The Greatness of Sarasvati Tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.6.46.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ अन्यानि तत्र तीर्थानि यानि संति महामते॥ तानि कीर्तय सर्वाणि परं कौतूहलं हि नः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ anyāni tatra tīrthāni yāni saṁti mahāmate tāni kīrtaya sarvāṇi paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi naḥ

The sages said: "O sage of great understanding, tell us of all the other tirthas that are there; we are filled with the greatest curiosity about them."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.46.2)

सूत उवाच॥ तत्र सारस्वतं तीर्थमन्यदस्ति सुशोभनम्॥ यत्र स्नातोऽतिमूकोऽपि भवेद्वाक्यविचक्षणः

sūta uvāca tatra sārasvataṁ tīrthamanyadasti suśobhanam yatra snāto'timūko'pi bhavedvākyavicakṣaṇaḥ

Suta said: "There is another most beautiful tirtha there, the Sarasvata tirtha, where even one who is utterly dumb becomes, after bathing, a master of speech."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.46.3)

लभते चेप्सितान्कामान्मानुषान्दैविकानपि॥ ब्रह्मलोकादिपर्यतांस्तथालोकान्द्विजोत्तमाः

labhate cepsitānkāmānmānuṣāndaivikānapi brahmalokādiparyatāṁstathālokāndvijottamāḥ

O best of brahmins, there he obtains his desired wishes, both human and divine, and attains even worlds extending up to the world of Brahma.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.46.4)

पुरासीत्पार्थिवो ना्ना विख्यातो बलवर्धनः॥ समुद्रवलयामुर्वीं बुभुजे यो भुजार्जिताम्

purāsītpārthivo nānā vikhyāto balavardhanaḥ samudravalayāmurvīṁ bubhuje yo bhujārjitām

Long ago there was a renowned king named Balavardhana, who enjoyed dominion over the earth ringed by the ocean, which he had won by the strength of his own arms.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.46.5)

तस्य पुत्रः समुत्पन्नः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः॥ तस्य नाम पिता चक्रे संप्राप्ते द्वादशेऽहनि॥ अम्बुवीचिरिति स्पष्टं समाहूय द्विजोत्तमान्

tasya putraḥ samutpannaḥ sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutaḥ tasya nāma pitā cakre saṁprāpte dvādaśe'hani ambuvīciriti spaṣṭaṁ samāhūya dvijottamān

A son was born to him, endowed with every auspicious mark; on the twelfth day, his father, summoning the brahmins, named him plainly "Ambuvichi."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.46.6)

ततः स ववृधे बालो लालितस्तेन भूभुजा॥ मूकभावं समापन्नो न शक्रोति प्रजल्पितुम्

tataḥ sa vavṛdhe bālo lālitastena bhūbhujā mūkabhāvaṁ samāpanno na śakroti prajalpitum

Then that child grew up, cherished by the king, but he was mute and unable to speak at all.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.46.7)

ततोऽस्य सप्तमे वर्षे संप्राप्ते बलवर्धनः॥ पंचत्वं समनुप्राप्तः संग्रामे शत्रुभिर्हतः

tato'sya saptame varṣe saṁprāpte balavardhanaḥ paṁcatvaṁ samanuprāptaḥ saṁgrāme śatrubhirhataḥ

Then, when his seventh year arrived, Balavardhana met his death, slain by his enemies in battle.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.46.8)

ततो मूकोऽपि बालोपि मंत्रिभिस्तस्य भूपतेः॥ स सुतः स्थापितो राज्ये अभावेऽन्यसुतस्य च

tato mūko'pi bālopi maṁtribhistasya bhūpateḥ sa sutaḥ sthāpito rājye abhāve'nyasutasya ca

Then, though he was mute and still a child, since there was no other son, that king's son was placed upon the throne by the ministers.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.46.9)

एवं तस्य महीपस्य राज्यस्थस्य जडात्मनः॥ बालत्वे वर्तमानस्य राज्यं विप्लवमध्यगात्

evaṁ tasya mahīpasya rājyasthasya jaḍātmanaḥ bālatve vartamānasya rājyaṁ viplavamadhyagāt

Thus, with that dull-witted king, still a child, seated upon the throne, the kingdom fell into disorder.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.46.10)

