The Glory of the Gaya Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.57.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थमेकमतः परम्। तीर्थानामुत्तमं तीर्थं गयानामेति नामतः

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa pravakṣyāmi tīrthamekamataḥ param| tīrthānāmuttamaṁ tīrthaṁ gayānāmeti nāmataḥ

Sanatkumara said: Listen, Vyasa, I shall tell of yet another supreme tirtha; among all tirthas, this highest one goes by the very name of Gaya.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.57.2)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो नित्यं मुच्यते च ऋणत्रयात्। देवान्पितॄन्समभ्यर्च्य विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

tatra snātvā naro nityaṁ mucyate ca ṛṇatrayāt| devānpitṝnsamabhyarcya viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Bathing there, a man is forever freed from the three debts; having duly honoured the gods and ancestors, he goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.57.3)

व्यास उवाच। कीकटेषु गया पुण्या नदी पुण्या पुनः पुना। च्यवनस्याश्रमः पुण्यः पुण्यो राजगिरिस्तथा

vyāsa uvāca| kīkaṭeṣu gayā puṇyā nadī puṇyā punaḥ punā| cyavanasyāśramaḥ puṇyaḥ puṇyo rājagiristathā

Vyasa said: In the land of Kikata, sacred is Gaya, sacred again and again is the river; sacred is Chyavana's hermitage, and sacred too is Rajagiri.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.57.4)

स कथं विदितो देशे महाकालवने शुभे। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण तपोधन

sa kathaṁ vidito deśe mahākālavane śubhe| etadveditumicchāmi vistareṇa tapodhana

How has that come to be known here as well, in the beautiful Mahakala forest? I wish to learn this in detail, O rich in austerity.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.57.5)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास कथां पुण्यां पवित्रां पापहारिणीम्। यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण पितरो यांति सद्गतिम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa kathāṁ puṇyāṁ pavitrāṁ pāpahāriṇīm| yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa pitaro yāṁti sadgatim

Sanatkumara said: Listen, Vyasa, to this sacred, pure, sin-removing tale, by the mere hearing of which the ancestors attain the good state.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.57.6)

पुरा कृतयुगे पुण्ये युगादिदेवनामतः। राजासीत्स तु धर्मात्मा पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः

purā kṛtayuge puṇye yugādidevanāmataḥ| rājāsītsa tu dharmātmā puṇyaśravaṇakīrtanaḥ

Long ago, in the blessed Krita Yuga, there was a king named after Yugadi-deva, a righteous soul of sacred fame.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.57.7)

तस्य पालयतः सम्यक्प्रजाः पुत्रानिवौरसान्। बभूवुः सर्वसंपन्ना वर्धमानाः समंततः

tasya pālayataḥ samyakprajāḥ putrānivaurasān| babhūvuḥ sarvasaṁpannā vardhamānāḥ samaṁtataḥ

While he ruled well, his subjects, like his own true-born sons, grew fully prosperous and flourished on every side.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.57.8)

धर्मश्चतुष्पदो नित्यं यस्मिन्राज्ञि प्रशासति। कालवर्षी च पर्जन्य ऋतवः स्वांगचारिणः

dharmaścatuṣpado nityaṁ yasminrājñi praśāsati| kālavarṣī ca parjanya ṛtavaḥ svāṁgacāriṇaḥ

While this king ruled, dharma with its four feet ever stood firm; the rain-cloud rained in season, and the seasons proceeded each in its own course.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.57.9)

बहुसस्यफला पृथ्वी गावश्च बहुदुग्धदाः। वेदवादरता विप्राः क्षत्त्रिया बाहुशालिनः

bahusasyaphalā pṛthvī gāvaśca bahudugdhadāḥ| vedavādaratā viprāḥ kṣattriyā bāhuśālinaḥ

The earth bore abundant crops, and the cows gave abundant milk; the brahmins were devoted to Vedic discourse, the kshatriyas were mighty of arm.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.57.10)

