The Legend of the Gomati-Kunda Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.62.1)

व्यास उवाच। गोमतीकुण्डं त्वया प्रोक्तं पुरा ब्रह्मन्सनातनम्। कस्मिन्काले कदा जातं तन्नो वद सुविस्तरात्

vyāsa uvāca| gomatīkuṇḍaṁ tvayā proktaṁ purā brahmansanātanam| kasminkāle kadā jātaṁ tanno vada suvistarāt

Vyasa said: O Brahmin, of old you spoke of the eternal Gomati-kunda; in what age, and when, did it arise? Tell us this in full detail.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.62.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणुष्व भो महाप्राज्ञ कथां पापहरां पराम्। गोमतीकुण्डोद्भवां पुण्यां पुरा रुद्रेण भाषिताम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇuṣva bho mahāprājña kathāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām| gomatīkuṇḍodbhavāṁ puṇyāṁ purā rudreṇa bhāṣitām

Sanatkumara said: Listen, O greatly wise one, to this supreme sin-removing tale, born of the Gomati-kunda, sacred, told of old by Rudra.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.62.3)

नैमिषे च समासीना ऋषयः शौनकादयः। कथयंति कथां पुण्यां सर्वतीर्थोद्भवां शुभाम्

naimiṣe ca samāsīnā ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ| kathayaṁti kathāṁ puṇyāṁ sarvatīrthodbhavāṁ śubhām

The sages headed by Shaunaka, seated in Naimisha, were telling this auspicious, sacred tale concerning the origin of all the tirthas.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.62.4)

तस्मिन्नवसरे पुण्ये काशीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। कथितं नारदेनैव पवित्रं पापहारकम्

tasminnavasare puṇye kāśīmāhātmyamuttamam| kathitaṁ nāradenaiva pavitraṁ pāpahārakam

On that sacred occasion, the supreme, pure, sin-destroying greatness of Kashi was told by Narada himself.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.62.5)

ऊषरः पुण्यपापानां धन्या वाराणसी पुरी। ध्रुवं लभंते मोक्षं च समं चंडालपंडिताः

ūṣaraḥ puṇyapāpānāṁ dhanyā vārāṇasī purī| dhruvaṁ labhaṁte mokṣaṁ ca samaṁ caṁḍālapaṁḍitāḥ

The city of Varanasi is a blessed ground that consumes both merit and sin; there the outcaste and the learned alike surely attain liberation.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.62.6)

असीवरुणयोर्मध्ये पंचक्रोशी महाफलम्। अमरा मरणमिच्छन्ति का कथा इतरे जनाः

asīvaruṇayormadhye paṁcakrośī mahāphalam| amarā maraṇamicchanti kā kathā itare janāḥ

Between the Asi and the Varuna, the five-krosha region bears great fruit; there even the immortals wish to die — what then of ordinary people?

Verse 7 (skanda.5.62.7)

इति स्मृत्वा तदा व्यास स्वयंभूः प्रत्यभाषत। शृण्वतां सर्वदेवानामृषीणां च परंतप

iti smṛtvā tadā vyāsa svayaṁbhūḥ pratyabhāṣata| śṛṇvatāṁ sarvadevānāmṛṣīṇāṁ ca paraṁtapa

Having thus recalled this, O Vyasa, the Self-born then spoke, while all the gods and sages listened, O scorcher of foes.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.62.8)

नदी न गोमतीतुल्या कृष्णतुल्या न देवता। सर्वपातालभूमध्ये न द्वारकासमा पुरी

nadī na gomatītulyā kṛṣṇatulyā na devatā| sarvapātālabhūmadhye na dvārakāsamā purī

'No river is equal to the Gomati, no deity equal to Krishna; in all the netherworld, no city equals Dvaraka.'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.62.9)

इति ते निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा ऋषयः शौनकादयः। यत्र तत्र स्थिताः सर्वे प्रातःसंध्यामुपासितुम्

iti te niścayaṁ jñātvā ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ| yatra tatra sthitāḥ sarve prātaḥsaṁdhyāmupāsitum

Having learned this determination, the sages headed by Shaunaka, wherever they each dwelt, resolved to perform the morning-twilight worship right there.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.62.10)

तत्रैव गोमतीतीरे चक्रुस्ते लाधृतव्रताः। सांदीपनोऽपि तत्रैव प्रातःसंध्यां समाचरत्

tatraiva gomatītīre cakruste lādhṛtavratāḥ| sāṁdīpano'pi tatraiva prātaḥsaṁdhyāṁ samācarat

