The Glory of Bathing during Chaturmasya

Verse 1 (skanda.6.233.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः सूत सूत महाभाग श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम् चातुर्मास्यव्रतानां हि त्वत्तो माहात्म्यविस्तरम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga śrotumicchāmahe vayam cāturmāsyavratānāṁ hi tvatto māhātmyavistaram

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, greatly fortunate one, we wish to hear from you the full account of the greatness of the Chaturmasya vows.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.233.2)

तदस्माकं महाभाग कृपां कृत्वाऽधुना वद त्वद्वचोऽमृतपानेन भूयः श्रद्धाभिवर्धते

tadasmākaṁ mahābhāga kṛpāṁ kṛtvā'dhunā vada tvadvaco'mṛtapānena bhūyaḥ śraddhābhivardhate

Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, show us your favour and tell it to us now; by drinking the nectar of your words our faith grows ever more.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.233.3)

सूत उवाच शृणुध्वं मुनयः सर्वे चातुर्मास्यव्रतोद्भवम् माहात्म्यं विस्तरेणैव कथयिष्यामि वोऽग्रतः

sūta uvāca śṛṇudhvaṁ munayaḥ sarve cāturmāsyavratodbhavam māhātmyaṁ vistareṇaiva kathayiṣyāmi vo'grataḥ

Suta said: Listen, all you sages, to what arises from the Chaturmasya vow; I shall now relate its greatness before you at full length.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.233.4)

पुरा ब्रह्ममुखाच्छ्रुत्वा नानाव्रतविधानकम् नारदः परिपप्रच्छ भूयो ब्रह्माणमादरात्

purā brahmamukhācchrutvā nānāvratavidhānakam nāradaḥ paripapraccha bhūyo brahmāṇamādarāt

Long ago, having heard from Brahma's own mouth the various rules of vows, Narada respectfully questioned Brahma once more.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.233.5)

नारद उवाच देवदेव महाभाग व्रतानि सुबहून्यपि श्रुतानि त्वन्मुखाद्ब्रह्मन्न तृप्तिमधिगच्छति

nārada uvāca devadeva mahābhāga vratāni subahūnyapi śrutāni tvanmukhādbrahmanna tṛptimadhigacchati

Narada said: O God of gods, greatly fortunate one, though I have heard very many vows from your own mouth, O Brahman, I do not attain satisfaction.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.233.6)

अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि चातुर्मास्यव्रतं शुभम्

adhunā śrotumicchāmi cāturmāsyavrataṁ śubham

Now I wish to hear of the auspicious Chaturmasya vow.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.233.7)

ब्रह्मोवाच शृणु देवमुने मत्तश्चातुर्मास्यव्रतं शुभम् यच्छ्रुत्वा भारते खंडे नृणां मुक्तिर्न दुर्लभा

brahmovāca śṛṇu devamune mattaścāturmāsyavrataṁ śubham yacchrutvā bhārate khaṁḍe nṛṇāṁ muktirna durlabhā

Brahma said: Hear from me, O divine sage, of the auspicious Chaturmasya vow, hearing which liberation is not hard to attain for men in the land of Bharata.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.233.8)

मुक्तिप्रदोऽयं भगवान्संसारोत्तारकारणम् यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

muktiprado'yaṁ bhagavānsaṁsārottārakāraṇam yasya smaraṇamātreṇa sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

This Lord is the bestower of liberation, the cause of crossing over the cycle of rebirth; by merely remembering him one is freed from all sins.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.233.9)

मानुष्ये दुर्लभं लोके तत्राऽपि च कुलीनता तत्रापि सदयत्वं च तत्र सत्संगमः शुभः

mānuṣye durlabhaṁ loke tatrā'pi ca kulīnatā tatrāpi sadayatvaṁ ca tatra satsaṁgamaḥ śubhaḥ

A human birth is hard to obtain in this world; harder still, noble birth within it; harder still, a compassionate nature; and harder still, auspicious association with the good.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.233.10)

