Devaprayaga and the Akhandeshvara Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.5.68.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास महापुण्यं तीर्थं परमशोभनम्। देवप्रयागमाख्यातं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa mahāpuṇyaṁ tīrthaṁ paramaśobhanam| devaprayāgamākhyātaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam

Sanatkumara said: Listen, Vyasa, to a highly sacred, supremely beautiful tirtha; it is declared as Devaprayaga, destroyer of every sin.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.68.2)

देवानां च परं स्थानं यत्र तीर्थं परंतप। सोमतीर्थोत्तरे भागे प्रयागस्य च दक्षिणे

devānāṁ ca paraṁ sthānaṁ yatra tīrthaṁ paraṁtapa| somatīrthottare bhāge prayāgasya ca dakṣiṇe

O scorcher of foes, it is the supreme abode of the gods, where that tirtha is — in the northern portion of Soma-tirtha, and to the south of Prayaga...

Verse 3 (skanda.5.68.3)

क्षिप्रायाः पूर्वभागे च तत्र तीर्थं प्रतिष्ठितम्। तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा पश्येच्चैव सुरोत्तमम्

kṣiprāyāḥ pūrvabhāge ca tatra tīrthaṁ pratiṣṭhitam| tatra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā paśyeccaiva surottamam

...and to the east of the Kshipra, there that tirtha is established. Bathing at that tirtha, a man should behold that best of gods...

Verse 4 (skanda.5.68.4)

देवं माधवमित्याख्यं भुवि सर्वफलप्रदम्। ददाति तस्य देवेंद्रो वांछितार्थं जगत्पतिः

devaṁ mādhavamityākhyaṁ bhuvi sarvaphalapradam| dadāti tasya deveṁdro vāṁchitārthaṁ jagatpatiḥ

...the god named Madhava, granter of every fruit on earth. To him, Devendra, lord of the world, grants his desired object.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.68.5)

आनंदभैरवस्तत्र सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

ānaṁdabhairavastatra sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ| yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

There is Anandabhairava, saluted by all the gods; by the mere sight of whom the destruction of every sin comes about.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.68.6)

न तस्य जायते व्यास यातना भैरवी कदा। स्वर्गद्वारे सदा व्यास जायते निर्भयः पुमान्

na tasya jāyate vyāsa yātanā bhairavī kadā| svargadvāre sadā vyāsa jāyate nirbhayaḥ pumān

O Vyasa, the terror of Bhairava's punishment never befalls him; at the gateway of heaven, O Vyasa, a man ever becomes fearless.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.68.7)

ज्येष्ठे मासे सिते पक्षे दशम्यां बुधहस्तयोः। गरानन्दे व्यतीपाते कन्याचन्द्रे वृषे रवौ। दशाला जायते वत्स गंगाजन्म परं शुचि

jyeṣṭhe māse site pakṣe daśamyāṁ budhahastayoḥ| garānande vyatīpāte kanyācandre vṛṣe ravau| daśālā jāyate vatsa gaṁgājanma paraṁ śuci

On the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha, joined with Mercury and the Hasta constellation, in the Gara-ananda yoga, during Vyatipata, with the moon in Virgo and the sun in Taurus — then, my child, occurs a most sacred, tenfold-blessed birth of the Ganga.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.68.8)

तद्दिने च नरः स्नात्वा सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत्। अखण्डं च परं तीर्थं शृणु व्यास ह्यतः परम्

taddine ca naraḥ snātvā sarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet| akhaṇḍaṁ ca paraṁ tīrthaṁ śṛṇu vyāsa hyataḥ param

On that day a man who bathes obtains the fruit of every tirtha. Now, O Vyasa, listen to yet another supreme tirtha, the Akhanda...

Verse 9 (skanda.5.68.9)

यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण व्रतभंगो न जायते। एक एव पुरा ब्रह्मन्ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवित्तमः

yasya śravaṇamātreṇa vratabhaṁgo na jāyate| eka eva purā brahmanbrāhmaṇo brahmavittamaḥ

...by the mere hearing of which the breaking of a vow does not occur. Of old, O Brahmin, there was a certain brahmin, foremost knower of Brahman...