There, on the bank of the Gomati, those firm in their vows performed it; Sandipani too performed his morning worship there.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.62.11)

एवं बहुतिथे काले चरतस्तस्य वै व्रतम्। सांदीपनस्य वै व्यास ह्यवंतीपुरवासिनः

evaṁ bahutithe kāle caratastasya vai vratam| sāṁdīpanasya vai vyāsa hyavaṁtīpuravāsinaḥ

Thus, O Vyasa, for a long span of time, Sandipani, dwelling in the city of Avanti, continued this very vow.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.62.12)

तस्यैव कामपूर्त्यर्थं विद्यार्थिनौ रामजनार्दनौ। समायातौ सुकुमारांगौ सततं ब्रह्मचारिणौ

tasyaiva kāmapūrtyarthaṁ vidyārthinau rāmajanārdanau| samāyātau sukumārāṁgau satataṁ brahmacāriṇau

For the fulfilment of his own desire, the two seekers of knowledge, Rama and Janardana, delicate of form and ever chaste, came there.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.62.13)

निवासं चक्रतुस्तस्य गुरोर्गेहे परंतप। तस्य पाठयतः सम्यग्विद्यां सर्वश्रुतीः परम्

nivāsaṁ cakratustasya gurorgehe paraṁtapa| tasya pāṭhayataḥ samyagvidyāṁ sarvaśrutīḥ param

O scorcher of foes, they took up residence in that guru's house; he taught them thoroughly the supreme knowledge of all the sacred texts.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.62.14)

उषस्युषसि तत्रैव दृश्यते न तदा गुरुः। विद्योपदेशकालोऽयं क्व गतो नौ गुरुर्वरः

uṣasyuṣasi tatraiva dṛśyate na tadā guruḥ| vidyopadeśakālo'yaṁ kva gato nau gururvaraḥ

But every dawn the guru was nowhere to be seen there. 'This is the hour for instruction — where has our excellent guru gone?'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.62.15)

इति पृष्टे तयोरेवं गुरुपत्नी ह्युवाच ह। सदैव कुरुते वत्स प्रातःसंध्याद्युपासनम्

iti pṛṣṭe tayorevaṁ gurupatnī hyuvāca ha| sadaiva kurute vatsa prātaḥsaṁdhyādyupāsanam

When thus questioned by the two of them, the guru's wife said: 'My children, he ever performs the morning-twilight worship and the rest.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.62.16)

तत्रैव याति वै नित्यं गुरुस्ते स्नानकारणात्। गोमती वै सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा द्वारकायां च पावनी

tatraiva yāti vai nityaṁ guruste snānakāraṇāt| gomatī vai saricchreṣṭhā dvārakāyāṁ ca pāvanī

'He goes there daily for the sake of bathing; the sacred Gomati, foremost of rivers, is at Dvaraka.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.62.17)

इति श्रुत्वा तदा कृष्णो रामेण सह संयुतः। किं कर्तव्यमिहास्माभिरात्मनो हितमुत्तमम्

iti śrutvā tadā kṛṣṇo rāmeṇa saha saṁyutaḥ| kiṁ kartavyamihāsmābhirātmano hitamuttamam

Hearing this, Krishna, together with Balarama, thought: 'What ought we do here for our own highest welfare?'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.62.18)

गुरोरागमनं कांक्षे अत्रैव स्थितिकांक्षया। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सांदीपनिरगाद्गृहम्

gurorāgamanaṁ kāṁkṣe atraiva sthitikāṁkṣayā| etasminneva kāle tu sāṁdīpaniragādgṛham

'I wish to remain right here and await the guru's return.' At that very moment Sandipani came out of the house.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.62.19)

तत उत्थाय तौ वीरौ गुरोरावंदनं ततः। प्रश्रयावनतौ कृत्वा ह्यब्रूतां वचनं गुरुम्

tata utthāya tau vīrau gurorāvaṁdanaṁ tataḥ| praśrayāvanatau kṛtvā hyabrūtāṁ vacanaṁ gurum

Then the two heroes rose up and, bowing to the guru with humility, spoke these words to him.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.62.20)

श्रूयतां भो महायोगिन्नस्माकं वासकारणम्। विद्यार्थिनाविह प्राप्तौ युष्माकं च गृहोत्तमे

