The Origin of Vishnupadi Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.24.1)

सूत उवाच। तत्र विष्णुपदं नाम तीर्थं तीर्थे शुभे स्थितम्। अपरं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः सर्वपातकनाशनम्

sūta uvāca| tatra viṣṇupadaṁ nāma tīrthaṁ tīrthe śubhe sthitam| aparaṁ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāḥ sarvapātakanāśanam

Suta said: O best of brahmins, in that same auspicious region there stands another tirtha named Vishnupada, the destroyer of all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.24.2)

अयने दक्षिणे प्राप्ते यस्तत्पूज्य समाहितः। निवेदयेत्तथात्मानं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः

ayane dakṣiṇe prāpte yastatpūjya samāhitaḥ| nivedayettathātmānaṁ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ

When the southern solstice arrives, whoever worships it with a concentrated mind and, filled with true faith, offers himself to it --

Verse 3 (skanda.6.24.3)

स मृतोऽप्ययने याम्ये तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्। प्राप्नोति नात्र संदेहस्तत्प्रभावाद्द्विजोत्तमाः

sa mṛto'pyayane yāmye tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam| prāpnoti nātra saṁdehastatprabhāvāddvijottamāḥ

even if he dies during that southern solstice, attains without doubt that supreme abode of Vishnu, O best of brahmins, by the power of that tirtha.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.24.4)

तथा चैवोत्तरे प्राप्ते पूजयित्वा यथाविधि। सम्यङ्निवेदयेद्भक्त्या आत्मानं यः समाहितः। सोऽपि विष्णोः पदं पुण्यं प्राप्य संजायते सुखी

tathā caivottare prāpte pūjayitvā yathāvidhi| samyaṅnivedayedbhaktyā ātmānaṁ yaḥ samāhitaḥ| so'pi viṣṇoḥ padaṁ puṇyaṁ prāpya saṁjāyate sukhī

Likewise, when the northern solstice arrives, whoever, having worshipped it duly, with concentrated mind devotedly offers himself, he too attains that sacred abode of Vishnu and becomes happy.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.24.5)

ऋषय ऊचुः। कथं तत्र पदं जातं विष्णोरव्यक्तजन्मनः। कथं निवेद्यते तत्र सम्यगात्माऽयनद्वये

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| kathaṁ tatra padaṁ jātaṁ viṣṇoravyaktajanmanaḥ| kathaṁ nivedyate tatra samyagātmā'yanadvaye

The sages said: How did that footprint of Vishnu, whose birth is unmanifest, arise there? And how is one's self properly offered there at either solstice?

Verse 6 (skanda.6.24.6)

तस्मिन्दृष्टेऽथवा स्पृष्टे यत्फलं लभ्यते नरैः। तत्सर्वं सूतज ब्रूहि परं कौतृहलं हि नः

tasmindṛṣṭe'thavā spṛṣṭe yatphalaṁ labhyate naraiḥ| tatsarvaṁ sūtaja brūhi paraṁ kautṛhalaṁ hi naḥ

Tell us also, O son of Suta, all the fruit that men obtain by seeing or touching it -- we are most curious.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.24.7)

सूत उवाच। बलिर्बद्धो यदा तेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना। तदा क्रमैस्त्रिभिर्व्याप्तं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्

sūta uvāca| balirbaddho yadā tena viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā| tadā kramaistribhirvyāptaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

Suta said: When Bali was bound by that all-powerful Vishnu, with three strides he then pervaded the whole three worlds, together with all things moving and unmoving.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.24.8)

हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे संन्यस्तः प्रथमः क्रमः। महर्लोके द्वितीयस्तु तदा तेन महात्मना

hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre saṁnyastaḥ prathamaḥ kramaḥ| maharloke dvitīyastu tadā tena mahātmanā

The first stride was set down by that great being in the Hatakeshvara region, and the second in Mahar-loka.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.24.9)

तृतीयस्य समुद्योगं यदा चक्रे स चक्रधृक्। तदा भिन्नं द्विजश्रेष्ठा ब्रह्मांडं लघुतां गतम्

tṛtīyasya samudyogaṁ yadā cakre sa cakradhṛk| tadā bhinnaṁ dvijaśreṣṭhā brahmāṁḍaṁ laghutāṁ gatam

