The Glory of Vindhyavasini and the Vimaloda Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.55.1)

व्यास उवाच। कोऽसौ विंध्यगिरिर्ब्रह्मन् कदा काले समागतः। महाकालवने रम्ये केन वा प्रेषितः पुरा

vyāsa uvāca| ko'sau viṁdhyagirirbrahman kadā kāle samāgataḥ| mahākālavane ramye kena vā preṣitaḥ purā

Vyasa asked: Who is this Vindhya mountain, O Brahmin, and at what time did it come here? By whom, long ago, was it sent to the beautiful Mahakala forest?

Verse 2 (skanda.5.55.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। पुरा रेवाजलैर्व्यास प्लाविता इयं वसुंधरा। तदा सर्वसुरैरेवमगस्तिर्मुनिसत्तमः

sanatkumāra uvāca| purā revājalairvyāsa plāvitā iyaṁ vasuṁdharā| tadā sarvasurairevamagastirmunisattamaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Long ago, O Vyasa, this earth was submerged by the waters of the river Reva; then, for the protection of the earth, all the gods in this way entreated the glorious and greatest of sages, Agastya.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.55.3)

आराधितो महाभागो धरणीत्राणकारणात्। तदागत्य गिरौ रम्ये विंध्ये स मुनिसत्तम

ārādhito mahābhāgo dharaṇītrāṇakāraṇāt| tadāgatya girau ramye viṁdhye sa munisattama

That glorious sage was propitiated for the sake of protecting the earth; then, O best of sages, he came to the beautiful Vindhya mountain.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.55.4)

एकाग्रमानसो भूत्वा भवानीं विंध्यवासिनीम्। आराधयामास तदा तां च देवीं वरेप्सया

ekāgramānaso bhūtvā bhavānīṁ viṁdhyavāsinīm| ārādhayāmāsa tadā tāṁ ca devīṁ varepsayā

Becoming single-minded, he worshipped Bhavani, the Dweller of the Vindhya, and served that goddess desiring a boon from her.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.55.5)

कंसविद्रावणकरीमसुराणां क्षयंकरीम्। भारावतारणीं पुण्यां बलदेवानुजां शुभाम्

kaṁsavidrāvaṇakarīmasurāṇāṁ kṣayaṁkarīm| bhārāvatāraṇīṁ puṇyāṁ baladevānujāṁ śubhām

He praised her who routs Kamsa, who brings ruin upon the demons, the sacred one who lifts the burden of the earth, the auspicious younger sister of Baladeva.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.55.6)

यशोदागर्भसंभूतां चाणूरबलमर्दिनीम्। विद्युदाभां नभःस्थां च कृष्णां कृष्णाहिमर्दिनीम्

yaśodāgarbhasaṁbhūtāṁ cāṇūrabalamardinīm| vidyudābhāṁ nabhaḥsthāṁ ca kṛṣṇāṁ kṛṣṇāhimardinīm

She who was born from Yashoda's womb, crusher of Chanura's might; lightning-radiant, moving in the sky, dark-hued, subduer of the black serpent.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.55.7)

जननीं देवसेनस्य कवीनां वाचमीश्वरीम्। गायत्रीं द्विजमुख्यानां व्याहृतिश्छंदसां वराम्

jananīṁ devasenasya kavīnāṁ vācamīśvarīm| gāyatrīṁ dvijamukhyānāṁ vyāhṛtiśchaṁdasāṁ varām

Mother of Devasena, sovereign mistress of poets' speech; the Gayatri of the foremost brahmins, and the noblest Vyahriti among the sacred metres.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.55.8)

सहस्राक्षीं तथेंद्रस्य ऋषेश्चारुंधतीं पराम्। गवां कामदुघां श्यामां लतां मधुतमप्रियाम्

sahasrākṣīṁ tatheṁdrasya ṛṣeścāruṁdhatīṁ parām| gavāṁ kāmadughāṁ śyāmāṁ latāṁ madhutamapriyām

The thousand-eyed power belonging to Indra, and the supreme Arundhati of the sage; the wish-fulfilling cow among cattle, and the vine most cherished for its sweetness.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.55.9)

