्नश्च गरदश्चैव कन्याविक्रयकारकः।

rasabhedī kṛtaghnaśca svāmidhruṅmitravañcakaḥ| goghnaśca garadaścaiva kanyāvikrayakārakaḥ||

One who spoils another's food out of malice, an ingrate, a betrayer of his master, a deceiver of friends, a killer of a cow, a poisoner, and one who sells his daughter,

Verse 35 (skanda.5.387.35)

ब्रह्मघ्नश्च सुरापी च स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः। नर्मदाचरितं शृण्वंस्तामब्दं योऽभिषेवते।

brahmaghnaśca surāpī ca steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ| narmadācaritaṁ śṛṇvaṁstāmabdaṁ yo'bhiṣevate||

a slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, and one who violates his guru's bed — whoever, hearing the account of the Narmada, resorts to her for a year,

Verse 36 (skanda.5.387.36)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो जायते नात्र संशयः। पाकभेदी वृथापाकी देवब्राह्मणनिन्दकः।

sarvapāpavinirmukto jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ| pākabhedī vṛthāpākī devabrāhmaṇanindakaḥ||

becomes free from all sin — there is no doubt of this. One who maliciously spoils another's cooking, one who cooks wastefully, a reviler of gods and brahmins,

Verse 37 (skanda.5.387.37)

परीवादी गुरोः पित्रोः साधूनां नृपतेस्तथा। तेऽपि श्रुत्वा च पापेभ्यो मुच्यन्ते नात्र संशयः।

parīvādī guroḥ pitroḥ sādhūnāṁ nṛpatestathā| te'pi śrutvā ca pāpebhyo mucyante nātra saṁśayaḥ||

a slanderer of his guru, his parents, of holy men, and likewise of the king — these too, merely by hearing it, are freed from their sins; there is no doubt of this.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.387.38)

ये पुनर्भावितात्मानः शास्त्रं शृण्वन्ति नित्यशः। पूजयन्ति च तच्छास्त्रं नार्मदं वस्त्रभूषणैः।

ye punarbhāvitātmānaḥ śāstraṁ śṛṇvanti nityaśaḥ| pūjayanti ca tacchāstraṁ nārmadaṁ vastrabhūṣaṇaiḥ||

And those of purified soul who constantly hear this scripture, and worship this scripture of the Narmada with garments and ornaments,

Verse 39 (skanda.5.387.39)

पुष्पैः फलैश्चन्दनाद्यैर्भोजनैर्विविधैरपि। शास्त्रेऽस्मिन्पूजिते देवाः पूजिता गुरवस्तथा।

puṣpaiḥ phalaiścandanādyairbhojanairvividhairapi| śāstre'sminpūjite devāḥ pūjitā guravastathā||

with flowers, fruits, sandal and the like, and with various foods — when this scripture is worshipped, the gods are honored, and likewise the gurus are honored.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.387.40)

इह लोके परे चैव नात्र कार्या विचारणा। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन गन्धवस्त्रादिभूषणैः।

iha loke pare caiva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā| tasmātsarvaprayatnena gandhavastrādibhūṣaṇaiḥ||

in this world and in the next alike — no doubt need be entertained here. Therefore, with every effort, with fragrance, garments, and other ornaments,

Verse 41 (skanda.5.387.41)

पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या वाचकं शास्त्रमेव च। वेदपाठैश्च यत्पुण्यमग्निहोत्रैश्च पालितैः।

pūjayetparayā bhaktyā vācakaṁ śāstrameva ca| vedapāṭhaiśca yatpuṇyamagnihotraiśca pālitaiḥ||

one should worship the reciter and the scripture itself with supreme devotion. Whatever merit there is from the recitation of the Vedas, and from duly maintained fire-oblations,

Verse 42 (skanda.5.387.42)

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति नर्मदाचरिते शुभे। कुरुक्षेत्रे च यत्पुण्यं प्रभासे पुष्करे तथा।

tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti narmadācarite śubhe| kurukṣetre ca yatpuṇyaṁ prabhāse puṣkare tathā||

that same fruit is obtained from this auspicious "Narmada-charita." And whatever merit there is at Kurukshetra, at Prabhasa, and likewise at Pushkara,

Verse 43 (skanda.5.387.43)

रुद्रावर्ते गयायां च वाराणस्यां विशेषतः। गङ्गाद्वारे प्रयागे च गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे।

rudrāvarte gayāyāṁ ca vārāṇasyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| gaṅgādvāre prayāge ca gaṅgāsāgarasaṅgame||

at Rudravarta, and at Gaya, and especially at Varanasi, at Gangadvara, at Prayaga, and at the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean,

Verse 44 (skanda.5.387.44)

एवमादिषु तीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं जायते नृणाम्। नर्मदाचरितं श्रुत्वा तत्पुण्यं सकलं लभेत्।

evamādiṣu tīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṁ jāyate nṛṇām| narmadācaritaṁ śrutvā tatpuṇyaṁ sakalaṁ labhet||

whatever merit accrues to men at these and other such tirthas — by hearing the "Narmada-charita," one obtains that merit entirely.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.387.45)

आदिमध्यावसानेषु नर्मदाचरितं शुभम्। यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या शृणुध्वं तत्फलं महत्।

ādimadhyāvasāneṣu narmadācaritaṁ śubham| yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā śṛṇudhvaṁ tatphalaṁ mahat||

Whatever man hears with devotion this auspicious "Narmada-charita," in its beginning, middle, and end — hear his great fruit.