When that discus-bearer undertook the effort of the third stride, then, O best of brahmins, the cosmic egg was split and pierced through.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.24.10)

पादाग्रेणाथ संभिन्ने ब्रह्मांडे निर्मलं जलम्। अंगुष्ठाग्रेण संप्राप्तं क्रमेण धरणीतले

pādāgreṇātha saṁbhinne brahmāṁḍe nirmalaṁ jalam| aṁguṣṭhāgreṇa saṁprāptaṁ krameṇa dharaṇītale

From the cosmic egg thus pierced by the tip of his foot, pure water, passing through the tip of his toe, arrived by stages upon the surface of the earth.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.24.11)

ब्रह्मलोकं तदा कृत्स्नं प्लावयित्वा जलं हि तत्। शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं कुन्देन्दुसदृशद्युति। मत्स्यकच्छपसंकीर्णं ग्राहयूथैः समाकुलम्

brahmalokaṁ tadā kṛtsnaṁ plāvayitvā jalaṁ hi tat| śuddhasphaṭikasaṁkāśaṁ kundendusadṛśadyuti| matsyakacchapasaṁkīrṇaṁ grāhayūthaiḥ samākulam

That water, having first flooded the whole of Brahmaloka, resembled pure crystal, was radiant as the jasmine flower or the moon, teemed with fish and tortoises, and was thronged with herds of crocodiles.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.24.12)

ततः प्रभृति सा लोके गंगा विष्णुपदी स्मृता। पवित्रमपि तत्क्षेत्रं नयन्ती सा पवित्रताम्

tataḥ prabhṛti sā loke gaṁgā viṣṇupadī smṛtā| pavitramapi tatkṣetraṁ nayantī sā pavitratām

From then on it has been remembered in the world as the Ganga Vishnupadi, leading that already sacred region on to yet greater purity.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.24.13)

एवं विष्णोः पदं तत्र संजातं मुनिसत्तमाः। सर्वपापहरं पुंसां तदा विष्णुपदी स्मृता

evaṁ viṣṇoḥ padaṁ tatra saṁjātaṁ munisattamāḥ| sarvapāpaharaṁ puṁsāṁ tadā viṣṇupadī smṛtā

Thus, O best of sages, the footprint of Vishnu arose there, taking away all the sins of men, and from then it has been known as Vishnupadi.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.24.14)

यस्तस्यां श्रद्धया युक्तः स्नानं कृत्वा यथोदितम्। स्पर्शयेत्तत्पदं विष्णोः स याति परमं पदम्

yastasyāṁ śraddhayā yuktaḥ snānaṁ kṛtvā yathoditam| sparśayettatpadaṁ viṣṇoḥ sa yāti paramaṁ padam

Whoever, filled with faith, bathes there as prescribed and touches that footprint of Vishnu, attains the supreme abode.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.24.15)

यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः। स्नात्वा विष्णुपदीतोये गयाश्राद्धफलं लभेत्

yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ| snātvā viṣṇupadītoye gayāśrāddhaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever, filled with true faith, bathes in the waters of Vishnupadi and performs shraddha there, obtains the fruit of the shraddha performed at Gaya.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.24.16)

माघमासे नरः स्नानं प्रातरुत्थाय तत्र यः। करोति सततं मर्त्यः स प्रयागफलं लभेत्

māghamāse naraḥ snānaṁ prātarutthāya tatra yaḥ| karoti satataṁ martyaḥ sa prayāgaphalaṁ labhet

Whatever mortal, in the month of Magha, rises at dawn and bathes there continually, obtains the fruit of bathing at Prayaga.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.24.17)

अथवा वत्सरं यावत्क्षणं कृत्वात्र भक्तितः। तत्र स्नानं च यः कुर्यात्स मुक्तिं लभते नरः

athavā vatsaraṁ yāvatkṣaṇaṁ kṛtvātra bhaktitaḥ| tatra snānaṁ ca yaḥ kuryātsa muktiṁ labhate naraḥ

Or whatever man, even once in a year, bathes there for a moment with devotion, attains liberation.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.24.18)

यस्यास्थीनि जले तत्र क्षिप्यंते मनुजस्य च। अपि पापसमाचारः स प्राप्नोति परां गतिम्

yasyāsthīni jale tatra kṣipyaṁte manujasya ca| api pāpasamācāraḥ sa prāpnoti parāṁ gatim