ततो जलचरन्यायः संप्रवृत्तो महीतले॥ पीड्यंते सर्वलोकास्तु दुर्बला बलवत्तरैः

tato jalacaranyāyaḥ saṁpravṛtto mahītale pīḍyaṁte sarvalokāstu durbalā balavattaraiḥ

Then the law of the fishes prevailed upon the earth, in which the great devour the small -- all the weak were oppressed by the stronger.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.46.11)

ततस्ते मंत्रिणः प्रोचुर्वसिष्ठं स्वपुरोहितम्॥ वचोऽर्थं नृपतेरस्य कुरूपायं महामुने

tataste maṁtriṇaḥ procurvasiṣṭhaṁ svapurohitam vaco'rthaṁ nṛpaterasya kurūpāyaṁ mahāmune

Then those ministers said to Vasishtha, their family priest: "O great sage, devise some remedy for the sake of this king."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.46.12)

पश्य कृत्स्नं धरापृष्ठे शून्यतां समुपस्थितम्॥ जडत्वान्नृपतेरस्य तस्मात्कुरु यथोचितम्

paśya kṛtsnaṁ dharāpṛṣṭhe śūnyatāṁ samupasthitam jaḍatvānnṛpaterasya tasmātkuru yathocitam

"Behold, on account of this king's dullness, a great emptiness has come over the whole earth; therefore do whatever is fitting."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.46.13)

ततस्तु सुचिरं ध्यात्वा दीनान्प्रोवाच मंत्रिणः॥ सर्वानार्तिसमोपेताञ्छृण्वतस्तस्य भूपतेः

tatastu suciraṁ dhyātvā dīnānprovāca maṁtriṇaḥ sarvānārtisamopetāñchṛṇvatastasya bhūpateḥ

Then, after pondering for a long while, he spoke to those wretched ministers, all overcome with distress, while the king himself listened.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.46.14)

अस्ति सारस्वतं तीर्थं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम्॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तत्रायं स्नातु भूपतिः

asti sārasvataṁ tīrthaṁ sarvakāmapradaṁ nṛṇām hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre tatrāyaṁ snātu bhūpatiḥ

"In the sacred field of Hatakeshvara there is the Sarasvata tirtha, which grants men all their desires; let this king bathe there."

Verse 15 (skanda.6.46.15)

अथ तद्वचनात्सद्यः स गत्वा तत्र सत्वरम्॥ स्नानात्तीर्थेऽथ संजातस्तत्क्षणात्स कल स्वनः

atha tadvacanātsadyaḥ sa gatvā tatra satvaram snānāttīrthe'tha saṁjātastatkṣaṇātsa kala svanaḥ

Then, upon that word, he went there at once and with all speed, and no sooner had he bathed in that tirtha than he found himself, that very instant, able to speak.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.46.16)

तत्प्रभावं सरस्वत्याः स विज्ञाय महीपतिः॥ श्रद्धया परया युक्तो ध्यायमानः सरस्वतीम्

tatprabhāvaṁ sarasvatyāḥ sa vijñāya mahīpatiḥ śraddhayā parayā yukto dhyāyamānaḥ sarasvatīm

Knowing this to be the power of Sarasvati, that king, filled with the deepest faith, began to meditate upon her.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.46.17)

ततस्तूर्णं समादाय मृत्तिकां स नदीतटात्॥ चकार भारतीं देवीं स्वयमेव चतुर्भुजाम्

tatastūrṇaṁ samādāya mṛttikāṁ sa nadītaṭāt cakāra bhāratīṁ devīṁ svayameva caturbhujām

Then, quickly taking clay from the riverbank, he himself fashioned an image of the goddess Bharati, with four arms.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.46.18)

दधतीं दक्षिणे हस्ते कमलं सुमनोहरम्॥ अक्षमालां तथान्यस्मिञ्जिततारक वर्चसम्

dadhatīṁ dakṣiṇe haste kamalaṁ sumanoharam akṣamālāṁ tathānyasmiñjitatāraka varcasam

In her right hand she held a most enchanting lotus, and in another a rosary, whose radiance surpassed even that of the stars.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.46.19)

कमण्डलुं तथान्यस्मिन्दिव्यवारिप्रपूरितम्॥ पुस्तकं च तथा वामे सर्वविद्यासमुद्भवम्

kamaṇḍaluṁ tathānyasmindivyavāriprapūritam pustakaṁ ca tathā vāme sarvavidyāsamudbhavam