Verse 10 (skanda.5.68.10)

धर्मशर्मेति विख्यातः सदाचाररतः शुचिः। बहुव्रतधरो दांतो वेदवेदांगपारगः

dharmaśarmeti vikhyātaḥ sadācārarataḥ śuciḥ| bahuvratadharo dāṁto vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ

...renowned as Dharmasharma, devoted to good conduct, pure, holder of many vows, self-restrained, versed in the Vedas and their ancillary sciences.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.68.11)

किंचिद्दोषप्रसंगेन व्रतपूर्तिर्न चाभवत्। एवं बहुतिथे काले नारदो देवदर्शनः

kiṁciddoṣaprasaṁgena vratapūrtirna cābhavat| evaṁ bahutithe kāle nārado devadarśanaḥ

Through some slight fault, the completion of his vow did not occur. Thus, after a long time had passed, Narada, seer of the gods...

Verse 12 (skanda.5.68.12)

तस्य गेहागतो ब्रह्मन्नातिथ्यार्थं महातपाः। तदोत्थाय द्विजो नित्यं बहुमानपुरःसरम्

tasya gehāgato brahmannātithyārthaṁ mahātapāḥ| tadotthāya dvijo nityaṁ bahumānapuraḥsaram

...came to his house, O Brahmin, for the sake of hospitality, that great ascetic. Then that brahmin, rising as ever, with great honour...

Verse 13 (skanda.5.68.13)

सत्कृत्य नारदं भूमन्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। पूजयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठः पप्रच्छ मुनिसत्तम

satkṛtya nāradaṁ bhūmanvidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā| pūjayitvā dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ papraccha munisattama

...O lord, having duly honoured Narada with the rites prescribed by rule, that best of brahmins, having worshipped him, questioned that most excellent sage.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.68.14)

भगवन्भवता सर्वं विदितं ज्ञानचक्षुषा। अस्माकं च परं दोषः किंचिज्जातः पुराऽनघ

bhagavanbhavatā sarvaṁ viditaṁ jñānacakṣuṣā| asmākaṁ ca paraṁ doṣaḥ kiṁcijjātaḥ purā'nagha

'O Lord, all is known to you through the eye of knowledge; O sinless one, some great fault of ours occurred in the past...'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.68.15)

येन पापप्रसंगेन व्रतभंगोऽभवद्ध्रुवम्। कारणं ब्रूहि मे नाथ किं दोषोऽत्र तु गण्यते

yena pāpaprasaṁgena vratabhaṁgo'bhavaddhruvam| kāraṇaṁ brūhi me nātha kiṁ doṣo'tra tu gaṇyate

'...through which sinful occasion our vow certainly came to be broken. Tell me the reason, my lord — what fault is to be reckoned here?'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.68.16)

नारद उवाच। श्रूयतां भो द्विजश्रेष्ठ भवद्भिश्च पुराकृतम्। महाराष्ट्रे सुविख्यातो ब्राह्मणो धनसंचकः

nārada uvāca| śrūyatāṁ bho dvijaśreṣṭha bhavadbhiśca purākṛtam| mahārāṣṭre suvikhyāto brāhmaṇo dhanasaṁcakaḥ

Narada said: 'Listen, O best of brahmins, to what was done by you of old: in Maharashtra there was a famous brahmin, a man of great wealth.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.68.17)

ब्रह्मदत्तेत्यसौ विप्रो वेदब्राह्मणनिंदकः। धनलोभी पराक्रांतः सर्वधर्मबहिर्मुखः

brahmadattetyasau vipro vedabrāhmaṇaniṁdakaḥ| dhanalobhī parākrāṁtaḥ sarvadharmabahirmukhaḥ

'This brahmin, named Brahmadatta, a reviler of the Vedas and of brahmins, greedy for wealth, aggressive, averse to every dharma...'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.68.18)

नास्तिको देवतीर्थेषु परद्रव्यापहारकः। परस्त्रीषु रतो नित्यं द्यूतवादी च तस्करः

nāstiko devatīrtheṣu paradravyāpahārakaḥ| parastrīṣu rato nityaṁ dyūtavādī ca taskaraḥ