सत्संगमो न यत्रास्ति विष्णुभक्तिर्व्रतानि च चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण विष्णुव्रतकरः शुभः

satsaṁgamo na yatrāsti viṣṇubhaktirvratāni ca cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa viṣṇuvratakaraḥ śubhaḥ

Where there is no association with the good, there is neither devotion to Vishnu nor vows; blessed indeed is he who keeps Vishnu's vow, especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.233.11)

चातुर्मास्येऽव्रती यस्तु तस्य पुण्यं निरर्थकम् सर्वतीर्थानि दानानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

cāturmāsye'vratī yastu tasya puṇyaṁ nirarthakam sarvatīrthāni dānāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

Whoever keeps no vow during Chaturmasya, his merit is fruitless; all sacred fords, gifts, and holy shrines,

Verse 12 (skanda.6.233.12)

विष्णुमाश्रित्य तिष्ठंति चातुर्मास्ये समागते सुपुष्टेनापि देहेन जीवितं तस्य शोभनम्

viṣṇumāśritya tiṣṭhaṁti cāturmāsye samāgate supuṣṭenāpi dehena jīvitaṁ tasya śobhanam

—these all abide by taking refuge in Vishnu when Chaturmasya has come; and even with a well-nourished body, splendid indeed is the life of that man who observes it.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.233.13)

चातुर्मास्ये समायाते हरिं यः प्रणमेद्बुधः कृतार्थास्तस्य विबुधा यावज्जीवं वरप्रदाः

cāturmāsye samāyāte hariṁ yaḥ praṇamedbudhaḥ kṛtārthāstasya vibudhā yāvajjīvaṁ varapradāḥ

The wise man who bows to Hari when Chaturmasya has arrived — for him, the gods, granters of boons, remain gratified for as long as he lives.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.233.14)

संप्राप्य मानुषं जन्म चातुर्मास्यपराङ्मुखः तस्य पापशतान्याहुर्देहस्थानि न संशयः

saṁprāpya mānuṣaṁ janma cāturmāsyaparāṅmukhaḥ tasya pāpaśatānyāhurdehasthāni na saṁśayaḥ

Whoever, having obtained a human birth, turns his face away from Chaturmasya — hundreds of sins, they say, dwell in his body, without doubt.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.233.15)

मानुष्यं दुर्लभं लोके हरिभक्तिश्च दुर्लभा चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण सुप्ते देवे जनार्दने

mānuṣyaṁ durlabhaṁ loke haribhaktiśca durlabhā cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa supte deve janārdane

A human birth is hard to obtain in this world, and devotion to Hari is hard to obtain — especially during Chaturmasya, while the god Janardana sleeps.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.233.16)

चातुर्मास्ये नरः स्नानं प्रातरेव समाचरेत् सर्वक्रतुफलं प्राप्य देववद्दिवि मोदते

cāturmāsye naraḥ snānaṁ prātareva samācaret sarvakratuphalaṁ prāpya devavaddivi modate

During Chaturmasya a man should bathe in the very early morning; obtaining thereby the fruit of all sacrifices, he rejoices in heaven like a god.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.233.17)

चातुर्मास्ये तु यः स्नानं कुर्यात्सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् तथा निर्झरणे स्नाति तडागे कूपिकासु च

cāturmāsye tu yaḥ snānaṁ kuryātsiddhimavāpnuyāt tathā nirjharaṇe snāti taḍāge kūpikāsu ca

Whoever bathes during Chaturmasya attains accomplishment — likewise one who bathes in a waterfall, a pool, or a well.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.233.18)

तस्य पापसहस्राणि विलयं यांति तत्क्षणात् पुष्करे च प्रयागे वा यत्र क्वापि महाजले चातुर्मास्येषु यः स्नाति पुण्यसंख्या न विद्यते

tasya pāpasahasrāṇi vilayaṁ yāṁti tatkṣaṇāt puṣkare ca prayāge vā yatra kvāpi mahājale cāturmāsyeṣu yaḥ snāti puṇyasaṁkhyā na vidyate

His thousands of sins vanish that very instant. Whoever bathes during the Chaturmasya months at Pushkara, or at Prayaga, or in any great body of water whatsoever, the extent of his merit cannot be reckoned.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.233.19)

