The Glory of Karkaraja Tirtha and the Chaturmasya Vow

Verse 1 (skanda.5.69.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। भूयः शृणु परं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम्। कीर्तितं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वं मार्कंडेयस्य पृच्छतः

sanatkumāra uvāca| bhūyaḥ śṛṇu paraṁ tīrthaṁ sarvatīrthaphalapradam| kīrtitaṁ brahmaṇā pūrvaṁ mārkaṁḍeyasya pṛcchataḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hear now of another supreme tirtha, granting the fruit of every tirtha, once declared by Brahma to Markandeya, who had asked him about it.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.69.2)

शृणु वत्स महीपृष्ठे शिप्रा दिव्यतरा नदी। तस्यास्तीरे वरं तीर्थं कर्कराजेति विश्रुतम्

śṛṇu vatsa mahīpṛṣṭhe śiprā divyatarā nadī| tasyāstīre varaṁ tīrthaṁ karkarājeti viśrutam

Listen, my child: on the earth's surface, the Shipra is a most divine river; on its bank is an excellent tirtha, renowned as Karkaraja.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.69.3)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण महापापक्षयो भवेत्। विकारा मानसाः सर्वे चंद्रो मानससंभवः

yasya darśanamātreṇa mahāpāpakṣayo bhavet| vikārā mānasāḥ sarve caṁdro mānasasaṁbhavaḥ

By the mere sight of which the destruction of great sin comes about. [This is the season when] all the disturbances of the mind occur, for the moon is held to have its origin in the mind...

Verse 4 (skanda.5.69.4)

तस्य स्थाने गतो भानुर्याम्यायनकरः परः। ऋतुत्रयं समाख्यातं विधूम्रार्चिस्तदुच्यते

tasya sthāne gato bhānuryāmyāyanakaraḥ paraḥ| ṛtutrayaṁ samākhyātaṁ vidhūmrārcistaducyate

...to that same point the sun proceeds, making its supreme southward course; three seasons are then declared, spoken of as the smokeless flame. (These two verses are exceptionally compressed and difficult in the original; the rendering here is necessarily interpretive.)

Verse 5 (skanda.5.69.5)

तत्र मृताः प्रवर्तंते योगिनोऽपि परंतप। चातुर्मास्ये हरौ सुप्ते ये नरा व्रतवर्जिताः

tatra mṛtāḥ pravartaṁte yogino'pi paraṁtapa| cāturmāsye harau supte ye narā vratavarjitāḥ

There, during Chaturmasya, when Hari sleeps, men devoid of the vow — even yogis — come, O scorcher of foes, to an unhappy end.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.69.6)

न तेषां सद्गतिर्वत्स सत्यमेव ब्रवीमि ते। चातुर्मास्ये मृता ये च ये मृता दक्षिणायने

na teṣāṁ sadgatirvatsa satyameva bravīmi te| cāturmāsye mṛtā ye ca ye mṛtā dakṣiṇāyane

My child, no good state is theirs — I tell you this truly. Those who die during Chaturmasya, and those who die during Dakshinayana...

Verse 7 (skanda.5.69.7)

तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय तीर्थमेतद्विनिर्मितम्। कर्कराज इति ख्यातं सर्वलोकेषु गीयते

teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya tīrthametadvinirmitam| karkarāja iti khyātaṁ sarvalokeṣu gīyate

...for their deliverance this tirtha was created; it is renowned as Karkaraja, sung of in all the worlds.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.69.8)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच। भगवन्भवता सर्वं निर्मितं विश्वमूर्तिना। चराचरमिदं विश्वं जगत्सर्वं जगत्पते

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca| bhagavanbhavatā sarvaṁ nirmitaṁ viśvamūrtinā| carācaramidaṁ viśvaṁ jagatsarvaṁ jagatpate

Markandeya said: 'O Lord, by you, of universal form, all this has been made — this whole moving and unmoving universe, this entire world, O lord of the world.'