अदितिं सर्वमातॄणां पार्वतीं सर्वयोषिताम्। ज्योत्स्नां चांद्रमसीं बालां सर्वकामवरप्रदाम्

aditiṁ sarvamātṝṇāṁ pārvatīṁ sarvayoṣitām| jyotsnāṁ cāṁdramasīṁ bālāṁ sarvakāmavarapradām

Aditi among all mothers, Parvati among all women; the young moonlight of the moon, the granter of every desired boon.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.55.10)

शारदीमृतुवेलायां वृंदावनचरीं वराम्। मायिनां वैष्णवीं मायां सर्वदैत्यविमोहिनीम्

śāradīmṛtuvelāyāṁ vṛṁdāvanacarīṁ varām| māyināṁ vaiṣṇavīṁ māyāṁ sarvadaityavimohinīm

The excellence of the autumn season, the fair wanderer of Vrindavana; the Vaishnavi-maya among enchantresses, who bewilders every demon.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.55.11)

लक्ष्मीं च श्रीमतामिष्टां यक्षिणीं धनदार्चिताम्। महोदधीप्सितां वेलां राज्ञां च राजसंपदम्

lakṣmīṁ ca śrīmatāmiṣṭāṁ yakṣiṇīṁ dhanadārcitām| mahodadhīpsitāṁ velāṁ rājñāṁ ca rājasaṁpadam

Lakshmi, beloved of the fortunate; the Yakshini worshipped by the lord of wealth; the shoreline longed for by the great ocean, and the royal splendour of kings.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.55.12)

वेदिकां यज्ञशालानां हविराहवनीं शुभाम्। दक्षिणां सर्वदीक्षाणां सर्वकामफलप्रदाम्

vedikāṁ yajñaśālānāṁ havirāhavanīṁ śubhām| dakṣiṇāṁ sarvadīkṣāṇāṁ sarvakāmaphalapradām

The sacrificial altar of the yajna-halls, the auspicious oblation-fire that receives the offering; the sacrificial fee of every initiation, granting the fruit of every desire.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.55.13)

एवं स्तुता तदा देवी प्रत्यक्षा विंध्यवासिनी। प्राह प्रसादसुमुखी ऋषीणां प्रवरं ह्यृषिम्

evaṁ stutā tadā devī pratyakṣā viṁdhyavāsinī| prāha prasādasumukhī ṛṣīṇāṁ pravaraṁ hyṛṣim

Thus praised, the goddess Vindhyavasini appeared before him in visible form; gracious of countenance, she spoke to that foremost of sages.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.55.14)

वियतां भो द्विजश्रेष्ठ यदस्मत्तोऽभिवांछितम्। यदीप्सिता त्वया वत्स स्तुतिर्मे शुचिना कृता

viyatāṁ bho dvijaśreṣṭha yadasmatto'bhivāṁchitam| yadīpsitā tvayā vatsa stutirme śucinā kṛtā

O best of brahmins, ask for whatever you desire from me; if, O child, you have offered this pure-hearted hymn of praise to me out of true longing.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.55.15)

अगस्तिरुवाच। यदि मातर्वरो देयो देवानामुपकारिणि। रेवेयं वर्द्धिता लोके सर्वलोकभयप्रदा

agastiruvāca| yadi mātarvaro deyo devānāmupakāriṇi| reveyaṁ varddhitā loke sarvalokabhayapradā

Agastya said: O Mother, if a boon is to be given for the benefit of the gods, then this river Reva, grown so great in the world that she brings terror to every realm...