रेवायां भास्करक्षेत्रे प्राच्यां सागरसंगमे एकाहमपि यः स्नातश्चातुर्मास्ये न दोषभाक्

revāyāṁ bhāskarakṣetre prācyāṁ sāgarasaṁgame ekāhamapi yaḥ snātaścāturmāsye na doṣabhāk

Whoever bathes even a single day at the Reva river, at Bhaskara-kshetra, or at the eastern confluence with the ocean, during Chaturmasya, incurs no fault.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.233.20)

दिनत्रयं च यः स्नाति नर्मदायां समाहितः सुप्ते देवे जगन्नाथे पापं याति सहस्रधा

dinatrayaṁ ca yaḥ snāti narmadāyāṁ samāhitaḥ supte deve jagannāthe pāpaṁ yāti sahasradhā

And whoever bathes for three days, with focused mind, in the Narmada, while the Lord of the universe sleeps, his sin is scattered a thousandfold.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.233.21)

पक्षमेकं तु यः स्नाति गोदावर्यां दिनोदये स भित्त्वा कर्मजं देहं याति विष्णोः सलोकताम्

pakṣamekaṁ tu yaḥ snāti godāvaryāṁ dinodaye sa bhittvā karmajaṁ dehaṁ yāti viṣṇoḥ salokatām

And whoever bathes for one fortnight, at daybreak, in the Godavari, casts off his body born of karma and attains the world of Vishnu.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.233.22)

तिलोदकेन यः स्नाति तथा चैवामलोदकैः बिल्वपत्रोदकैश्चैव चातुर्मास्ये न दोषभाक्

tilodakena yaḥ snāti tathā caivāmalodakaiḥ bilvapatrodakaiścaiva cāturmāsye na doṣabhāk

Whoever bathes with water mixed with sesame, or with water infused with amla, or with water infused with bilva leaves, during Chaturmasya, incurs no fault.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.233.23)

गंगां स्मरति यो नित्यमुदपात्रसमीपतः तद्गांगेयं जलं जातं तेन स्नानं समाचरेत्

gaṁgāṁ smarati yo nityamudapātrasamīpataḥ tadgāṁgeyaṁ jalaṁ jātaṁ tena snānaṁ samācaret

Whoever constantly remembers the Ganga while standing near his water-vessel — that water, having become Gangetic, he should use for bathing.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.233.24)

गंगाऽपि देवदेवस्य चरणांगुष्ठवाहिनी पापघ्नी सा सदा प्रोक्ता चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

gaṁgā'pi devadevasya caraṇāṁguṣṭhavāhinī pāpaghnī sā sadā proktā cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

The Ganga herself, flowing from the great toe of the God of gods, is ever declared to be a destroyer of sin — especially during Chaturmasya.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.233.25)

यतः पापसहस्राणि विष्णुर्दहति संस्मृतः तस्मात्पादोदकं शीर्षे चातुर्मास्ये धृतं शिवम्

yataḥ pāpasahasrāṇi viṣṇurdahati saṁsmṛtaḥ tasmātpādodakaṁ śīrṣe cāturmāsye dhṛtaṁ śivam

Since Vishnu, when remembered, burns away thousands of sins, therefore his foot-water, borne upon the head during Chaturmasya, is auspicious.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.233.26)

चातुर्मास्ये जलगतो देवो नारायणो भवेत् सर्वतीर्थाधिकं स्नानं विष्णुतेजोंशसंगतम्

cāturmāsye jalagato devo nārāyaṇo bhavet sarvatīrthādhikaṁ snānaṁ viṣṇutejoṁśasaṁgatam

During Chaturmasya the god Narayana comes to dwell in the waters; bathing then, joined with a portion of Vishnu's own splendour, surpasses bathing at all sacred fords.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.233.27)

स्नानं दशविधं कार्यं विष्णुनाम महाफलम् सुप्ते देवे विशेषेण नरो देवत्वमाप्नुयात्

snānaṁ daśavidhaṁ kāryaṁ viṣṇunāma mahāphalam supte deve viśeṣeṇa naro devatvamāpnuyāt

