The Sixty-Eight Tirthas

Verse 1 (skanda.6.108.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । अष्टषष्टिप्रमाणानि यानि क्षेत्राणि सूतज । त्वयोक्तानि च तान्येव नामतो नः प्रकीर्तय

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ aṣṭaṣaṣṭipramāṇāni yāni kṣetrāṇi sūtaja tvayoktāni ca tānyeva nāmato naḥ prakīrtaya

The sages said: "The sixty-eight fields you have spoken of, O son of Suta — tell us those very ones by name.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.108.2)

तथान्यानि च तीर्थानि यानि संति धरातले । तानि कीर्तय कार्त्स्न्येन परं कौतूहलं हि नः

tathānyāni ca tīrthāni yāni saṁti dharātale tāni kīrtaya kārtsnyena paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

And likewise the other tirthas that exist upon the earth — tell us of them in full; we are filled with great curiosity."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.108.3)

सूत उवाच । यानि प्रोक्तानि तीर्थानि भवद्भिर्द्विजसत्तमाः । अष्टषष्टिप्रमाणानि तथा क्षेत्राणि भूतले

sūta uvāca yāni proktāni tīrthāni bhavadbhirdvijasattamāḥ aṣṭaṣaṣṭipramāṇāni tathā kṣetrāṇi bhūtale

Suta said: The tirthas you have spoken of, best of brahmins, and likewise the sixty-eight fields upon the earth —

Verse 4 (skanda.6.108.4)

तानि सर्वाणि भीतानि प्रविष्टानि रसातलम् । तीर्थानि मुनिशार्दूलाः पापे ह्यत्र कलौ युगे

tāni sarvāṇi bhītāni praviṣṭāni rasātalam tīrthāni muniśārdūlāḥ pāpe hyatra kalau yuge

all of these tirthas, O tigers among sages, entered the netherworld out of fear, in this sinful age of Kali.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.108.5)

एतदेव पुरा पृष्टः पार्वत्या परमेश्वरः । यद्भवद्भिरहं पृष्टस्तीर्थयात्राकृते द्विजाः

etadeva purā pṛṣṭaḥ pārvatyā parameśvaraḥ yadbhavadbhirahaṁ pṛṣṭastīrthayātrākṛte dvijāḥ

This very matter was once asked of Parameshvara by Parvati — the same thing that you brahmins have now asked me concerning pilgrimage to tirthas.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.108.6)

कैलासशिखरासीनः पुरा देवो महेश्वरः । सर्वैर्गणगणैः सार्धमुपविष्टो वरासने

kailāsaśikharāsīnaḥ purā devo maheśvaraḥ sarvairgaṇagaṇaiḥ sārdhamupaviṣṭo varāsane

Long ago, the god Maheshvara, seated upon the peak of Kailasa, sat on his excellent throne, together with all his hosts of attendants.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.108.7)

प्रणामकरणार्थाय ह्यागतेष्वमरेषु च । गतेषु तेषु विप्रेंद्रा सर्वेषु त्रिदिवालयम् । अर्धासनगता देवी वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

praṇāmakaraṇārthāya hyāgateṣvamareṣu ca gateṣu teṣu vipreṁdrā sarveṣu tridivālayam ardhāsanagatā devī vākyametaduvāca ha

When the immortals who had come there to pay their respects, O best of brahmins, had all departed for their heavenly abode, the goddess, seated on half of his throne, spoke these words:

Verse 8 (skanda.6.108.8)

देव्युवाच । देवदेव महादेव गंगाक्षालितशेखर । वद मे तीर्थमाहात्म्यं यद्यहं वल्लभा तव

devyuvāca devadeva mahādeva gaṁgākṣālitaśekhara vada me tīrthamāhātmyaṁ yadyahaṁ vallabhā tava

The Goddess said: "O god of gods, Mahadeva, whose crest is washed by the Ganga — tell me the glory of the tirthas, if indeed I am your beloved.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.108.9)

तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्धकोटी च तीर्थानामिह भूतले । संख्यया नामतो देव मह्यं कीर्तय सांप्रतम्

tisraḥ koṭyo'rdhakoṭī ca tīrthānāmiha bhūtale saṁkhyayā nāmato deva mahyaṁ kīrtaya sāṁpratam

There are three and a half crores of tirthas here upon this earth — recount them to me now, by number and by name, my lord.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.108.10)

यानि तीर्थान्यनेकानि क्षेत्राणि चैव मे प्रभो । तानि कीर्तय देवेश सुगम्यं चैव देहिनाम् । कीर्तनाच्च समग्राणां तीर्थानां लभ्यते फलम्

yāni tīrthānyanekāni kṣetrāṇi caiva me prabho tāni kīrtaya deveśa sugamyaṁ caiva dehinām kīrtanācca samagrāṇāṁ tīrthānāṁ labhyate phalam

Whatever numerous tirthas and fields there are, my lord, declare them, lord of the gods, in a way easily accessible to embodied beings — for by mere recitation of all the tirthas, their fruit is obtained."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.108.11)

ईश्वर उवाच । तीर्थशब्दो वरारोहे धर्मकृत्येषु वर्तते । धर्मस्थानेषु सर्वेषु तत्त्वं शृणु समाहिता

īśvara uvāca tīrthaśabdo varārohe dharmakṛtyeṣu vartate dharmasthāneṣu sarveṣu tattvaṁ śṛṇu samāhitā

The Lord said: "The word 'tirtha,' O fair one, applies to acts of dharma; listen attentively to this truth, as it applies to all abodes of dharma.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.108.12)

माता तीर्थं पिता तीर्थं तीर्थं साधुसमागमः । धर्मानुचिंतनं चैव तथैव नियमो यमः

mātā tīrthaṁ pitā tīrthaṁ tīrthaṁ sādhusamāgamaḥ dharmānuciṁtanaṁ caiva tathaiva niyamo yamaḥ

A mother is a tirtha, a father is a tirtha, the company of the virtuous is a tirtha — and so too is reflection on dharma, and both observance and restraint.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.108.13)

पुण्याः कथा वरारोहे देवर्षीणां कृतास्तथा । आश्रयाः सन्मुनींद्राणां देवानां च तथा प्रिये

puṇyāḥ kathā varārohe devarṣīṇāṁ kṛtāstathā āśrayāḥ sanmunīṁdrāṇāṁ devānāṁ ca tathā priye

The sacred stories told of the divine sages, O fair one, and likewise the abodes made by the great sages and by the gods, dear one,

Verse 14 (skanda.6.108.14)

भूमिभागाः पवित्राः स्युः कीर्त्यते तीर्थमित्युत । तेषां संदर्शनादेव स्मरणाच्चावगाहनात् । मुच्यंते जन्तवः पापैरपि जन्मशतोद्भवैः

bhūmibhāgāḥ pavitrāḥ syuḥ kīrtyate tīrthamityuta teṣāṁ saṁdarśanādeva smaraṇāccāvagāhanāt mucyaṁte jantavaḥ pāpairapi janmaśatodbhavaiḥ

and the patches of land that are pure — these too are called 'tirtha.' By the mere sight of them, by remembrance of them, and by bathing in them, creatures are freed even from sins accumulated over a hundred births.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.108.15)

तथा पातकिनो ये च ये च विश्वासघातकाः । तेऽपि सर्वे तथा मुक्तास्तेषां चैवावगाहनात्

tathā pātakino ye ca ye ca viśvāsaghātakāḥ te'pi sarve tathā muktāsteṣāṁ caivāvagāhanāt

And likewise sinners, and those who betray trust — even they are all freed in the same way, by bathing in them.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.108.16)

एवं पापानि संयांति नाशं सर्वांगसुन्दरि । अपि ब्रह्मवधात्पापं यद्भवेदिह देहिनाम् । तच्चापि तीर्थसंसर्गात्प्रलयं यात्यसंशयम्

evaṁ pāpāni saṁyāṁti nāśaṁ sarvāṁgasundari api brahmavadhātpāpaṁ yadbhavediha dehinām taccāpi tīrthasaṁsargātpralayaṁ yātyasaṁśayam