In yet another hand was a water-pot filled with celestial water, and in her left hand a book, the source of every branch of knowledge.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.46.20)

ततो मेध्ये शिलापृष्ठे तां निवेश्य प्रयत्नतः॥ पूजयामास सद्भक्त्या धूपमाल्पानुलेपनैः

tato medhye śilāpṛṣṭhe tāṁ niveśya prayatnataḥ pūjayāmāsa sadbhaktyā dhūpamālpānulepanaiḥ

Then, having carefully set that image upon a pure stone slab, he worshipped it with true devotion, with incense, garlands, and sandal-paste.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.46.21)

चकार च स्तुतिं पश्चाच्छ्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा॥ तदग्रे प्रयतो भूत्वा स्वरेण महता नृपः

cakāra ca stutiṁ paścācchraddhāpūtena cetasā tadagre prayato bhūtvā svareṇa mahatā nṛpaḥ

And then, standing purified before her, that king, his heart made pure by faith, offered praise in a loud voice.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.46.22)

सदसद्देवि यत्किञ्चिद्बन्धमोक्षात्मकं पदम्॥ तत्सर्वं गुप्तया व्याप्तं त्वया काष्ठं यथाग्निना

sadasaddevi yatkiñcidbandhamokṣātmakaṁ padam tatsarvaṁ guptayā vyāptaṁ tvayā kāṣṭhaṁ yathāgninā

"O Goddess, whatever exists, real or unreal, whatever state belongs to bondage or to liberation -- all of it is pervaded, secretly, by you, just as fire lies hidden within wood."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.46.23)

सर्वस्य सिद्धिरूपेण त्वं जनस्य हृदि स्थिता॥ वाचारूपेण जिह्वायां ज्योतीरूपेण चक्षुषि

sarvasya siddhirūpeṇa tvaṁ janasya hṛdi sthitā vācārūpeṇa jihvāyāṁ jyotīrūpeṇa cakṣuṣi

"You dwell in the heart of every person in the form of accomplishment, on the tongue in the form of speech, and in the eyes in the form of light."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.46.24)

भक्तिग्राह्यासि देवेशि त्वमेका भुवनत्रये॥ शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे

bhaktigrāhyāsi deveśi tvamekā bhuvanatraye śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe

"O Queen of the gods, you alone in the three worlds are attained through devotion, ever devoted to protecting those who come to you for refuge, the wretched, and the afflicted."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.46.25)

त्वं कीर्तिस्त्वं धृतिर्मेधा त्वं भक्तिस्त्वं प्रभा स्मृता॥ त्वं निद्रा त्वं क्षुधा कीर्तिः सर्वभूतनिवासिनी

tvaṁ kīrtistvaṁ dhṛtirmedhā tvaṁ bhaktistvaṁ prabhā smṛtā tvaṁ nidrā tvaṁ kṣudhā kīrtiḥ sarvabhūtanivāsinī

"You are fame, you are fortitude and intellect, you are devotion, you are known as radiance; you are sleep, you are hunger, you are renown -- you dwell within all beings."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.46.26)

तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्वपुः प्रीतिः स्वधा स्वाहा विभावरी॥ रतिः प्रीतिः क्षितिर्गंगा सत्यं धर्मो मनस्विनी

tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭirvapuḥ prītiḥ svadhā svāhā vibhāvarī ratiḥ prītiḥ kṣitirgaṁgā satyaṁ dharmo manasvinī

"You are contentment, nourishment, embodiment, delight, the offerings Svadha and Svaha, and the night; you are pleasure and love, the earth, the Ganga, truth, righteousness, and wisdom itself."

Verse 27 (skanda.6.46.27)

लज्जा शांतिः स्मृतिर्दक्षा क्षमा गौरी च रोहिणी॥ सिनीवाली कुहू राका देवमाता दितिस्तथा

lajjā śāṁtiḥ smṛtirdakṣā kṣamā gaurī ca rohiṇī sinīvālī kuhū rākā devamātā ditistathā

"You are modesty, peace, memory, skillfulness, forbearance, Gauri, and Rohini; you are Sinivali, Kuhu, and Raka, the mother of the gods, and Diti too."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.46.28)