Verse 9 (skanda.5.69.9)

चातुर्मास्ये हरौ सुप्ते धर्माचारविधिः स्मृतः। तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर

cāturmāsye harau supte dharmācāravidhiḥ smṛtaḥ| tadahaṁ śrotumicchāmi tvatto brahmavidāṁ vara

'The rule of righteous conduct remembered for the four months when Hari sleeps — that I wish to hear from you, best among knowers of Brahman.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.69.10)

ब्रह्मोवाच। शृणु वत्स परं पुण्यं चातुर्मास्यफलं शुभम्। यच्छुत्वा भारते खण्डे नृणां मुक्तिर्न दुर्लभा

brahmovāca| śṛṇu vatsa paraṁ puṇyaṁ cāturmāsyaphalaṁ śubham| yacchutvā bhārate khaṇḍe nṛṇāṁ muktirna durlabhā

Brahma said: 'My child, listen to the supreme, sacred fruit of the Chaturmasya vow; hearing which, in the Bharata continent, liberation for men is not hard to attain.'

Verse 11 (skanda.5.69.11)

मुक्तिप्रदोऽयं भगवान्संसारोत्तारकारणः। यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

muktiprado'yaṁ bhagavānsaṁsārottārakāraṇaḥ| yasya smaraṇamātreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

'This Blessed One is the giver of liberation, the cause of crossing over worldly existence; by the mere remembrance of whom the destruction of every sin comes about.'

Verse 12 (skanda.5.69.12)

मानुष्यं दुर्लभं लोके तत्रापि च कुलीनता। तत्रापि संयमित्वं च तत्र सत्संगमः शुभः

mānuṣyaṁ durlabhaṁ loke tatrāpi ca kulīnatā| tatrāpi saṁyamitvaṁ ca tatra satsaṁgamaḥ śubhaḥ

'A human birth is rare in this world, and rarer still is good lineage within it; rarer still is self-control, and rarer still, auspicious, is the company of the good.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.69.13)

सत्संगमो न यत्रास्ति विष्णुभक्तिर्व्रतानि न। चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण विष्णुव्रतकरः शुभः

satsaṁgamo na yatrāsti viṣṇubhaktirvratāni na| cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa viṣṇuvratakaraḥ śubhaḥ

'Where there is no company of the good, there is neither devotion to Vishnu nor vows; especially during Chaturmasya, the performer of Vishnu's vow is deemed auspicious.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.69.14)

चातुर्मास्येऽव्रती यस्तु तस्य पुण्यं निरर्थकम्। सर्वतीर्थानि दानानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

cāturmāsye'vratī yastu tasya puṇyaṁ nirarthakam| sarvatīrthāni dānāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

'Whoever is without the vow during Chaturmasya, his merit becomes fruitless; all tirthas, gifts, sacred deeds, and shrines...'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.69.15)

विष्णुमाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति चातुर्मास्ये समागते। स विष्णुराश्रितो नित्यं कर्कराजं सुतीर्थकम्

viṣṇumāśritya tiṣṭhaṁti cāturmāsye samāgate| sa viṣṇurāśrito nityaṁ karkarājaṁ sutīrthakam

'...when Chaturmasya arrives, abide, having taken refuge in Vishnu; that Vishnu is ever present at the excellent tirtha of Karkaraja.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.69.16)

सुपुष्टेन च देहेन जीवितं तस्य शोभनम्। चातुर्मास्ये समायाते हरिर्येनार्चितस्तदा

supuṣṭena ca dehena jīvitaṁ tasya śobhanam| cāturmāsye samāyāte hariryenārcitastadā

'Whoever worships Hari when Chaturmasya has come, his life becomes blessed with a well-nourished body.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.69.17)

कृतार्थास्तस्य विबुधा यावज्जीवं वरप्रदाः। संप्राप्य मानुषं देहं चातुर्मास्ये पराङ्मुखः

kṛtārthāstasya vibudhā yāvajjīvaṁ varapradāḥ| saṁprāpya mānuṣaṁ dehaṁ cāturmāsye parāṅmukhaḥ

'The boon-giving gods remain satisfied by him for as long as he lives; but whoever, having obtained a human body, turns away during Chaturmasya...'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.69.18)

तस्य पापशतान्याहुर्देहस्थानि न संशयः। मानुष्यं दुर्लभं लोके हरिभक्तिश्च दुर्लभा

tasya pāpaśatānyāhurdehasthāni na saṁśayaḥ| mānuṣyaṁ durlabhaṁ loke haribhaktiśca durlabhā

'...hundreds of sins are said to dwell in his body, without doubt. A human birth is rare in the world, and devotion to Hari is rare.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.69.19)

चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सुप्ते देवे जनार्दने। चातुर्मास्ये नरः स्नात्वा कर्करात्रे द्विजोत्तम। देहशुद्धिं विधायादौ मुक्तिमार्गमवाप्नुयात्

cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa supte deve janārdane| cāturmāsye naraḥ snātvā karkarātre dvijottama| dehaśuddhiṁ vidhāyādau muktimārgamavāpnuyāt

Especially during Chaturmasya, when the god Janardana sleeps, O best of brahmins — a man who bathes during Chaturmasya at Karkaraja by night, having first purified his body, attains the path of liberation.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.69.20)

तत्रापि निर्झरे कूपे तडागे वा सरस्यपि। तस्मात्तदधिकं पुण्यं समाख्यातं सुरासुरैः

tatrāpi nirjhare kūpe taḍāge vā sarasyapi| tasmāttadadhikaṁ puṇyaṁ samākhyātaṁ surāsuraiḥ

Even greater than the merit gained by bathing in a mountain-stream, a well, a pond, or a lake — merit greater than that has been declared by gods and demons alike...

Verse 21 (skanda.5.69.21)

तेषु यः स्नाति वै नित्यं तस्य पापक्षयो भवेत्

teṣu yaḥ snāti vai nityaṁ tasya pāpakṣayo bhavet

...whoever bathes constantly in these, his sin is destroyed.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.69.22)

तस्मान्नद्यधिका पुण्या समाख्याता सुरासुरैः। पुष्करे च प्रयागे च यत्र क्वापि महाजले

tasmānnadyadhikā puṇyā samākhyātā surāsuraiḥ| puṣkare ca prayāge ca yatra kvāpi mahājale

Even greater merit than that has been declared by gods and demons for a river, and at Pushkara and Prayaga, or wherever there is a great body of water...

Verse 23 (skanda.5.69.23)

चातुर्मास्ये तु यः स्नाति पुण्यसंख्या ततोऽधिका। रेवायां भास्करे क्षेत्रे प्राच्यां सागरसंगमे

cāturmāsye tu yaḥ snāti puṇyasaṁkhyā tato'dhikā| revāyāṁ bhāskare kṣetre prācyāṁ sāgarasaṁgame

...whoever bathes during Chaturmasya, his merit's measure is greater than that — in the Reva, at Bhaskara-kshetra, in the east at the confluence with the ocean...

Verse 24 (skanda.5.69.24)

एकाहमपि यः स्नाति चातुर्मास्ये न दुःखभाक्। दिनत्रयं च यः स्नाति नर्मदायां समाहितः

ekāhamapi yaḥ snāti cāturmāsye na duḥkhabhāk| dinatrayaṁ ca yaḥ snāti narmadāyāṁ samāhitaḥ

...whoever bathes during Chaturmasya even for a single day does not become subject to sorrow. Whoever, with composed mind, bathes for three days in the Narmada...

Verse 25 (skanda.5.69.25)

सुप्ते देवे जगन्नाथे पापं याति सहस्रधा। पक्षमेकं तु यः स्नाति गोदावर्यां दिनोदये

supte deve jagannāthe pāpaṁ yāti sahasradhā| pakṣamekaṁ tu yaḥ snāti godāvaryāṁ dinodaye

...while the Lord of the world sleeps, his sin departs a thousandfold. Whoever bathes for a fortnight in the Godavari at sunrise...

Verse 26 (skanda.5.69.26)

स भित्त्वा कर्मजं देहं याति विष्णोः सलोकताम्। अवंत्यां कर्कराजे तु साक्षाद्विष्णुर्भवेन्नरः। क्षणमेकं क्षणार्धं वा चातुर्मास्येऽतिलंघयेत्

sa bhittvā karmajaṁ dehaṁ yāti viṣṇoḥ salokatām| avaṁtyāṁ karkarāje tu sākṣādviṣṇurbhavennaraḥ| kṣaṇamekaṁ kṣaṇārdhaṁ vā cāturmāsye'tilaṁghayet

...he, breaking through the karma-born body, attains a realm equal to Vishnu's own. In Avanti, at Karkaraja, a man becomes Vishnu himself — even a single moment or half a moment spent there during Chaturmasya suffices.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.69.27)

तिलोदकेनामलसंयुतेन बिल्वोदकेनापि च मज्जयेद्यः। न तस्य जानामि फलाधिकं वै किं तस्य कीदृङ्मुनिभिः प्रणीतम्

tilodakenāmalasaṁyutena bilvodakenāpi ca majjayedyaḥ| na tasya jānāmi phalādhikaṁ vai kiṁ tasya kīdṛṅmunibhiḥ praṇītam

Whoever immerses himself in sesame-water joined with amla, or in bilva-water — I do not know a greater fruit than his; what indeed have the sages declared of it!