Thus sins go to their destruction, O all-limbed beautiful one; even the sin of killing a brahmin, which may befall embodied beings here, undoubtedly meets its end through contact with a tirtha.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.108.17)

ममापि करसंलग्नं कपालं ब्रह्मणः पुरा । पतितं तीर्थसंसर्गात्तेषां चैवावगाहनात्

mamāpi karasaṁlagnaṁ kapālaṁ brahmaṇaḥ purā patitaṁ tīrthasaṁsargātteṣāṁ caivāvagāhanāt

Even Brahma's skull, once stuck fast to my own hand, fell away through contact with tirthas, and through bathing in them.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.108.18)

एवं सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु तथा ह्यायतनेषु च । स्नातव्यं भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना

evaṁ sarveṣu tīrtheṣu tathā hyāyataneṣu ca snātavyaṁ bhaktiyuktena cetasā nānyagāminā

Thus, in all the tirthas, and likewise in all the shrines, one should bathe with a devoted mind that turns to nothing else.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.108.19)

यत्र स्नातैर्नरैः सम्यक्सर्वेषां लभ्यते फलम् । ममाश्रयं विशालाक्षि सर्वपातकनाशनम् । कामदं च तथा नॄणां नारीणां च विशेषतः

yatra snātairnaraiḥ samyaksarveṣāṁ labhyate phalam mamāśrayaṁ viśālākṣi sarvapātakanāśanam kāmadaṁ ca tathā nṝṇāṁ nārīṇāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

where, for men who have bathed properly, the fruit of all tirthas is obtained — that is my own abode, wide-eyed one, destroying every sin, and granting desires especially to men and to women.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.108.20)

एतद्गुह्यतमं देवि मम नित्यव्यवस्थितम् । न कस्याऽपि मयाख्यातं देवेंद्रस्यापि पृच्छतः

etadguhyatamaṁ devi mama nityavyavasthitam na kasyā'pi mayākhyātaṁ deveṁdrasyāpi pṛcchataḥ

This is my most secret truth, goddess, ever fixed within me; it has not been told by me to anyone, not even to Indra when he asked.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.108.21)

वाल्लभ्यात्तव मे भद्रे कथितं वै वरानने । अष्टषष्टिः प्रगम्यानि भक्त्या तीर्थानि मानवैः

vāllabhyāttava me bhadre kathitaṁ vai varānane aṣṭaṣaṣṭiḥ pragamyāni bhaktyā tīrthāni mānavaiḥ

Out of love for you, dear one, fair-faced one, I have told this; sixty-eight tirthas are accessible to men through devotion.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.108.22)

ममाश्रयाणि तान्येव सर्वपापहराणि च । कामदानि वरारोहे मत्प्रभावादसंशयम्

mamāśrayāṇi tānyeva sarvapāpaharāṇi ca kāmadāni varārohe matprabhāvādasaṁśayam

Those very tirthas are my own abodes, destroying every sin, and granting desires, O fair one, without doubt, through my own power.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.108.23)

यं यं कामं समाधाय तत्र तीर्थे पुमान्यदि । कृत्वा स्नानं ततो देवमर्चयेच्च महेश्वरम्

yaṁ yaṁ kāmaṁ samādhāya tatra tīrthe pumānyadi kṛtvā snānaṁ tato devamarcayecca maheśvaram

If a man, having fixed some desire in his mind, bathes at that tirtha and then worships the god Maheshvara,

Verse 24 (skanda.6.108.24)

सुकृतं मनसि ध्यात्वा यैर्नरैः पूजितो हरिः । आस्तां तेषां वरारोहे दर्शनं स्पर्शनं तथा । स्मरणादपि मुच्यंते नराः पापैः पुराकृतैः

sukṛtaṁ manasi dhyātvā yairnaraiḥ pūjito hariḥ āstāṁ teṣāṁ varārohe darśanaṁ sparśanaṁ tathā smaraṇādapi mucyaṁte narāḥ pāpaiḥ purākṛtaiḥ

meditating in his mind on the good deeds of those men who worshipped Hari — let alone the sight or touch of them, fair one, merely remembering them frees men from sins committed long ago.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.108.25)