Verse 46 (skanda.5.387.46)

समाप्य शिवसंस्थानं देवकन्यासमावृतः। रुद्रस्यानुचरो भूत्वा शिवेन सह मोदते।

samāpya śivasaṁsthānaṁ devakanyāsamāvṛtaḥ| rudrasyānucaro bhūtvā śivena saha modate||

Having attained the abode of Shiva, surrounded by the daughters of the gods, becoming an attendant of Rudra, he rejoices together with Shiva.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.387.47)

धर्माख्यानमिदं पुण्यं सर्वाख्यानेष्वनुत्तमम्। गृहेऽपि पठ्यते यस्य चतुर्वर्णस्य सत्तमाः।

dharmākhyānamidaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvākhyāneṣvanuttamam| gṛhe'pi paṭhyate yasya caturvarṇasya sattamāḥ||

O most excellent ones, this holy narrative of dharma is unsurpassed among all narratives; in whosever house, of any of the four varnas, it is recited,

Verse 48 (skanda.5.387.48)

धन्यं तस्य गृहं मन्ये गृहस्थं चापि तत्कुलम्। पुस्तकं पूजयेद्यस्तु नर्मदाचरितस्य तु।

dhanyaṁ tasya gṛhaṁ manye gṛhasthaṁ cāpi tatkulam| pustakaṁ pūjayedyastu narmadācaritasya tu||

I consider that person's house blessed, and likewise his householder-lineage. And whoever worships the manuscript of the "Narmada-charita",

Verse 49 (skanda.5.387.49)

नर्मदा पूजिता तेन भगवांश्च महेश्वरः। वाचके पूजिते तद्वद्देवाश्च ऋषयोऽर्चिताः।

narmadā pūjitā tena bhagavāṁśca maheśvaraḥ| vācake pūjite tadvaddevāśca ṛṣayo'rcitāḥ||

by him the Narmada is honored, and the Lord Maheshvara too; and when the reciter is honored, the gods and the sages are likewise worshipped.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.387.50)

लेखयित्वा च सकलं रेवाचरितमुत्तमम्। भूषणं सर्वशास्त्राणां यो ददाति द्विजन्मने।

lekhayitvā ca sakalaṁ revācaritamuttamam| bhūṣaṇaṁ sarvaśāstrāṇāṁ yo dadāti dvijanmane||

And whoever, having had the entire excellent "Reva-charita" — the ornament of all scriptures — copied out, gives it to a twice-born,

Verse 51 (skanda.5.387.51)

नर्मदासर्वतीर्थेषु स्नानदानेन यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति स नरो नात्र संशयः।

narmadāsarvatīrtheṣu snānadānena 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 52 (skanda.5.387.52)

एतत्पुराणं रुद्रोक्तं महापुण्यफलप्रदम्। स्वर्गदं पुत्रदं धन्यं यशस्यं कीर्त्तिवर्धनम्।

etatpurāṇaṁ rudroktaṁ mahāpuṇyaphalapradam| svargadaṁ putradaṁ dhanyaṁ yaśasyaṁ kīrttivardhanam||

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

Verse 53 (skanda.5.387.53)

धर्म्यमायुष्यमतुलं दुःखदुःस्वप्ननाशनम्। पठतां शृण्वतां चापि सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम्।

dharmyamāyuṣyamatulaṁ duḥkhaduḥsvapnanāśanam| paṭhatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ cāpi sarvakāmārthasiddhidam||

It is righteous, matchlessly life-giving, and destroys sorrow and evil dreams; for those who recite or hear it, it bestows the fulfillment of all desires and aims.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.387.54)

यत्प्रदत्तमिदं पुण्यं पुराणं वाच्यते द्विजैः। शिवलोके स्थितिस्तस्य पुराणाक्षरवत्सरी।

yatpradattamidaṁ puṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ vācyate dvijaiḥ| śivaloke sthitistasya purāṇākṣaravatsarī||

Whatever merit is gained by having this holy Purana recited by brahmins — by that, one's abode in the world of Shiva lasts for as many years as there are syllables in the Purana.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.387.55)

इति निगदितमेतन्नर्मदायाश्चरित्रं पवनगदितमग्र्यं शर्ववक्त्रादवाप्य। त्रिभुवनजनवन्द्यं त्वेतदादौ मुनीनां कुलपतिपुरतस्तत्सूतमुख्येन साधु।

iti nigaditametannarmadāyāścaritraṁ pavanagaditamagryaṁ śarvavaktrādavāpya| tribhuvanajanavandyaṁ tvetadādau munīnāṁ kulapatipuratastatsūtamukhyena sādhu||

Thus has this account of the Narmada been declared — this foremost account, spoken by Vayu, obtained from the mouth of Sharva himself, worthy of veneration by the people of the three worlds; and this, at the very beginning, was well told before the patriarch of the sages by the foremost of Sutas.