Verse 28 (skanda.5.69.28)

गंगां स्मरति यो नित्यमुदपानसमीपतः। तद्गांगेयजलं जातं तेन स्नानं समाचरेत्

gaṁgāṁ smarati yo nityamudapānasamīpataḥ| tadgāṁgeyajalaṁ jātaṁ tena snānaṁ samācaret

Whoever daily remembers the Ganga, even near a mere well, that water becomes Ganga-water; with it one should perform one's bathing.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.69.29)

गंगापि देवदेवस्य चरणांगुष्ठवाहिनी। पापहा सा सदा प्रोक्ता चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

gaṁgāpi devadevasya caraṇāṁguṣṭhavāhinī| pāpahā sā sadā proktā cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

The Ganga too is that which flows from the great toe of the God of gods; she is ever declared a remover of sin, especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.69.30)

चातुर्मास्ये जलगतो देवो नारायणो भवेत्। सर्वतीर्थाधिकं स्नानं विष्णुतेजोंऽशसंगतम्

cāturmāsye jalagato devo nārāyaṇo bhavet| sarvatīrthādhikaṁ snānaṁ viṣṇutejoṁ'śasaṁgatam

During Chaturmasya, the god Narayana himself resides in the water; bathing then exceeds that at all other tirthas, joined with a portion of Vishnu's own splendour.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.69.31)

स्नानं दशविधं कार्यं विष्णुनाम्ना महाफलम्। सुप्ते देवे विशेषेण नरो देवत्वमाप्नुयात्

snānaṁ daśavidhaṁ kāryaṁ viṣṇunāmnā mahāphalam| supte deve viśeṣeṇa naro devatvamāpnuyāt

The tenfold bathing rite should be performed in Vishnu's name, of great fruit; especially while the god sleeps, a man attains divinity.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.69.32)

विना स्नानं तु यत्कर्म पुण्यकार्यमयं शुभम्। क्रियते विफलं ब्रह्मंस्तद्गृह्णन्ति हि राक्षसाः

vinā snānaṁ tu yatkarma puṇyakāryamayaṁ śubham| kriyate viphalaṁ brahmaṁstadgṛhṇanti hi rākṣasāḥ

Whatever meritorious deed is performed without bathing first, O Brahmin, becomes fruitless — the rakshasas indeed take it for themselves.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.69.33)

स्नानेन सत्यमाप्नोति सत्ये धर्मः सनातनः। धर्मान्मोक्षपथं प्राप्य पुनर्नैवावसीदति

snānena satyamāpnoti satye dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ| dharmānmokṣapathaṁ prāpya punarnaivāvasīdati

Through bathing one attains truth; in truth stands the eternal dharma; having attained the path of liberation through dharma, one never sinks down again.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.69.34)

ये चाध्यात्मविदः पुण्या ये च वेदांतपारगाः। सर्वदानप्रदाने च तेषां स्नानेन शुध्यति

ye cādhyātmavidaḥ puṇyā ye ca vedāṁtapāragāḥ| sarvadānapradāne ca teṣāṁ snānena śudhyati

Those who are sacred knowers of the spiritual science, and those versed in the Vedanta, and those devoted to giving every kind of gift — even they are purified only through bathing.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.69.35)

कृतस्नानस्य हि हरिर्देहमाश्रित्य तिष्ठति। सर्वक्रियाफलं येषु संपूर्णफलदं भवेत्

kṛtasnānasya hi harirdehamāśritya tiṣṭhati| sarvakriyāphalaṁ yeṣu saṁpūrṇaphaladaṁ bhavet

For one who has bathed, Hari himself comes to dwell, taking refuge in that very body; in such persons the fruit of every rite becomes complete.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.69.36)

सर्वपापविनाशाय देवतातोषणाय च। चातुर्मास्ये जलस्नानं सर्वपापक्षयावहम्

sarvapāpavināśāya devatātoṣaṇāya ca| cāturmāsye jalasnānaṁ sarvapāpakṣayāvaham

For the destruction of every sin and for the satisfaction of the deities, water-bathing during Chaturmasya brings about the destruction of every sin.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.69.37)