एते शक्रादयो देवास्तेषु तीर्थेषु सुन्दरि । मां पूज्य त्रिदिवं प्राप्तास्तथान्ये नारदादयः

ete śakrādayo devāsteṣu tīrtheṣu sundari māṁ pūjya tridivaṁ prāptāstathānye nāradādayaḥ

These gods, Indra and the rest, O beautiful one, worshipped me at these very tirthas and attained heaven; and so too did others, beginning with Narada.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.108.26)

तान्यहं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि विस्तरेण पृथक्पृथक् । नामतः शृणु देवेशि समाहितमनाः स्थिता

tānyahaṁ te pravakṣyāmi vistareṇa pṛthakpṛthak nāmataḥ śṛṇu deveśi samāhitamanāḥ sthitā

I shall relate them to you at length, each one separately; hear them by name, goddess of gods, remaining attentive in mind.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.108.27)

वाराणसी प्रयागं च नैमिषं चापरं तथा । गयाशिरः सुपुण्यं च पवित्रं कुरुजांगलम्

vārāṇasī prayāgaṁ ca naimiṣaṁ cāparaṁ tathā gayāśiraḥ supuṇyaṁ ca pavitraṁ kurujāṁgalam

Varanasi, and Prayaga, and Naimisha too, and another besides; most sacred Gayashiras, and pure Kurujangala;

Verse 28 (skanda.6.108.28)

प्रभासं पुष्करं चैव विश्वेश्वरमथापरम् । अट्टहासं महेन्द्रं च तथैवोज्जयनी च या

prabhāsaṁ puṣkaraṁ caiva viśveśvaramathāparam aṭṭahāsaṁ mahendraṁ ca tathaivojjayanī ca yā

Prabhasa, and Pushkara too, and another, Vishveshvara; Attahasa, and Mahendra, and likewise the one that is Ujjayani;

Verse 29 (skanda.6.108.29)

मरुकोटिः शंकुकर्णं गोकर्णं क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् । रुद्रकोटिः स्थलेशं च हर्षितं वृषभध्वजम्

marukoṭiḥ śaṁkukarṇaṁ gokarṇaṁ kṣetramuttamam rudrakoṭiḥ sthaleśaṁ ca harṣitaṁ vṛṣabhadhvajam

Marukoti, Shankukarna, and the most excellent field of Gokarna; Rudrakoti, and Sthalesha, and Harshita, and Vrishabhadhvaja;

Verse 30 (skanda.6.108.30)

केदारं च तथा क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रं मध्यमकेश्वरम् । सहस्राक्षं तथा क्षेत्रं तथान्यत्कार्तिकेश्वरम्

kedāraṁ ca tathā kṣetraṁ kṣetraṁ madhyamakeśvaram sahasrākṣaṁ tathā kṣetraṁ tathānyatkārtikeśvaram

and likewise the field Kedara, and the field Madhyamakeshvara; Sahasraksha as a field too, and another, Kartikeshvara.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.108.31)

तथैव वस्त्रमार्गं च तथा कनखलं स्मृतम् । भद्रकर्णं च विख्यातं दण्डकाख्यं तथैव च

tathaiva vastramārgaṁ ca tathā kanakhalaṁ smṛtam bhadrakarṇaṁ ca vikhyātaṁ daṇḍakākhyaṁ tathaiva ca

And likewise Vastramarga, and Kanakhala too, so remembered; the renowned Bhadrakarna, and likewise the one called Dandaka;

Verse 32 (skanda.6.108.32)

त्रिदण्डाख्यं तथा क्षेत्रं तथैव कृमिजांगलम् । एकाम्रं च तथा क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रं छागलकं तथा

tridaṇḍākhyaṁ tathā kṣetraṁ tathaiva kṛmijāṁgalam ekāmraṁ ca tathā kṣetraṁ kṣetraṁ chāgalakaṁ tathā

and likewise the field called Tridanda, and likewise Krimijangala; the field Ekamra too, and likewise the field called Chagalaka.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.108.33)