ब्रह्माणी विनता लक्ष्मीः कद्रूर्दाक्षायणी शिवा॥ गायत्री चाथ सावित्री कृषिर्वृष्टिः श्रुतिः कला

brahmāṇī vinatā lakṣmīḥ kadrūrdākṣāyaṇī śivā gāyatrī cātha sāvitrī kṛṣirvṛṣṭiḥ śrutiḥ kalā

"You are Brahmani, Vinata, Lakshmi, Kadru, Dakshayani, and Shiva; you are Gayatri and Savitri, agriculture, rainfall, sacred scripture, and the arts."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.46.29)

बलानाडी तुष्टिकाष्ठा रसना च सरस्वती॥ यत्किञ्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु बहुत्वाद्यन्न कीर्तितम्

balānāḍī tuṣṭikāṣṭhā rasanā ca sarasvatī yatkiñcittriṣu lokeṣu bahutvādyanna kīrtitam

"You are strength, the vital channels, satisfaction, the very directions of space, and the sense of taste, and you are Sarasvati herself; whatever else exists in the three worlds that, from sheer abundance, I have not named --"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.46.30)

इंगितं नेंगितं तच्च तद्रूपं ते सुरेश्वरि॥ गन्धर्वाः किन्नरा देवाः सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः

iṁgitaṁ neṁgitaṁ tacca tadrūpaṁ te sureśvari gandharvāḥ kinnarā devāḥ siddhavidyādharoragāḥ

"-- whatever is manifest and whatever is unmanifest, O queen of the gods, all of that too is your very form; the gandharvas, kinnaras, gods, siddhas, vidyadharas, and serpents --"

Verse 31 (skanda.6.46.31)

यक्षगुह्यकभूताश्च दैत्या ये च विनायकाः॥ त्वत्प्रसादेन ते सर्वे संसिद्धिं परमां गताः

yakṣaguhyakabhūtāśca daityā ye ca vināyakāḥ tvatprasādena te sarve saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ

"-- the yakshas, guhyakas, spirits, daityas, and the Vinayakas -- all of them have attained the highest accomplishment only through your grace."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.46.32)

तथान्येऽपि बहुत्वाद्ये न मया परिकीर्तिताः॥ आराधितास्तु कृच्छ्रेण पूजिताश्च सुविस्तरैः॥ हरंतु देवताः पापमन्ये त्वं कीर्तिताऽपि च

tathānye'pi bahutvādye na mayā parikīrtitāḥ ārādhitāstu kṛcchreṇa pūjitāśca suvistaraiḥ haraṁtu devatāḥ pāpamanye tvaṁ kīrtitā'pi ca

"So too there are many others whom, from sheer abundance, I have not named; may those deities, worshipped with great difficulty and elaborate rites, remove my sin -- and may you also, whom I have now praised, do the same."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.46.33)

एवं स्तुता सा देवेशी भूभुजा तेन भारती॥ ययौ प्रत्यक्षतां तूर्णं प्राह चेदं सुहर्षिता

evaṁ stutā sā deveśī bhūbhujā tena bhāratī yayau pratyakṣatāṁ tūrṇaṁ prāha cedaṁ suharṣitā

Thus praised by that king, the goddess Bharati at once became manifest before him, and, filled with great joy, spoke thus.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.46.34)

सरस्वत्युवाच॥ स्तोत्रेणानेन भूपाल भक्त्या सुस्थिरया सदा॥ परितुष्टास्मि तेनाशु वरं वृणु यथेप्सितम्

sarasvatyuvāca stotreṇānena bhūpāla bhaktyā susthirayā sadā parituṣṭāsmi tenāśu varaṁ vṛṇu yathepsitam

Sarasvati said: "O king, by this hymn of praise and by your ever-steady devotion, I am well pleased; therefore ask quickly for whatever boon you desire."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.46.35)

राजोवाच॥ अद्यप्रभृति मद्वाक्यात्त्वया स्थेयमसंशयम्॥ अत्रार्चायां त्रिलोकेस्मि न्यावत्कीर्तिर्मम स्थिरा

rājovāca adyaprabhṛti madvākyāttvayā stheyamasaṁśayam atrārcāyāṁ trilokesmi nyāvatkīrtirmama sthirā

The king said: "From this day, at my word, you must without fail remain established here in this image, for as long as my fame endures in the three worlds."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.46.36)