निशायां चैव न स्नायात्संध्यायां ग्रहणं विना। उष्णोदकेन न स्नायाद्रात्रौ शुद्धिर्न जायते

niśāyāṁ caiva na snāyātsaṁdhyāyāṁ grahaṇaṁ vinā| uṣṇodakena na snāyādrātrau śuddhirna jāyate

One should not bathe at night, nor at twilight except during an eclipse; one should not bathe with hot water — purity does not come about at night.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.69.38)

भानुसंदर्शनाच्छुद्धिर्विहिता सर्वकर्मसु। चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण जलशुद्धिस्तु भाविनी

bhānusaṁdarśanācchuddhirvihitā sarvakarmasu| cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa jalaśuddhistu bhāvinī

Purification through the sight of the sun is prescribed for every rite; especially during Chaturmasya, purification is to come about through water.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.69.39)

अशक्त्यां तु शरीरस्य भस्मस्नानेन शुध्यति। मंत्रस्नानेन विप्रेंद्र विष्णुपादोदकेन वा

aśaktyāṁ tu śarīrasya bhasmasnānena śudhyati| maṁtrasnānena vipreṁdra viṣṇupādodakena vā

When the body is too weak for water, one is purified through bathing in ash, O lord among brahmins, or through mantra-bathing, or with the water that has washed Vishnu's feet.

Verse 40 (skanda.5.69.40)

नारायणाग्रतः स्नानं क्षेत्रे तीर्थे नदीषु च। विशेषतोऽपि शिप्रायां तीर्थे कर्काभिधे वरे

nārāyaṇāgrataḥ snānaṁ kṣetre tīrthe nadīṣu ca| viśeṣato'pi śiprāyāṁ tīrthe karkābhidhe vare

Bathing should be performed in the presence of Narayana, in a sacred field, at a tirtha, or in rivers — and especially in the Shipra, at the excellent tirtha named Karka...

Verse 41 (skanda.5.69.41)

यश्च स्नाति नरो नित्यं स याति वैष्णवं पदम्। तस्मात्त्वं भार्गवश्रेष्ठ तत्र गच्छस्व मा चिरम्

yaśca snāti naro nityaṁ sa yāti vaiṣṇavaṁ padam| tasmāttvaṁ bhārgavaśreṣṭha tatra gacchasva mā ciram

...whatever man bathes there daily attains the state of a Vaishnava. Therefore, O foremost of the Bhargavas, go there without delay.

Verse 42 (skanda.5.69.42)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च। तानि सर्वाणि तिष्ठंति कर्कराजजले सदा

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca| tāni sarvāṇi tiṣṭhaṁti karkarājajale sadā

Whatever sacred tirthas and shrines exist on earth, all of them ever abide in the waters of Karkaraja.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.69.43)

कर्कस्थे च दिवानाथे स्नानं कुर्वंति ये नराः। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

karkasthe ca divānāthe snānaṁ kurvaṁti ye narāḥ| na teṣāṁ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Those men who bathe when the sun by day stands in Cancer — for them there is no return to rebirth, even after a hundred crore aeons.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.69.44)

चातुर्मास्यं समासाद्य तत्रैव निवसाम्यहम्। नास्ति रेवासमा पुण्या नदी ब्रह्मांडभूतले

cāturmāsyaṁ samāsādya tatraiva nivasāmyaham| nāsti revāsamā puṇyā nadī brahmāṁḍabhūtale

'During Chaturmasya, I myself dwell right there. There is no river as sacred as the Reva anywhere on the surface of this cosmic egg.'

Verse 45 (skanda.5.69.45)

महेशान्नापरो देवो मुक्तिदो न जनार्दनात्। उज्जयिनीसमा नास्ति पुरी कामवरप्रदा

maheśānnāparo devo muktido na janārdanāt| ujjayinīsamā nāsti purī kāmavarapradā

'There is no god surpassing Mahesha, no giver of liberation surpassing Janardana; there is no city equal to Ujjayini, granter of every desired boon.'

Verse 46 (skanda.5.69.46)

कर्कराजसमं तीर्थं नास्ति वत्स महीतले। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण मुक्तिभागी भवेन्नरः

karkarājasamaṁ tīrthaṁ nāsti vatsa mahītale| yasya darśanamātreṇa muktibhāgī bhavennaraḥ

'My child, there is no tirtha on earth equal to Karkaraja; by the mere sight of which a man becomes a partaker of liberation.'