वैश्या धनपरा नित्यं शूद्राः शुश्रूषणे रताः। वर्णाश्रमरताः सर्वे सर्वे धर्मोपदेशकाः

vaiśyā dhanaparā nityaṁ śūdrāḥ śuśrūṣaṇe ratāḥ| varṇāśramaratāḥ sarve sarve dharmopadeśakāḥ

The vaishyas were ever intent on gain, the shudras devoted to service; all were devoted to the duties of their class and stage of life, all were teachers of dharma.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.57.11)

श्रुतिस्मृतिपरो धर्मो हृष्टपुष्टजनाकरः। नाधिव्याध्यभिभूतश्च लक्ष्यते कोऽपि मानवः

śrutismṛtiparo dharmo hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākaraḥ| nādhivyādhyabhibhūtaśca lakṣyate ko'pi mānavaḥ

Dharma, resting on shruti and smriti, was a mine of hale and hearty people; no man was seen oppressed by disease or affliction.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.57.12)

दुःशीला दुर्भगा नारी विधवा नैव लक्ष्यते। बहुपुत्राऽल्पपुत्रा च मृतपुत्रा न वंध्यका

duḥśīlā durbhagā nārī vidhavā naiva lakṣyate| bahuputrā'lpaputrā ca mṛtaputrā na vaṁdhyakā

No ill-natured, unfortunate, or widowed woman was to be seen; none had many sons or few, none had lost a son, and none was barren.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.57.13)

रूपशीलगुणोपेता पतिव्रतपरायणा। नो मार्गः कंटसंकीर्णो दस्युदोषैश्च दूषितः

rūpaśīlaguṇopetā pativrataparāyaṇā| no mārgaḥ kaṁṭasaṁkīrṇo dasyudoṣaiśca dūṣitaḥ

Every woman was endowed with beauty, virtue and good qualities, devoted to her husband; no road was overgrown with thorns or marred by the menace of robbers.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.57.14)

हूयतां भुज्यतां शश्वद्दीयतां च गृहेगृहे। दयादानतपोहोमजपयज्ञक्रियापराः

hūyatāṁ bhujyatāṁ śaśvaddīyatāṁ ca gṛhegṛhe| dayādānatapohomajapayajñakriyāparāḥ

In every household oblations were ever offered, food given, gifts bestowed; people were devoted to acts of compassion, charity, austerity, fire-offering, japa and sacrifice.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.57.15)

जनाः सर्वत्र दृश्यंते सर्वधर्मपरायणाः। चतुष्पादचरो धर्मो ह्यधर्मोऽपादविग्रहः

janāḥ sarvatra dṛśyaṁte sarvadharmaparāyaṇāḥ| catuṣpādacaro dharmo hyadharmo'pādavigrahaḥ

People everywhere were seen devoted to every dharma; dharma walked on four feet, while adharma stood limbless.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.57.16)

एवं राजा स धर्मात्मा युगादिदेवसंज्ञितः। येनेयं पालिता पृथ्वी धर्मेण वर्धिताः प्रजाः

evaṁ rājā sa dharmātmā yugādidevasaṁjñitaḥ| yeneyaṁ pālitā pṛthvī dharmeṇa vardhitāḥ prajāḥ

Thus was that righteous king named after the primal god of the age, by whom this earth was protected and the people made to flourish through dharma.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.57.17)

अवंत्यां च पुरा व्यास यज्ञकोटिं समाचरत्। तस्मिन्काले तिविक्रांतस्तुहंडो नाम दानवः

avaṁtyāṁ ca purā vyāsa yajñakoṭiṁ samācarat| tasminkāle tivikrāṁtastuhaṁḍo nāma dānavaḥ

And, O Vyasa, of old he performed a crore of sacrifices in Avanti; at that time there lived a mighty and terrible demon named Tuhanda.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.57.18)

तेन सर्वं वशं नीतं चराचरमिदं जगत्। घोरं तप्त्वा तपः पुण्यं ब्रह्मलब्धवरः खलः

tena sarvaṁ vaśaṁ nītaṁ carācaramidaṁ jagat| ghoraṁ taptvā tapaḥ puṇyaṁ brahmalabdhavaraḥ khalaḥ