Whatever man's bones are cast into that water attains the supreme goal, even if he was of sinful conduct.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.24.19)

अपि पक्षिपतंगा ये पशवः कृमयो मृगाः। प्रविष्टाः सलिले तस्मिंस्तृषार्ता भक्तिवर्जिताः

api pakṣipataṁgā ye paśavaḥ kṛmayo mṛgāḥ| praviṣṭāḥ salile tasmiṁstṛṣārtā bhaktivarjitāḥ

Even birds, moths, animals, insects, and deer who, tormented by thirst and without any devotion, enter that water --

Verse 20 (skanda.6.24.20)

तेऽपि पापविनिर्मुक्ता देहांते चातिदुर्लभम्। चक्रिणस्तत्पदं यांति जरामरणवर्जितम्

te'pi pāpavinirmuktā dehāṁte cātidurlabham| cakriṇastatpadaṁ yāṁti jarāmaraṇavarjitam

even they are freed from sin and, at the end of the body, attain that most rare abode of the Discus-bearer, free from old age and death.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.24.21)

किं पुनः श्रद्धयोपेताः पर्वकाल उपस्थिते। दत्त्वा दानं द्विजेन्द्राणां नरा वेदविदां द्विजाः

kiṁ punaḥ śraddhayopetāḥ parvakāla upasthite| dattvā dānaṁ dvijendrāṇāṁ narā vedavidāṁ dvijāḥ

How much more, then, O brahmins, for those men who, filled with faith, at the coming of a festival, give gifts to the foremost brahmins learned in the Veda!

Verse 22 (skanda.6.24.22)

तत्र गाथा पुरा गीता नारदेन महर्षिणा। विष्णुपद्याः समालोक्य प्रभावं पापनाशनम्

tatra gāthā purā gītā nāradena maharṣiṇā| viṣṇupadyāḥ samālokya prabhāvaṁ pāpanāśanam

There, in ancient times, the great sage Narada, having beheld the sin-destroying power of Vishnupadi, sang this verse.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.24.23)

किं व्रतैर्नियमैर्वापि तपोभिर्विविधैर्मखैः। कृतैर्विष्णुपदीतोये संस्थिते धरणीतले

kiṁ vratairniyamairvāpi tapobhirvividhairmakhaiḥ| kṛtairviṣṇupadītoye saṁsthite dharaṇītale

What is the use of vows, observances, various austerities, or sacrifices performed, when the waters of Vishnupadi already stand upon the earth?

Verse 24 (skanda.6.24.24)

एकः सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु स्नानं मर्त्यः समाचरेत्। एको विष्णुपदीतोये स्नाति द्वाभ्यां समं फलम्

ekaḥ sarveṣu tīrtheṣu snānaṁ martyaḥ samācaret| eko viṣṇupadītoye snāti dvābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

One mortal may bathe at all the tirthas; another bathes once in the waters of Vishnupadi -- the fruit of both is equal.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.24.25)

एको दानानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति। एको विष्णुपदीतोये स्नाति द्वाभ्यां समं हि तत्

eko dānāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇebhyaḥ prayacchati| eko viṣṇupadītoye snāti dvābhyāṁ samaṁ hi tat

One person gives every kind of gift to brahmins; another bathes once in the waters of Vishnupadi -- that too is equal.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.24.26)

पञ्चाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे वर्षास्वाकाशमाश्रितः। जलाश्रयश्च हेमंत एकः स्यात्पुरुषः क्षितौ

pañcāgnisādhako grīṣme varṣāsvākāśamāśritaḥ| jalāśrayaśca hemaṁta ekaḥ syātpuruṣaḥ kṣitau

One man on earth may perform the five-fires austerity in summer, take shelter under the open sky in the rains, and take refuge in water in winter --

Verse 27 (skanda.6.24.27)

अन्यो विष्णुपदीतोये स्नात्वा विष्णुपदं स्पृशेत्। तावुभावपि निर्दिष्टौ समौ पुरुषसत्तमौ

anyo viṣṇupadītoye snātvā viṣṇupadaṁ spṛśet| tāvubhāvapi nirdiṣṭau samau puruṣasattamau

while another bathes in the waters of Vishnupadi and touches the footprint of Vishnu -- these two, O best of men, are declared equal.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.24.28)