Verse 47 (skanda.5.69.47)

एवं व्यास समाख्यातं ब्रह्मणा भार्गवाय च। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन महाकालवनं व्रज

evaṁ vyāsa samākhyātaṁ brahmaṇā bhārgavāya ca| tasmātsarvaprayatnena mahākālavanaṁ vraja

Thus, O Vyasa, was it declared by Brahma to Bhargava; therefore, with every effort, go to the Mahakala forest.

Verse 48 (skanda.5.69.48)

अस्माकं चापि तत्रैव स्थानं परमशोभनम्। चातुर्मास्ये हरौ सुप्ते यावद्यायात्प्रबोधिनी

asmākaṁ cāpi tatraiva sthānaṁ paramaśobhanam| cāturmāsye harau supte yāvadyāyātprabodhinī

'Our own most beautiful abode too is right there; when Hari sleeps during Chaturmasya, for as long as the Prabodhini Ekadashi does not arrive...'

Verse 49 (skanda.5.69.49)

तावत्कालं हि तत्रैव मुक्तिरेव न संशयः। चातुर्मास्ये हरौ सुप्ते जहाति चेत्कलेवरम्

tāvatkālaṁ hi tatraiva muktireva na saṁśayaḥ| cāturmāsye harau supte jahāti cetkalevaram

'...for that entire time, liberation is certain there — of this there is no doubt. If, while Hari sleeps during Chaturmasya, one gives up the body there...'

Verse 50 (skanda.5.69.50)

यमलोके चिरं वासो जायते नात्र संशयः। तस्मात्तुलसिकाभागे शालिग्रामे सुरालये

yamaloke ciraṁ vāso jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ| tasmāttulasikābhāge śāligrāme surālaye

'...then a long dwelling in the world of Yama results, without doubt.' Therefore, in the presence of tulasi, at a Shaligrama, in a temple of the gods...

Verse 51 (skanda.5.69.51)

आत्मानं हि पणीकृत्य तत्रैव संनियोजयेत्। यावत्प्रबोधिनी चैति द्वादशी द्विजसत्तम

ātmānaṁ hi paṇīkṛtya tatraiva saṁniyojayet| yāvatprabodhinī caiti dvādaśī dvijasattama

...one should pledge oneself, as it were, and devote oneself entirely there, O best of brahmins, until the twelfth day of Prabodhini arrives.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.69.52)

पश्चाद्घृतसुवर्णेन मोचयित्वा स्वकं नयेत्। चातुर्मास्योद्भवं दोषं बाधते न च मानवम्

paścādghṛtasuvarṇena mocayitvā svakaṁ nayet| cāturmāsyodbhavaṁ doṣaṁ bādhate na ca mānavam

Afterward, having redeemed oneself with ghee and gold, one should move on; thereby the fault arising during Chaturmasya does not afflict that man...

Verse 53 (skanda.5.69.53)

यस्य शिप्रोदके स्नानं कर्कराजेऽनुजायते। एवं व्यास वरं तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम्

yasya śiprodake snānaṁ karkarāje'nujāyate| evaṁ vyāsa varaṁ tīrthaṁ sarvatīrthaphalapradam

...whoever bathes in the waters of the Shipra at Karkaraja. Thus, O Vyasa, is this excellent tirtha, granting the fruit of every tirtha.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.69.54)

पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि सरितः सागराश्च ये। ते सर्वे च समायांति चातुर्मास्ये द्विजोत्तम

pṛthivyāṁ yāni tīrthāni saritaḥ sāgarāśca ye| te sarve ca samāyāṁti cāturmāsye dvijottama

Whatever sacred tirthas, rivers, and oceans exist on earth, O best of brahmins, all of them come together there during Chaturmasya.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.69.55)

तस्माच्च तद्वरं तीर्थं कर्कराज इति स्मृतम्

tasmācca tadvaraṁ tīrthaṁ karkarāja iti smṛtam

For this very reason, that excellent tirtha is remembered by the name Karkaraja.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.69.56)

य एतां वै कथां पुण्यां शृण्वंति श्रावयंति च। न तेषां जायते दोषश्चातुर्मास्योद्भवः कदा

ya etāṁ vai kathāṁ puṇyāṁ śṛṇvaṁti śrāvayaṁti ca| na teṣāṁ jāyate doṣaścāturmāsyodbhavaḥ kadā

Whoever hears this sacred tale, and whoever recites it to others — for them the fault arising from Chaturmasya never occurs.