śrūyatāṁ bho mahāyoginnasmākaṁ vāsakāraṇam| vidyārthināviha prāptau yuṣmākaṁ ca gṛhottame

'Listen, O great yogi, to the reason for our dwelling here — we have come as seekers of knowledge into your excellent house.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.62.21)

प्रातःकाले च ते ब्रह्मन्समयो नास्ति नौ प्रभो। एतच्छुत्वा वचस्तस्य कृष्णस्य च बलस्य च

prātaḥkāle ca te brahmansamayo nāsti nau prabho| etacchutvā vacastasya kṛṣṇasya ca balasya ca

'But at dawn, O Brahmin, we find no time with you, my lord.' Having heard these words of Krishna and Bala...

Verse 22 (skanda.5.62.22)

उवाच भगवान्व्यास आत्मनो व्रतकारणम्। अस्माकं परमं वत्स व्रतं वै शाश्वतं मतम्

uvāca bhagavānvyāsa ātmano vratakāraṇam| asmākaṁ paramaṁ vatsa vrataṁ vai śāśvataṁ matam

...the illustrious sage told them the reason for his vow: 'My children, our eternal vow is held to be this supreme practice.'

Verse 23 (skanda.5.62.23)

गोमतीस्नानं कर्तव्यं प्रातःकाले सदा बुधैः। तत्रैवोपासनं पुण्यं संध्याया इति निश्चितम्

gomatīsnānaṁ kartavyaṁ prātaḥkāle sadā budhaiḥ| tatraivopāsanaṁ puṇyaṁ saṁdhyāyā iti niścitam

'The wise should always bathe in the Gomati at dawn; worship performed there at twilight is determined to be sacred.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.62.24)

इति निश्चित्य युष्माभिर्यद्योग्यं क्रियतां तथा। तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्विष्णुर्मायामानुषरूपवान्

iti niścitya yuṣmābhiryadyogyaṁ kriyatāṁ tathā| tacchrutvā bhagavānviṣṇurmāyāmānuṣarūpavān

'Understanding this, do as seems fitting to you.' Hearing this, the Blessed Vishnu, who had assumed a human form through his own maya...

Verse 25 (skanda.5.62.25)

गोमत्याराधनं चक्रे कुशस्थल्यां द्विजोत्तम। यत्र शिवेश्वरो देवो यज्ञकुण्डमनुत्तमम्

gomatyārādhanaṁ cakre kuśasthalyāṁ dvijottama| yatra śiveśvaro devo yajñakuṇḍamanuttamam

...performed worship of the Gomati at Kushasthali, O best of brahmins, where the god Shiveshvara and the matchless sacrificial fire-pit are.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.62.26)

कंथडेश्वरस्योत्तरे भागे गोमती सा समागता। पातालतलमाभेद्य सरस्वत्या सहागता

kaṁthaḍeśvarasyottare bhāge gomatī sā samāgatā| pātālatalamābhedya sarasvatyā sahāgatā

In the northern portion of Kanthadeshvara, that Gomati came there, piercing through the underworld, arriving there together with Sarasvati.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.62.27)

प्रातरुत्थाय ते सर्वे गोमतीं सरितां वराम्। ददृशुः सुचिरापांगीं व्यास स्वाश्रमगामिनीम्

prātarutthāya te sarve gomatīṁ saritāṁ varām| dadṛśuḥ sucirāpāṁgīṁ vyāsa svāśramagāminīm

Rising at dawn, they all beheld the Gomati, loveliest of rivers, long-lashed, O Vyasa, flowing on toward its own hermitage.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.62.28)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। अत्रैव चागता ब्रह्मन्गोमती सरितां वरा। स्नानदानादिकं सर्वमत्रैव समुपासय

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca| atraiva cāgatā brahmangomatī saritāṁ varā| snānadānādikaṁ sarvamatraiva samupāsaya

Shri Krishna said: 'O Brahmin, right here the foremost river Gomati has arrived; perform all the rites of bathing, charity, and the rest right here.'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.62.29)

गोमत्यत्र समालीना यज्ञकुण्डे सरस्वती। तदाप्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिन्गोमतीकुण्डमुच्यते

gomatyatra samālīnā yajñakuṇḍe sarasvatī| tadāprabhṛti loke'smingomatīkuṇḍamucyate

Here, at the sacrificial fire-pit, the Gomati merged with the Sarasvati; from that time onward in this world it is called Gomati-kunda.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.62.30)

