The Glory of the Narasimha Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.66.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। भूयः शृणु परं व्यास तीर्थानामुत्तमं वरम्। तत्तीर्थं सर्वपापघ्नं नृसिंहस्य महात्मनः

sanatkumāra uvāca| bhūyaḥ śṛṇu paraṁ vyāsa tīrthānāmuttamaṁ varam| tattīrthaṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ nṛsiṁhasya mahātmanaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hear yet more, O Vyasa, of a supreme and best of tirthas; that tirtha, destroyer of every sin, belongs to the great soul Narasimha.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.66.2)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापं समुत्तरेत्। दैत्यराजः समाख्यातो हिरण्यकशिपुः पुरा

yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvapāpaṁ samuttaret| daityarājaḥ samākhyāto hiraṇyakaśipuḥ purā

By the mere sight of which one crosses over every sin. Of old there was declared a king of demons named Hiranyakashipu.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.66.3)

तेनेयं वसुधा सर्वा संप्राप्ता च दुरात्मना। दुष्टदैत्यबलैर्व्याप्ता भाराक्रांता शुचार्दिता

teneyaṁ vasudhā sarvā saṁprāptā ca durātmanā| duṣṭadaityabalairvyāptā bhārākrāṁtā śucārditā

By that evil-souled one this entire earth was seized; overrun by the armies of wicked demons, oppressed by their burden, tormented with grief...

Verse 4 (skanda.5.66.4)

गौर्भूत्वाऽश्रुमुखी देवैर्ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययौ। भाराक्रांतां धरां दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः

gaurbhūtvā'śrumukhī devairbrahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayau| bhārākrāṁtāṁ dharāṁ dṛṣṭvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ

...she assumed the form of a cow, tearful-faced, and went with the gods for refuge to Brahma. Seeing the earth oppressed by this burden, Brahma, grandfather of the worlds...

Verse 5 (skanda.5.66.5)

उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा तस्याः श्रमं व्यपोहितुम्। श्रूयतां भोऽवने पुण्ये भवत्या उपकारकम्

uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā tasyāḥ śramaṁ vyapohitum| śrūyatāṁ bho'vane puṇye bhavatyā upakārakam

...spoke in a gentle voice to dispel her weariness: 'Listen, O sacred one — I shall tell you something for your relief.'

Verse 6 (skanda.5.66.6)

वचो वदामि ते तथ्यं देशकालोचितं तथा। पुराऽनेन तपश्चीर्णं दुष्करं सर्वदेहिनाम्

vaco vadāmi te tathyaṁ deśakālocitaṁ tathā| purā'nena tapaścīrṇaṁ duṣkaraṁ sarvadehinām

'I speak to you a true word, fitting to the time and place. Of old, he practised an austerity difficult for any embodied being...'

Verse 7 (skanda.5.66.7)

गायत्र्युपासना तेन कृता सुनियतात्मना। मया चास्य वरो दत्तः प्रीतियुक्तेन चेतसा

gāyatryupāsanā tena kṛtā suniyatātmanā| mayā cāsya varo dattaḥ prītiyuktena cetasā

'...he, of well-restrained soul, performed worship of the Gayatri; and I, with a heart full of pleasure, granted him a boon.'

Verse 8 (skanda.5.66.8)

न दिवा न तथा रात्रौ नांतरिक्षे न भूतले। नातिशुष्केण चार्द्रेण न चास्त्रशस्त्रघातनैः

na divā na tathā rātrau nāṁtarikṣe na bhūtale| nātiśuṣkeṇa cārdreṇa na cāstraśastraghātanaiḥ

'[He asked:] Let death not come to me by day, nor by night, nor in the sky, nor upon the earth, neither in something very dry nor wet, nor by the strokes of weapon or missile...'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.66.9)

न देवासुरगंधर्वैर्न यक्षोरगकिन्नरैः। पिशाचैर्गुह्यकाद्यैश्च राक्षसैर्न कदाचन

na devāsuragaṁdharvairna yakṣoragakinnaraiḥ| piśācairguhyakādyaiśca rākṣasairna kadācana

'...nor by gods, asuras, or gandharvas, nor by yakshas, serpents, or kinnaras; nor ever by pishachas, guhyakas, or rakshasas...'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.66.10)

मानवैः पक्षिजातैश्च न मे मृत्युर्भवेदिति। एककरतलाघातैः सकुलबलवाहनम्

mānavaiḥ pakṣijātaiśca na me mṛtyurbhavediti| ekakaratalāghātaiḥ sakulabalavāhanam

'...nor by humans, nor by any kind of bird — let my death never come thus.' Yet by the blows of a single palm, together with kin, forces, and mounts...