'...an unbeliever regarding the sacred tirthas of the gods, a plunderer of others' wealth, ever devoted to other men's wives, a gambler and a thief.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.68.19)

एवमायुःपरिक्षीणो धनहीनोऽभवत्तदा। इतस्ततोऽभ्रमद्भ्रष्टो नदीतीरे सुविह्वलः

evamāyuḥparikṣīṇo dhanahīno'bhavattadā| itastato'bhramadbhraṣṭo nadītīre suvihvalaḥ

'Thus, his life span exhausted, he then became bereft of wealth; ruined, greatly distraught, wandering here and there, he came to a river-bank...'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.68.20)

गतश्चौर्यप्रसंगेन यात्रिकैः सह संगतः। किंचित्कालेषु दुःशीलो मृतिं प्राप्तो रुजार्दितः

gataścauryaprasaṁgena yātrikaiḥ saha saṁgataḥ| kiṁcitkāleṣu duḥśīlo mṛtiṁ prāpto rujārditaḥ

'...he went there, through the occasion of theft, joined together with pilgrims; after some time, of evil character, he met death, afflicted by disease.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.68.21)

नीतः संयमिनीं विप्रस्तत्कालं यमकिंकरैः। यमराजपुरं प्राप्तो बहुपापकरो द्विजः

nītaḥ saṁyaminīṁ viprastatkālaṁ yamakiṁkaraiḥ| yamarājapuraṁ prāpto bahupāpakaro dvijaḥ

'That brahmin, doer of much sin, was led at that very time by Yama's servants to the abode of restraint; he reached the city of the King of Death.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.68.22)

दृष्टोऽसौ धर्मराजेन तदा पत्यपरायणः। निरीक्ष्य सहसोवाच धर्मपूर्वमिदं वचः

dṛṣṭo'sau dharmarājena tadā patyaparāyaṇaḥ| nirīkṣya sahasovāca dharmapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ

'He was seen by Dharmaraja, then devoted to justice; having observed him, he suddenly spoke this word, in accordance with righteousness.'

Verse 23 (skanda.5.68.23)

शृणुध्वं किंकराः सर्वे यूयमेकाग्रमानसाः। अनेनाचरितं सर्वं दुष्कर्म सर्वकिल्बिषम्

śṛṇudhvaṁ kiṁkarāḥ sarve yūyamekāgramānasāḥ| anenācaritaṁ sarvaṁ duṣkarma sarvakilbiṣam

'Listen, all you servants, with focused minds: by this man every evil deed and every sinful act has been committed.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.68.24)

गोदातीरे मृतः पापी तत्र नः कारणं न हि। तिस्रःकोट्योऽर्धकोटिश्च यानि तीर्थान्यहर्निशम्

godātīre mṛtaḥ pāpī tatra naḥ kāraṇaṁ na hi| tisraḥkoṭyo'rdhakoṭiśca yāni tīrthānyaharniśam

'Yet this sinner died on the bank of the Godavari — and for that there is no cause for us here. Three and a half crore tirthas, day and night...'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.68.25)

आयांति गौतमीतीरे सिंहस्थेऽपि बृहस्पतौ। तेषां तु वायुसंस्पर्शो जातोऽस्यांते कलेवरे

āyāṁti gautamītīre siṁhasthe'pi bṛhaspatau| teṣāṁ tu vāyusaṁsparśo jāto'syāṁte kalevare

'...come to the bank of the Gautami, even when Jupiter is in Leo; and at the end this body received the touch of the wind from them.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.68.26)

तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन नोऽस्माकं कारणं क्वचित्। ग्राह्यो भवद्भिर्नैवायं मुच्यतां भोः पुरःसराः

tena puṇyaprabhāvena no'smākaṁ kāraṇaṁ kvacit| grāhyo bhavadbhirnaivāyaṁ mucyatāṁ bhoḥ puraḥsarāḥ

'By the power of that very merit, we have no jurisdiction over him at all. He is not to be seized by you — release him, O attendants!'