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

Verse 28 (skanda.6.233.28)

विना स्नानं तु यत्कर्म पुण्यकार्यमयं शुभम् क्रियते निष्फलं ब्रह्मंस्तत्प्रगृह्णंति राक्षसाः

vinā snānaṁ tu yatkarma puṇyakāryamayaṁ śubham kriyate niṣphalaṁ brahmaṁstatpragṛhṇaṁti rākṣasāḥ

O Brahman, whatever meritorious and auspicious act is performed without bathing becomes fruitless; the rakshasas seize it instead.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.233.29)

स्नानेन सत्यमाप्नोति स्नानं धर्मः सनातनः धर्मान्मोक्षफलं प्राप्य पुनर्नैवावसीदति

snānena satyamāpnoti snānaṁ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ dharmānmokṣaphalaṁ prāpya punarnaivāvasīdati

By bathing one attains truth; bathing is the eternal dharma; having obtained the fruit of liberation from dharma, one never again sinks down.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.233.30)

ये चाध्यात्मविदः पुण्या ये च वेदांगपारगाः सर्वदानप्रदा ये च तेषां स्नानेन शुद्धता

ye cādhyātmavidaḥ puṇyā ye ca vedāṁgapāragāḥ sarvadānapradā ye ca teṣāṁ snānena śuddhatā

Those who are meritorious knowers of the Self, those who have mastered the Vedangas, and those who give every kind of gift — for them purity comes through bathing.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.233.31)

कृतस्नानस्य च हरिर्देहमाश्रित्य तिष्ठति सर्वक्रियाकलापेषु संपूर्ण फलदो भवेत्

kṛtasnānasya ca harirdehamāśritya tiṣṭhati sarvakriyākalāpeṣu saṁpūrṇa phalado bhavet

For one who has bathed, Hari abides, taking refuge in his very body; in the whole array of his rites he becomes the giver of complete fruit.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.233.32)

सर्वपापविनाशाय देवता तोषणाय च चातुर्मास्ये जलस्नानं सर्वपापक्षयावहम्

sarvapāpavināśāya devatā toṣaṇāya ca cāturmāsye jalasnānaṁ sarvapāpakṣayāvaham

For the destruction of all sin and for the satisfaction of the deity, bathing in water during Chaturmasya brings about the destruction of every sin.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.233.33)

निशायां चैव न स्नायात्संध्यायां ग्रहणं विना उष्णोदकेन न स्नानं रात्रौ शुद्धिर्न जायते

niśāyāṁ caiva na snāyātsaṁdhyāyāṁ grahaṇaṁ vinā uṣṇodakena na snānaṁ rātrau śuddhirna jāyate

One should not bathe at night, nor at twilight, except during an eclipse; nor should one bathe with hot water; at night no purity is produced.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.233.34)

भानुसंदर्शनाच्छुद्धिर्विहिता सर्वकर्मसु चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण जलशुद्धिस्तु भाविनी

bhānusaṁdarśanācchuddhirvihitā sarvakarmasu cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa jalaśuddhistu bhāvinī

Purity through the sight of the sun is ordained for all rites; during Chaturmasya, especially, purification through water is what comes about.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.233.35)

अशक्त्या तु शरीरस्य भस्मस्नानेन शुध्यति मंत्रस्नानेन विप्रेंद्र विष्णुपादोदकेन वा

aśaktyā tu śarīrasya bhasmasnānena śudhyati maṁtrasnānena vipreṁdra viṣṇupādodakena vā

But should the body be too weak, one is purified instead by a bath of ashes, O foremost of brahmins, or by a mantra-bath, or with the water that has washed Vishnu's feet.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.233.36)

नारायणाग्रतः स्नानं क्षेत्र तीर्थनदीषु च यः करोति विशुद्धात्मा चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

nārāyaṇāgrataḥ snānaṁ kṣetra tīrthanadīṣu ca yaḥ karoti viśuddhātmā cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

Whoever, purified in soul, bathes before Narayana, or in sacred fields, fords, and rivers, especially during Chaturmasya —