Verse 11 (skanda.5.66.11)

मारयिष्यति मां वीरः स मे मृत्युर्भविष्यति। तथेत्युक्त्वाऽतिहृष्टात्मा तमहं च तदाऽवने

mārayiṣyati māṁ vīraḥ sa me mṛtyurbhaviṣyati| tathetyuktvā'tihṛṣṭātmā tamahaṁ ca tadā'vane

'...a hero shall slay me — that shall be my death.' Having said 'So be it,' most delighted in soul, I then, in that forest...

Verse 12 (skanda.5.66.12)

आगमं चैव लोकं स्वं स दैत्यो घोरशासनः। बभूव सर्वलोकानां शास्ता चातुलविक्रमः

āgamaṁ caiva lokaṁ svaṁ sa daityo ghoraśāsanaḥ| babhūva sarvalokānāṁ śāstā cātulavikramaḥ

...granted him his boon and his own domain; and that demon of terrible rule became the matchless, all-powerful ruler of every world.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.66.13)

तस्यैवाऽधिकृता लोके बभूवुर्विगतज्वराः। त्रैलोक्यं बुभुजे नित्यं सर्वदैत्यजनेश्वरः

tasyaivā'dhikṛtā loke babhūvurvigatajvarāḥ| trailokyaṁ bubhuje nityaṁ sarvadaityajaneśvaraḥ

Under his very authority the worlds became subdued; that lord of all the demon-folk ever enjoyed the three worlds.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.66.14)

तस्माद्यूयं वनं यात महाकालं महेशितुः। तत्र तीर्थं महच्चासीत्सर्वतीर्थवरोत्तमम्

tasmādyūyaṁ vanaṁ yāta mahākālaṁ maheśituḥ| tatra tīrthaṁ mahaccāsītsarvatīrthavarottamam

'Therefore, go all of you to the Mahakala forest of the Great Lord; there was a great tirtha, foremost among all tirthas.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.66.15)

संगमेश्वरस्य दक्षिणे कर्कराजोत्तरे तथा। शिप्रातीरे शुभे देशे पूर्वं वैकुण्ठसन्निभम्

saṁgameśvarasya dakṣiṇe karkarājottare tathā| śiprātīre śubhe deśe pūrvaṁ vaikuṇṭhasannibham

'...to the south of Sangameshvara, to the north of Karkaraja, on the auspicious bank of the Shipra, resembling Vaikuntha from ancient times...'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.66.16)

नृसिंहाख्यं परं धाम तस्य तीर्थं प्रतिष्ठितम्। तत्र गत्वा सुरश्रेष्ठाः स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः

nṛsiṁhākhyaṁ paraṁ dhāma tasya tīrthaṁ pratiṣṭhitam| tatra gatvā suraśreṣṭhāḥ snānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ

'...a supreme abode named Narasimha — his tirtha is established there. O best of gods, go there and perform the rites of bathing, charity, and the rest...'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.66.17)

कुरुत सत्वरं सर्वे पुनर्लोकानवाप्स्यथ। ते तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः

kuruta satvaraṁ sarve punarlokānavāpsyatha| te tasya vacanaṁ śrutvā devā indrapurogamāḥ

'...all of you, quickly; you shall regain your worlds.' Hearing his words, the gods, led by Indra...

Verse 18 (skanda.5.66.18)

महाकालवनं प्राप्ता यत्र शिप्रा पयस्विनी। नृसिंहतीर्थोपकूले उषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः

mahākālavanaṁ prāptā yatra śiprā payasvinī| nṛsiṁhatīrthopakūle uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ

...reached the Mahakala forest, where the milk-rich Shipra flows; dwelling on the bank of the Narasimha-tirtha for endless years...