कालिंजरं च देवेशि तथान्यन्मण्डलेश्वरम् । काश्मीरं मरुकेशं च हरिश्चंद्रं सुशोभनम्

kāliṁjaraṁ ca deveśi tathānyanmaṇḍaleśvaram kāśmīraṁ marukeśaṁ ca hariścaṁdraṁ suśobhanam

And Kalinjara, goddess of gods, and another, Mandaleshvara; Kashmira, Marukesha, and most beautiful Harishchandra;

Verse 34 (skanda.6.108.34)

पुरश्चंद्रं च वामेशं कुकुटेश्वरमेव च । भस्मगात्रमथोकारं त्रिसंध्या विरजा तथा

puraścaṁdraṁ ca vāmeśaṁ kukuṭeśvarameva ca bhasmagātramathokāraṁ trisaṁdhyā virajā tathā

and Purashchandra, and Vamesha, and likewise Kukkuteshvara; Bhasmagatra, and then Omkara; Trisandhya, and likewise Viraja;

Verse 35 (skanda.6.108.35)

अर्केश्वरं च नेपालं दुष्कर्णं करवीरकम् । जागेश्वरं तथा देवि श्रीशैलं पर्वतोत्तमम्

arkeśvaraṁ ca nepālaṁ duṣkarṇaṁ karavīrakam jāgeśvaraṁ tathā devi śrīśailaṁ parvatottamam

and Arkeshvara, and Nepala; Dushkarna, and Karavira; and Jageshvara too, goddess, and Shrishaila, most excellent of mountains.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.108.36)

अयोध्या चैव पातालं तथा कारोहणं महत् । देविका च नदी पुण्या भैरवं पूर्वसागरः

ayodhyā caiva pātālaṁ tathā kārohaṇaṁ mahat devikā ca nadī puṇyā bhairavaṁ pūrvasāgaraḥ

And Ayodhya too, and Patala, and likewise the great Karohana; the sacred river Devika; Bhairava; and the eastern ocean;

Verse 37 (skanda.6.108.37)

सप्तगोदावरीतीर्थं तथैव समुदाहृतम् । निर्मलेशं तथान्यच्च कर्णिकारं सुशोभनम्

saptagodāvarītīrthaṁ tathaiva samudāhṛtam nirmaleśaṁ tathānyacca karṇikāraṁ suśobhanam

and the Sapta-Godavari tirtha too, so it is declared; Nirmalesha, and another, the most beautiful Karnikara;

Verse 38 (skanda.6.108.38)

कैलासं जाह्नवीतीरं जललिंगं च वाडवम् । बदरीतीर्थवर्यं च कोटितीर्थं तथैव च

kailāsaṁ jāhnavītīraṁ jalaliṁgaṁ ca vāḍavam badarītīrthavaryaṁ ca koṭitīrthaṁ tathaiva ca

Kailasa, the bank of the Jahnavi, Jalalinga, and Vadava; the most excellent Badari tirtha, and likewise Kotitirtha;

Verse 39 (skanda.6.108.39)

विंध्याचलो हेमकूटं गन्धमादनमेव च । लिंगेश्वरं तथा क्षेत्रं लंकाद्वारं तथैव च

viṁdhyācalo hemakūṭaṁ gandhamādanameva ca liṁgeśvaraṁ tathā kṣetraṁ laṁkādvāraṁ tathaiva ca

the Vindhya mountain, Hemakuta, and Gandhamadana too; the field Lingeshvara, and likewise Lankadvara;

Verse 40 (skanda.6.108.40)

नलेश्वरं तु मध्येशं केदारं रुद्रजालकम् । सुवर्णाख्यं च वामोरु तथान्यत्षष्टिकापथम्

naleśvaraṁ tu madhyeśaṁ kedāraṁ rudrajālakam suvarṇākhyaṁ ca vāmoru tathānyatṣaṣṭikāpatham

Naleshvara, and Madhyesha, Kedara, Rudrajalaka; the one called Suvarna, and Vamoru; and another too, Shashtikapatha.