एकांतरोपवासी य एकः स्याज्जीवितावधि। एको विष्णुपदीतोये स्नाति द्वाभ्यां समं फलम्

ekāṁtaropavāsī ya ekaḥ syājjīvitāvadhi| eko viṣṇupadītoye snāti dvābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

Whoever fasts on alternate days for his whole life; another bathes once in the waters of Vishnupadi -- the fruit of both is equal.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.24.29)

त्रिरात्रोपोषितस्त्वेको यावद्वर्षशतं नरः। एको विष्णुपदीतोये स्नाति द्वाभ्यां समं फलम्

trirātropoṣitastveko yāvadvarṣaśataṁ naraḥ| eko viṣṇupadītoye snāti dvābhyāṁ samaṁ phalam

One man fasts for three nights at a time, for a hundred years; another bathes once in the waters of Vishnupadi -- the fruit of both is equal.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.24.30)

सूत उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो नारदो द्विजसत्तमाः। विरराम मुनीनां स बहूनां पुरतोऽसकृत्

sūta uvāca| evamuktvā muniśreṣṭho nārado dvijasattamāḥ| virarāma munīnāṁ sa bahūnāṁ purato'sakṛt

Suta said: O best of brahmins, having said this, the foremost sage Narada, having spoken it repeatedly before many sages, fell silent.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.24.31)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत। संस्पृशेच्च पदं विष्णोर्य इच्छेच्छ्रेय आत्मनः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena snānaṁ tatra samācareta| saṁspṛśecca padaṁ viṣṇorya icchecchreya ātmanaḥ

Therefore, whoever desires his own welfare should, with all effort, bathe there and touch the footprint of Vishnu.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.24.32)

ऋषय ऊचुः। यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तमात्मानं विनिवेदयेत्। विष्णोः पदस्य संप्राप्ते अयने दक्षिणोत्तरे

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| yadetadbhavatā proktamātmānaṁ vinivedayet| viṣṇoḥ padasya saṁprāpte ayane dakṣiṇottare

The sages said: You have said that, when the southern or northern solstice arrives, one should offer oneself at the foot of Vishnu --

Verse 33 (skanda.6.24.33)

तत्केन विधिना सूत मन्त्रैश्च वद सत्वरम्। वयं येन च तत्कुर्मः सर्वं भक्तिसमन्विताः

tatkena vidhinā sūta mantraiśca vada satvaram| vayaṁ yena ca tatkurmaḥ sarvaṁ bhaktisamanvitāḥ

tell us quickly, O Suta, by what procedure and with what mantras, so that we too, filled with devotion, may do all this.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.24.34)

सूत उवाच। दक्षिणे चोत्तरे चापि संप्राप्ते चायनद्वये। पूजयित्वा पदं विष्णोरिमं मन्त्रमुदीरयेत्

sūta uvāca| dakṣiṇe cottare cāpi saṁprāpte cāyanadvaye| pūjayitvā padaṁ viṣṇorimaṁ mantramudīrayet

Suta said: When either the southern or the northern solstice arrives, having worshipped the foot of Vishnu, one should utter this mantra --

Verse 35 (skanda.6.24.35)

षण्मासाभ्यंतरे मृत्युर्यद्यकस्माद्भवेन्मम। तत्ते पदं गतिर्मे स्यादहं ते भृत्यतां गतः

ṣaṇmāsābhyaṁtare mṛtyuryadyakasmādbhavenmama| tatte padaṁ gatirme syādahaṁ te bhṛtyatāṁ gataḥ

'If death should come to me unexpectedly within six months, then let your foot be my refuge and destination -- I have become your servant.'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.24.36)

एवं प्रोच्य हरिं पश्चात्पूजयेद्ब्राह्मणांस्ततः। अथ तैः सममश्नीयात्ततः प्राप्नोति सद्गतिम्

evaṁ procya hariṁ paścātpūjayedbrāhmaṇāṁstataḥ| atha taiḥ samamaśnīyāttataḥ prāpnoti sadgatim

Having thus addressed Hari, one should then worship the brahmins and eat together with them; thereby one attains a good destination.