Verse 19 (skanda.5.66.19)

स्नानदानादिकं कृत्वा नृसिंहस्याऽर्चनं तथा। एवं कृत्वा विधानेन परां सिद्धिमितो गताः

snānadānādikaṁ kṛtvā nṛsiṁhasyā'rcanaṁ tathā| evaṁ kṛtvā vidhānena parāṁ siddhimito gatāḥ

...having performed bathing, charity, and the rest, and the worship of Narasimha as well — having thus duly performed the rite, they attained supreme perfection from that place.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.66.20)

नृसिंहस्य स्वरूपेण हतो दानवपुंगवः। सभामध्ये तदा व्यास हरिणाऽमित्रघातिना

nṛsiṁhasya svarūpeṇa hato dānavapuṁgavaḥ| sabhāmadhye tadā vyāsa hariṇā'mitraghātinā

O Vyasa, then, in the midst of that assembly, that foremost of demons was slain by the very form of Narasimha, by Hari, slayer of foes...

Verse 21 (skanda.5.66.21)

करेणैकप्रहारेण हिरण्यकशिपुर्हतः। ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे स्वाधिकारान्ययुस्तदा

kareṇaikaprahāreṇa hiraṇyakaśipurhataḥ| tataḥ suragaṇāḥ sarve svādhikārānyayustadā

...Hiranyakashipu was slain by a single blow of his hand. Then all the hosts of gods regained their own dominions.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.66.22)

तदारभ्य सुराः सर्वे मध्याह्नोपासनं सदा। प्रकुर्वंति च तत्रैव यत्र तीर्थे हरिः परम्

tadārabhya surāḥ sarve madhyāhnopāsanaṁ sadā| prakurvaṁti ca tatraiva yatra tīrthe hariḥ param

From that time onward, all the gods ever perform the midday worship right there, at that tirtha where Hari abides in his supreme form.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.66.23)

एवं तीर्थं परं व्यास अवंत्यां विद्यते भुवि। अस्मिंस्तीर्थे द्विजश्रेष्ठ स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः

evaṁ tīrthaṁ paraṁ vyāsa avaṁtyāṁ vidyate bhuvi| asmiṁstīrthe dvijaśreṣṭha snānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ

Thus, O Vyasa, this supreme tirtha exists on earth in Avanti; O best of brahmins, whatever men perform the sacred rites of bathing, charity, and the rest at this tirtha...

Verse 24 (skanda.5.66.24)

ये कुर्वंति नराः पुण्यास्ते यांति परमां गतिम्। सर्वदा सर्वकालेषु पुण्यदं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

ye kurvaṁti narāḥ puṇyāste yāṁti paramāṁ gatim| sarvadā sarvakāleṣu puṇyadaṁ tīrthamuttamam

...go to the highest state. Always, at every time, it is a supreme tirtha that bestows merit.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.66.25)

कदाचिन्नृसिंहतिथिं प्राप्य चैव चतुर्दशीम्। स्नानं कृत्वाऽर्चनं तस्य नृसिंहस्य च धीमतः

kadācinnṛsiṁhatithiṁ prāpya caiva caturdaśīm| snānaṁ kṛtvā'rcanaṁ tasya nṛsiṁhasya ca dhīmataḥ

Whenever, upon the fourteenth day sacred to Narasimha, having bathed and performed worship of that wise Narasimha...

Verse 26 (skanda.5.66.26)

नृसिंहेश्वरदेवेशं पूजयेद्यः समाहितः। तस्य हस्तगता लक्ष्मीर्भविष्यति न संशयः

nṛsiṁheśvaradeveśaṁ pūjayedyaḥ samāhitaḥ| tasya hastagatā lakṣmīrbhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

...whoever, with composed mind, worships the lord-god Narasimheshvara — fortune shall come into his hand, without doubt.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.66.27)

ततोऽगस्त्येश्वरं देवं यः पश्येत्युसमाहितः। तस्य व्यास क्षितौ किंचिद्दुर्लभं नैव दृश्यते

tato'gastyeśvaraṁ devaṁ yaḥ paśyetyusamāhitaḥ| tasya vyāsa kṣitau kiṁciddurlabhaṁ naiva dṛśyate

Then, whoever beholds the god Agastyeshvara with composed mind — O Vyasa, for him nothing on earth remains hard to attain.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.66.28)

यत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप्तो हनुमान्पवनात्मजः। ब्रह्मचारी सदाचारो यतिः सर्वार्थसाधकः

yatra siddhiṁ parāṁ prāpto hanumānpavanātmajaḥ| brahmacārī sadācāro yatiḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ

Where Hanuman, son of the Wind, attained supreme perfection — ever chaste, of good conduct, an ascetic, accomplisher of every purpose...