Verse 27 (skanda.5.68.27)

एवं तैर्मोचितो विप्रः पुनर्ब्रह्मगतिं गतः। तेन पापप्रसंगेन व्रतभंगी गतो भुवि

evaṁ tairmocito vipraḥ punarbrahmagatiṁ gataḥ| tena pāpaprasaṁgena vratabhaṁgī gato bhuvi

Thus released by them, the brahmin again attained the path to Brahma. Through connection with that same sinful occasion, one became a breaker of vows on this earth.

Verse 28 (skanda.5.68.28)

ब्राह्मण उवाच। ब्रह्मन्केन प्रकारेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्। किं तपः किं च दानं च किं तीर्थव्रतसेवनम्

brāhmaṇa uvāca| brahmankena prakāreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet| kiṁ tapaḥ kiṁ ca dānaṁ ca kiṁ tīrthavratasevanam

The brahmin said: 'O Brahmin, by what manner does the destruction of every sin come about? What austerity, what charity, what observance of tirtha-vows...'

Verse 29 (skanda.5.68.29)

येन पुण्यप्रभावेन व्रतभंगो न जायते

yena puṇyaprabhāvena vratabhaṁgo na jāyate

'...by the power of which merit the breaking of a vow does not occur?'

Verse 30 (skanda.5.68.30)

नारद उवाच। शृणु द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ महाकालवनं स्मृतम्। यत्र रुद्रसरः प्रोक्तमृषिणा तत्त्वदर्शिना

nārada uvāca| śṛṇu dvijavaraśreṣṭha mahākālavanaṁ smṛtam| yatra rudrasaraḥ proktamṛṣiṇā tattvadarśinā

Narada said: 'Listen, O best of brahmins, to what is remembered as the Mahakala forest, where Rudrasaras is declared by the sage who beholds truth.'

Verse 31 (skanda.5.68.31)

कोटिकोटिसुतीर्थानि वर्तंते द्विजसत्तम। कोटितीर्थेति विख्यातं तस्माद्द्विज सनातनम्

koṭikoṭisutīrthāni vartaṁte dvijasattama| koṭitīrtheti vikhyātaṁ tasmāddvija sanātanam

'O best of brahmins, there exist millions upon millions of sacred sub-tirthas; therefore, O brahmin, it is renowned as the eternal Koti-tirtha.'

Verse 32 (skanda.5.68.32)

तत्तीर्थस्योत्तरे भागे सुतीर्थं सर्वकामदम्। नाम्नाऽखंडसरः ख्यातमखंडेश्वरसन्निधौ

tattīrthasyottare bhāge sutīrthaṁ sarvakāmadam| nāmnā'khaṁḍasaraḥ khyātamakhaṁḍeśvarasannidhau

'In the northern portion of that tirtha is a sacred tirtha granting every desire, known by the name Akhanda-saras, in the presence of Akhandeshvara.'

Verse 33 (skanda.5.68.33)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्। तस्माद्धि सर्वथा वत्स गच्छ त्वं तत्र मा चिरम्

yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvayajñaphalaṁ labhet| tasmāddhi sarvathā vatsa gaccha tvaṁ tatra mā ciram

'By the mere sight of which one obtains the fruit of every sacrifice. Therefore, my child, by all means go there without delay.'

Verse 34 (skanda.5.68.34)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स द्विजोऽगात्कुमुद्वतीम्। स्नात्वाऽखण्डसरे व्यास दृष्ट्वा देवं महेश्वरम्

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sa dvijo'gātkumudvatīm| snātvā'khaṇḍasare vyāsa dṛṣṭvā devaṁ maheśvaram

Hearing these words of his, that brahmin went to Kumudvati; O Vyasa, having bathed at Akhanda-saras and beheld the god Maheshvara...

Verse 35 (skanda.5.68.35)

सद्यः पुण्यवतां लोकान्प्राप्तो वै द्विजसत्तमः। एवं व्यास महातीर्थमखंडेश्वरमुत्तमम्

sadyaḥ puṇyavatāṁ lokānprāpto vai dvijasattamaḥ| evaṁ vyāsa mahātīrthamakhaṁḍeśvaramuttamam

...that best of brahmins at once attained the worlds of the meritorious. Thus, O Vyasa, is this great and supreme tirtha called Akhandeshvara.