सर्वेषामपि लोकानां मार्गोऽत्रैव च विद्यते। तस्माद्व्यास महापुण्यं भुवि तीर्थमनुत्तमम्

sarveṣāmapi lokānāṁ mārgo'traiva ca vidyate| tasmādvyāsa mahāpuṇyaṁ bhuvi tīrthamanuttamam

The path for all the worlds exists right here as well; therefore, O Vyasa, this is a supremely sacred, matchless tirtha on earth.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.62.31)

गोमतीकुण्डमाख्यातं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्। भाद्रे मास्यसितायाष्टम्यां कृष्णजन्मसमुद्भवम्

gomatīkuṇḍamākhyātaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam| bhādre māsyasitāyāṣṭamyāṁ kṛṣṇajanmasamudbhavam

The Gomati-kunda is declared to destroy every sin; on the dark eighth day of the month of Bhadrapada, the birth of Krishna took place.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.62.32)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो नित्यं रात्रौ जागरणं चरेत्। उपोष्य विधिवद्व्यास सशिष्यं व्यासमर्चयेत्

tatra snātvā naro nityaṁ rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ caret| upoṣya vidhivadvyāsa saśiṣyaṁ vyāsamarcayet

Bathing there, a man should always keep vigil through the night; O Vyasa, having duly fasted, one should worship Vyasa together with his disciples.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.62.33)

वैष्णवांश्च नरांश्चैव कृष्णजन्मोत्सुकान्वरान्। नानासुगंधपुष्पाद्यैर्वस्त्रालंकारसंयुतैः

vaiṣṇavāṁśca narāṁścaiva kṛṣṇajanmotsukānvarān| nānāsugaṁdhapuṣpādyairvastrālaṁkārasaṁyutaiḥ

With various fragrant flowers and the rest, joined with garments and ornaments, honouring the excellent Vaishnavas and men eager for Krishna's birth-festival...

Verse 34 (skanda.5.62.34)

गोब्राह्मणानां पूजाश्च क्रियते यैः समाहितैः। न तेषां दुर्लभं किंचित्सर्वलोकेषु विद्यते

gobrāhmaṇānāṁ pūjāśca kriyate yaiḥ samāhitaiḥ| na teṣāṁ durlabhaṁ kiṁcitsarvalokeṣu vidyate

...whoever, with composed mind, performs the worship of cows and brahmins — for them nothing remains hard to obtain in all the worlds.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.62.35)

गोमतीस्नानजात्पुण्याद्वासुदेवसमागमात्। मनोरथफलप्राप्तिर्जायते नात्र संशयः

gomatīsnānajātpuṇyādvāsudevasamāgamāt| manorathaphalaprāptirjāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

From the merit born of bathing in the Gomati, and from union with Vasudeva, the fruit of one's heart's desire is attained — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.62.36)

तथा चैत्रसिते पक्षे यावच्चैकादशी भवेत्। तद्दिने च नरः स्नात्वा गोमत्यां च विशेषतः

tathā caitrasite pakṣe yāvaccaikādaśī bhavet| taddine ca naraḥ snātvā gomatyāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

Likewise, in the bright fortnight of Chaitra, when the eleventh day comes, on that day a man should especially bathe in the Gomati...

Verse 37 (skanda.5.62.37)

रात्रौ जागरणं कृत्वा विष्णुपूजां तथैव च। आमलकीं ततो गत्वा प्रदक्षिणात्पदेपदे

rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā viṣṇupūjāṁ tathaiva ca| āmalakīṁ tato gatvā pradakṣiṇātpadepade

...having kept vigil through the night and likewise performed the worship of Vishnu; then, going to the Amalaki tree and circumambulating it step by step...

Verse 38 (skanda.5.62.38)

गोसहस्रफलं तेषां प्राप्यते नात्र संशयः। ये शृण्वंति कथां पुण्यां पवित्रां पापहारिणीम्

gosahasraphalaṁ teṣāṁ prāpyate nātra saṁśayaḥ| ye śṛṇvaṁti kathāṁ puṇyāṁ pavitrāṁ pāpahāriṇīm

...they obtain the merit of a thousand cows given in charity, without doubt — those who hear this sacred, pure, sin-removing tale...

Verse 39 (skanda.5.62.39)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ता विष्णुलोकं प्रयांति ते

sarvapāpavinirmuktā viṣṇulokaṁ prayāṁti te

...freed from every sin, go to the world of Vishnu.