Verse 29 (skanda.5.66.29)

तिष्ठति परदैवज्ञः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये। यस्मिन्वटे पुरा तप्तं तपः परमदुश्चरम्

tiṣṭhati paradaivajñaḥ sarvakāmārthasiddhaye| yasminvaṭe purā taptaṁ tapaḥ paramaduścaram

...he abides there, knower of the highest divinity, for the fulfilment of every desire; at that very banyan tree where, of old, most arduous austerity was performed...

Verse 30 (skanda.5.66.30)

मित्रावरुणपुत्रेण सिद्धिहेतोस्तपस्विना। बोधीन्यग्रोध इत्याख्यो ह्यगस्तिवट एव च

mitrāvaruṇaputreṇa siddhihetostapasvinā| bodhīnyagrodha ityākhyo hyagastivaṭa eva ca

...by the ascetic son of Mitra and Varuna, for the sake of perfection — that tree is known as Bodhi-Nyagrodha, and also as Agasti-vata.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.66.31)

नरो नारीसमायुक्तः सावित्रीव्रतमाचरेत्। सौभाग्यं लभते नित्यं सावित्र्याश्च परंतप

naro nārīsamāyuktaḥ sāvitrīvratamācaret| saubhāgyaṁ labhate nityaṁ sāvitryāśca paraṁtapa

A man, together with his wife, should observe the Savitri-vrata; O scorcher of foes, he ever obtains good fortune through Savitri's grace.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.66.32)

यस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दत्त्वा दानं च सौभगम्। अष्टसौभाग्यसंपूर्णं वंशपात्रं सवासकम्

yasmiṁstīrthe naraḥ snātvā dattvā dānaṁ ca saubhagam| aṣṭasaubhāgyasaṁpūrṇaṁ vaṁśapātraṁ savāsakam

In whichever tirtha a man, having bathed, gives a fortune-bringing gift — a covered bamboo vessel, full of the eight auspicious symbols...

Verse 33 (skanda.5.66.33)

सप्तधान्यसमोपेतं पंचरत्नपरिष्कृतम्। सौगंध्यादीनि माल्यानि मौलिसूत्रसमायुतम्

saptadhānyasamopetaṁ paṁcaratnapariṣkṛtam| saugaṁdhyādīni mālyāni maulisūtrasamāyutam

...furnished with the seven grains, adorned with the five gems, with fragrant garlands and the rest, joined with a crown-thread...

Verse 34 (skanda.5.66.34)

सावित्रीं हाटकीं कृत्वा यथाशक्ति परंतप। यो वै ददाति विप्राय वेदवेदांगधीमते

sāvitrīṁ hāṭakīṁ kṛtvā yathāśakti paraṁtapa| yo vai dadāti viprāya vedavedāṁgadhīmate

...having fashioned, according to his means, a golden image of Savitri, O scorcher of foes, whoever gives it to a brahmin learned in the Vedas and their ancillary sciences...

Verse 35 (skanda.5.66.35)

लभते विपुलां लक्ष्मीं बहुभोगकरीं शुभाम्। भुक्त्वा वै विविधान्भोगान्पुनः स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्

labhate vipulāṁ lakṣmīṁ bahubhogakarīṁ śubhām| bhuktvā vai vividhānbhogānpunaḥ svargamavāpnuyāt

...obtains abundant, auspicious wealth, bringing manifold enjoyment; having enjoyed various pleasures, he attains heaven once more.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.66.36)

सावित्रीव्रतकृन्नारी जायते पतिवल्लभा। पतिव्रता महाभागा विधवा न कदाचन

sāvitrīvratakṛnnārī jāyate pativallabhā| pativratā mahābhāgā vidhavā na kadācana

A woman who performs the Savitri-vrata becomes beloved of her husband; devoted and greatly blessed, she never becomes a widow.