Verse 16 (skanda.5.55.16)

तयेदं प्लावितं विश्वं तस्यास्तु ग्रहणं कुरु। इति सा प्रार्थिता तेन तदा काले महर्षिणा

tayedaṁ plāvitaṁ viśvaṁ tasyāstu grahaṇaṁ kuru| iti sā prārthitā tena tadā kāle maharṣiṇā

...by whom this whole world has been flooded — please take hold of her and restrain her. Thus was the goddess entreated at that time by the great sage.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.55.17)

आगात्साध्वी तदा व्यास महाकालवनं शुभम्। सांत्वपूर्वं वचस्तथ्यमगस्तिरिदमब्रवीत्

āgātsādhvī tadā vyāsa mahākālavanaṁ śubham| sāṁtvapūrvaṁ vacastathyamagastiridamabravīt

Then, O Vyasa, that virtuous one came to the beautiful Mahakala forest, and Agastya spoke to her these true and conciliatory words.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.55.18)

वारयिष्ये परां देवीं वर्धमानां द्रुतं ह्यृषे। तावत्कालं न चोत्तिष्ठेद्विंध्यो नाम महागिरिः

vārayiṣye parāṁ devīṁ vardhamānāṁ drutaṁ hyṛṣe| tāvatkālaṁ na cottiṣṭhedviṁdhyo nāma mahāgiriḥ

I shall restrain this supreme goddess who grows so swiftly, O sage; the great mountain named Vindhya shall not rise up...

Verse 19 (skanda.5.55.19)

यावत्त्रिकूटे द्वारे त्वं स्थास्यसि ऋषिसत्तम। देवकार्योद्यतो नित्यं दक्षिणां दिशमुत्तमाम्

yāvattrikūṭe dvāre tvaṁ sthāsyasi ṛṣisattama| devakāryodyato nityaṁ dakṣiṇāṁ diśamuttamām

...for as long as you, O best of sages, stand at the gateway of Trikuta, ever devoted to the work of the gods, facing the excellent southern direction.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.55.20)

कुशस्थली महापुण्या पवित्रा पापहारिणी। पुरी ह्येषा मुनिश्रेष्ठ त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता। तत्रैवाहं चिरं कालं मातृभिर्निवसामि वै

kuśasthalī mahāpuṇyā pavitrā pāpahāriṇī| purī hyeṣā muniśreṣṭha triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā| tatraivāhaṁ ciraṁ kālaṁ mātṛbhirnivasāmi vai

Kushasthali is a supremely holy, pure, sin-destroying city; O best of sages, this city is renowned in all three worlds. There, together with the Mother-goddesses, I shall dwell for a long age.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.55.21)

तत्रापि त्वं सदा सिद्धक्षेत्राधिपत्यमाप्नुयाः। मत्सरो निर्मलं पुण्यं विमलोदं च विश्रुतम्

tatrāpi tvaṁ sadā siddhakṣetrādhipatyamāpnuyāḥ| matsaro nirmalaṁ puṇyaṁ vimalodaṁ ca viśrutam

There you too shall ever obtain lordship over that perfected field — the immaculate, sacred, and renowned waters of Vimaloda.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.55.22)

यत्र पुण्यवतां वासो देव्यस्तिष्ठंति कोटिशः। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराः स्नात्वा शुचीभूय समाहिताः

yatra puṇyavatāṁ vāso devyastiṣṭhaṁti koṭiśaḥ| tasmiṁstīrthe narāḥ snātvā śucībhūya samāhitāḥ

Where the pious dwell, where goddesses abide in their millions; in that tirtha, men who bathe, becoming pure and composed of mind...

Verse 23 (skanda.5.55.23)

यजंति चैव मां भक्त्या धूपदीपाग्नितर्पणैः। क्षीरखंडाज्यभोज्यैश्च भोजयेद्विधिवद्द्विजान्

yajaṁti caiva māṁ bhaktyā dhūpadīpāgnitarpaṇaiḥ| kṣīrakhaṁḍājyabhojyaiśca bhojayedvidhivaddvijān

...worship me with devotion through incense, lamps, and fire-oblations, and duly feed brahmins with foods of milk, sugar and ghee.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.55.24)

न तेषां दुर्लभं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते। धनधान्यधरैश्वर्यपुत्रदारादिसंपदाम्

na teṣāṁ durlabhaṁ kiṁcittriṣu lokeṣu vidyate| dhanadhānyadharaiśvaryaputradārādisaṁpadām

Nothing then remains beyond their reach in all three worlds — wealth, grain, lordship, sons, wives, and every other form of prosperity...

Verse 25 (skanda.5.55.25)

प्राप्यंते विविधा भोगा देवानामपि दुर्लभाः। शत्रुतो न भयं तेषां दस्युभ्यो वा न राजतः

prāpyaṁte vividhā bhogā devānāmapi durlabhāḥ| śatruto na bhayaṁ teṣāṁ dasyubhyo vā na rājataḥ

...they attain manifold enjoyments hard even for the gods to obtain; they have no fear from enemies, nor from robbers, nor from kings.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.55.26)

न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात्कदाचित्संभविष्यति। दीर्घायुर्बुद्धिमाँल्लोके उषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः

na śastrānalatoyaughātkadācitsaṁbhaviṣyati| dīrghāyurbuddhimāṁlloke uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ

They never come to harm from weapons, fire, or flood; long-lived and wise, they dwell in the world for enduring years.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.55.27)

सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा मृतः शिवपुरं व्रजेत्। एवं व्यास पुरीं प्राप्य रम्यां चोज्जयिनीं शुभाम्

sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā mṛtaḥ śivapuraṁ vrajet| evaṁ vyāsa purīṁ prāpya ramyāṁ cojjayinīṁ śubhām

With soul purified of every sin, at death one attains the city of Shiva. Thus, O Vyasa, having reached that beautiful and auspicious city of Ujjayini...

Verse 28 (skanda.5.55.28)

समाश्रिता तदा देवी सततं विंध्यवासिनी। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

samāśritā tadā devī satataṁ viṁdhyavāsinī| tasmiṁstīrthe naraḥ snātvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

...the goddess Vindhyavasini took up permanent residence there; a man who bathes in that tirtha is freed from all his sins.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.55.29)

स्त्रियो वा रजोदोषार्ता वंध्याः काकबकादिकाः। दुर्भगाः शीलहीनाश्च सर्वकामविवर्जिताः

striyo vā rajodoṣārtā vaṁdhyāḥ kākabakādikāḥ| durbhagāḥ śīlahīnāśca sarvakāmavivarjitāḥ

Women afflicted by the taint of impurity, barren women, those of ill omen like crows and herons, the unfortunate, those without virtue, and those bereft of every good fortune...

Verse 30 (skanda.5.55.30)

विमलोदेऽपि ताः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा वै विंध्यवासिनीम्। मुच्यंते सर्वदोषैस्ता नात्र कार्या विचारणा

vimalode'pi tāḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā vai viṁdhyavāsinīm| mucyaṁte sarvadoṣaistā nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

...having bathed even in the Vimaloda and beheld Vindhyavasini, are freed from all these faults — of this there should be no doubt.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.55.31)

अपुत्रा प्राप्नुयुः पुत्रान्कन्या वीरपतिं वरम्। प्राप्यते सर्वसौभाग्यं सर्वकामवरप्रदम्

aputrā prāpnuyuḥ putrānkanyā vīrapatiṁ varam| prāpyate sarvasaubhāgyaṁ sarvakāmavarapradam

Childless women obtain sons; maidens obtain an excellent, heroic husband; every good fortune is attained, for this tirtha grants every desired boon.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.55.32)

विद्यावाञ्जायते विप्रः क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत्। वैश्यश्च बहुलाभाढ्यः शूद्रः सुखमथाश्नुते

vidyāvāñjāyate vipraḥ kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet| vaiśyaśca bahulābhāḍhyaḥ śūdraḥ sukhamathāśnute

A brahmin becomes learned, a kshatriya becomes victorious; a vaishya grows wealthy with abundant gain, and a shudra attains happiness.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.55.33)

कथां पुण्यवतीमेतां सर्वकामवरप्रदाम्। पठन्वाप्यथवा शृण्वन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

kathāṁ puṇyavatīmetāṁ sarvakāmavarapradām| paṭhanvāpyathavā śṛṇvangosahasraphalaṁ labhet

Whoever reads or even hears this sacred and auspicious tale, which grants every desired boon, obtains the merit of a thousand cows given in charity.