By him this whole moving and unmoving world was brought under subjection; that wicked one, having performed dreadful and sacred austerity, had won a boon from Brahma.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.57.19)

नैव देवा न यज्ञाश्च वेदमार्गविवर्जिताः। देवतापूजनं नास्ति स्वधा स्वाहा न दृश्यते

naiva devā na yajñāśca vedamārgavivarjitāḥ| devatāpūjanaṁ nāsti svadhā svāhā na dṛśyate

There were no gods, no sacrifices — all were deprived of the Vedic path; there was no worship of the deities, no svadha, no svaha to be seen.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.57.20)

उत्सन्नो धर्ममार्गोऽयं शाश्वतो वै दुरात्मना। नष्टप्रायाः सुरास्तेन कृताः सर्वे द्विजोत्तमाः

utsanno dharmamārgo'yaṁ śāśvato vai durātmanā| naṣṭaprāyāḥ surāstena kṛtāḥ sarve dvijottamāḥ

This eternal path of dharma was destroyed by that evil-souled one; he reduced nearly all the gods and the foremost brahmins to ruin.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.57.21)

ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मुः पितृभिः सह साधुभिः। किं कुर्मो वा क्व गच्छाम तुहंडेन पराजिताः

brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ jagmuḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha sādhubhiḥ| kiṁ kurmo vā kva gacchāma tuhaṁḍena parājitāḥ

They went for refuge to Brahma, together with the ancestors and the virtuous — 'What shall we do, or where shall we go, defeated as we are by Tuhanda?'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.57.22)

इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। समुत्थाय ततः सर्वैर्विष्णुलोकं जगाम ह

iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṁ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ| samutthāya tataḥ sarvairviṣṇulokaṁ jagāma ha

Hearing their words, Brahma, grandfather of the world, then rose up and went with all of them to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.57.23)

तत्र गत्वा समाराध्य विष्णुं देवगणैः सह। स्तुतिं पुरुषसूक्तेन विष्णोरतुलतेजसः

tatra gatvā samārādhya viṣṇuṁ devagaṇaiḥ saha| stutiṁ puruṣasūktena viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ

Having gone there, they propitiated Vishnu of matchless splendour, together with the hosts of gods, with a hymn of praise using the Purusha-sukta.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.57.24)

प्रचक्रुः सर्व एवैते ह्यात्मनोऽभ्युदयाय च। तदा तेषां शमिच्छन्ती वागुवाचाशरीरिणी

pracakruḥ sarva evaite hyātmano'bhyudayāya ca| tadā teṣāṁ śamicchantī vāguvācāśarīriṇī

All of them did this for their own welfare; then, wishing for their peace, a bodiless voice spoke.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.57.25)

श्रूयतां भोः सुरश्रेष्ठा भवतां श्रेय उत्तमम्। यूयं यात क्षितौ क्षिप्रं महाकालवनं प्रति

śrūyatāṁ bhoḥ suraśreṣṭhā bhavatāṁ śreya uttamam| yūyaṁ yāta kṣitau kṣipraṁ mahākālavanaṁ prati

'Listen, O best of gods, to what is your supreme good: go quickly upon the earth toward the Mahakala forest.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.57.26)

गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम्। नो यत्र मायिनां माया प्रकाशयति भूतले

guhyādguhyataraṁ puṇyaṁ pavitraṁ pāpanāśanam| no yatra māyināṁ māyā prakāśayati bhūtale

'There is a place more secret than the secret, pure and sin-destroying, where the illusion of magicians cannot manifest itself upon the earth.'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.57.27)

सर्वतीर्थमयं तीर्थं कोटितीर्थवरप्रदम्। यत्र शिप्रा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सर्वकामफलप्रदा

sarvatīrthamayaṁ tīrthaṁ koṭitīrthavarapradam| yatra śiprā saricchreṣṭhā sarvakāmaphalapradā

'That tirtha is composed of all tirthas, bestowing the merit of a crore of tirthas; there the foremost river Shipra grants the fruit of every desire.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.57.28)

दैत्यांतकारिणी दिव्या महाकाली कुलेश्वरी। कोटिकोटिगणाकीर्णा मातॄणां शक्तिवर्धिनी

daityāṁtakāriṇī divyā mahākālī kuleśvarī| koṭikoṭigaṇākīrṇā mātṝṇāṁ śaktivardhinī

'There abides the divine Mahakali, destroyer of demons, mistress of the lineage, thronged by hosts numbering millions upon millions, who increases the power of the Mother-goddesses.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.57.29)

यत्र गया महापुण्या फल्गुश्चैव महानदी। पुरुषोत्तमगिरिश्रेष्ठो यत्र बुद्धगया स्मृता

yatra gayā mahāpuṇyā phalguścaiva mahānadī| puruṣottamagiriśreṣṭho yatra buddhagayā smṛtā

'There is the greatly sacred Gaya, and the great river Phalgu; at the foremost site of the Purushottama hill, the Buddha-Gaya is remembered there.'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.57.30)

तथैवाद्यगया ख्याता त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता। विष्णोः षोडशपदीतीर्थं गदाधरविनिर्मितम्

tathaivādyagayā khyātā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā| viṣṇoḥ ṣoḍaśapadītīrthaṁ gadādharavinirmitam

'Likewise the original Gaya, Adya-Gaya, is renowned there, celebrated in all three worlds; and there too is Vishnu's tirtha of the sixteen footsteps, fashioned by Gadadhara.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.57.31)

सर्वपापहरा पुण्या यत्र प्राची सरस्वती। महासुरनदी प्रोक्ता यत्र तिष्ठति पुण्यदा

sarvapāpaharā puṇyā yatra prācī sarasvatī| mahāsuranadī proktā yatra tiṣṭhati puṇyadā

'There is the sacred, sin-removing Prachi Sarasvati; and there too stands the river called Mahasura, granter of merit.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.57.32)

न्यग्रोधश्चाक्षयो नित्यः पुरा प्रोक्तो महर्षिणा। तत्रैव सा शिला प्रोक्ता प्रेतमोक्षकरी शुभा

nyagrodhaścākṣayo nityaḥ purā prokto maharṣiṇā| tatraiva sā śilā proktā pretamokṣakarī śubhā

'There too is the eternal, undying banyan tree spoken of old by the great sage; and there is declared that auspicious rock which grants release to departed spirits.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.57.33)

तत्रैव संति ताः सर्वा देवताः पितृकल्पजाः। सर्वाक्षरमयोंकारः सर्वदेवमयो हरिः

tatraiva saṁti tāḥ sarvā devatāḥ pitṛkalpajāḥ| sarvākṣaramayoṁkāraḥ sarvadevamayo hariḥ

'There too are present all those deities born in the manner of ancestors; the syllable Om composed of all letters, and Hari composed of all gods.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.57.34)

सर्वतीर्थमया देवा गयातीर्थमनुत्तमम्। शीघ्रं गच्छत तत्रैव परां सिद्धिमवाप्स्यथ

sarvatīrthamayā devā gayātīrthamanuttamam| śīghraṁ gacchata tatraiva parāṁ siddhimavāpsyatha

'The gods, composed of all tirthas, dwell in this unsurpassed Gaya-tirtha; go there swiftly, and you shall attain the highest perfection.'

Verse 35 (skanda.5.57.35)

यत्र प्रविष्टमात्रेण पितरो निरयस्थिताः। ते सर्वे स्वर्गमायांति ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

yatra praviṣṭamātreṇa pitaro nirayasthitāḥ| te sarve svargamāyāṁti brahmabhūyāya kalpate

'Where, by the mere act of entering, even ancestors dwelling in hell all go to heaven — it avails for the attainment of Brahma-hood.'