यस्त्वामाराधयेत्सम्यगत्रस्थां मन्निमित्ततः॥ भक्त्यानुरूपमेवाशु तस्मै देयं त्वया हि तत्

yastvāmārādhayetsamyagatrasthāṁ mannimittataḥ bhaktyānurūpamevāśu tasmai deyaṁ tvayā hi tat

"Whoever, on my account, properly worships you as you are established here, to him you must promptly grant a reward suited to his devotion."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.46.37)

सरस्वत्युवाच॥ यो मामत्र स्थितां नित्यं स्नात्वाऽत्र सलिले शुभे॥ अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां पूजयिष्यति मानवः

sarasvatyuvāca yo māmatra sthitāṁ nityaṁ snātvā'tra salile śubhe aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ pūjayiṣyati mānavaḥ

Sarasvati said: "Whatever person, having bathed here in these auspicious waters, worships me, established here, always on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days --"

Verse 38 (skanda.6.46.38)

तस्याहं वांछितान्कामान्संप्रदास्यामि पार्थिव॥ सूत उवाच॥ एवं तत्र स्थिता देवी स्वयमेव सरस्वती

tasyāhaṁ vāṁchitānkāmānsaṁpradāsyāmi pārthiva sūta uvāca evaṁ tatra sthitā devī svayameva sarasvatī

"-- to him, O king, I shall grant all his desired wishes." Suta said: "Thus the goddess Sarasvati herself became established there."

Verse 39 (skanda.6.46.39)

ततःप्रभृति लोकानां हिताय परमेश्वरी॥ अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यामुपवासपरायणः

tataḥprabhṛti lokānāṁ hitāya parameśvarī aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāmupavāsaparāyaṇaḥ

From that time onward, that supreme goddess has remained there for the welfare of all the world; whoever, keeping a fast on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days,

Verse 40 (skanda.6.46.40)

यस्तां पूजयते मर्त्यः श्वेतपुष्पानुलेपनैः॥ स स्याद्वाग्ग्मी सुमेधावी सदा जन्मनिजन्मनि

yastāṁ pūjayate martyaḥ śvetapuṣpānulepanaiḥ sa syādvāggmī sumedhāvī sadā janmanijanmani

worships her with white flowers and sandal-paste, becomes eloquent and highly intelligent in birth after birth.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.46.41)

सरस्वत्याः प्रसादेन जायमानः पुनःपुनः॥ अन्वयेऽपि न तस्यैव कश्चिन्मूर्खः प्रजायते

sarasvatyāḥ prasādena jāyamānaḥ punaḥpunaḥ anvaye'pi na tasyaiva kaścinmūrkhaḥ prajāyate

By the grace of Sarasvati, being born again and again, not a single fool is ever produced in his lineage.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.46.42)

यो धर्मश्रवणं तस्याः पुरतः कुरुते नरः॥ स नूनं वसति स्वर्गे तत्प्रभावाद्युगत्रयम्

yo dharmaśravaṇaṁ tasyāḥ purataḥ kurute naraḥ sa nūnaṁ vasati svarge tatprabhāvādyugatrayam

Whoever hears the exposition of dharma in her presence surely dwells in heaven, by her power, for the span of three ages.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.46.43)

विद्यादानं नरो यश्च तस्या ह्यायतने सदा॥ करोति श्रद्धया युक्तः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

vidyādānaṁ naro yaśca tasyā hyāyatane sadā karoti śraddhayā yuktaḥ so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

Whatever man, with faith, always makes gifts of learning in her temple obtains the fruit of the horse sacrifice.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.46.44)

यो यच्छति द्विजेन्द्राय धर्मशास्त्रसमुद्भवम्॥ पुस्तकं वाजिमेधस्य स समग्रं फलं लभेत्

yo yacchati dvijendrāya dharmaśāstrasamudbhavam pustakaṁ vājimedhasya sa samagraṁ phalaṁ labhet

Whoever presents to a foremost brahmin a book born of the sacred law obtains the entire fruit of the horse sacrifice.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.46.45)

यो वेदाध्ययनं तस्याः करोति पुरतः स्थितः॥ सोऽग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य कृत्स्नं फलमवाप्नुयात्

yo vedādhyayanaṁ tasyāḥ karoti purataḥ sthitaḥ so'gniṣṭomasya yajñasya kṛtsnaṁ phalamavāpnuyāt

Whoever, standing before her, engages in the study of the Veda obtains the complete fruit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice.