The Greatness of Rudrakoti

Verse 1 (skanda.6.52.1)

सूत उवाच॥ उमामहेश्वरौ तत्र स्थापितौ तेन भूभुजा॥ प्रासादं परमं कृत्वा साधुदृष्टिसुखप्रदम्

sūta uvāca umāmaheśvarau tatra sthāpitau tena bhūbhujā prāsādaṁ paramaṁ kṛtvā sādhudṛṣṭisukhapradam

Suta said: "There, that king established Uma and Maheshvara, having built for them a magnificent temple, pleasing to the sight of the virtuous."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.52.2)

तस्याग्रतः शुभं कुंडं तत्र चैव विनिर्मितम्॥ स्वच्छोदकेन सम्पूर्णं पद्मिनीखंडमंडितम्

tasyāgrataḥ śubhaṁ kuṁḍaṁ tatra caiva vinirmitam svacchodakena sampūrṇaṁ padminīkhaṁḍamaṁḍitam

Before it he also built an auspicious pool, filled with clear water and adorned with clusters of lotuses.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.52.3)

स्नात्वा तत्र नरो भक्त्या तौ पश्येद्यः समाहितः॥ माघशुक्लचतुर्दश्यां न स भूयोऽत्र जायते

snātvā tatra naro bhaktyā tau paśyedyaḥ samāhitaḥ māghaśuklacaturdaśyāṁ na sa bhūyo'tra jāyate

Whoever, having bathed there, beholds those two with devotion and a composed mind on the fourteenth of the bright half of Magha, is not born again here.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.52.4)

तस्यैव पूर्वदिग्भागेऽगस्त्यकुण्डसमीपतः॥ अस्ति वापी महापुण्या सर्वपातकनाशिनी

tasyaiva pūrvadigbhāge'gastyakuṇḍasamīpataḥ asti vāpī mahāpuṇyā sarvapātakanāśinī

In the eastern part of that very place, near the Agastya-kunda, there is a most sacred stepwell that destroys all sin.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.52.5)

तस्यां यः कुरुते स्नानं मासि वै फाल्गुने नरः॥ सोपवासः सिताष्टम्यां वांछितं लभते च सः

tasyāṁ yaḥ kurute snānaṁ māsi vai phālgune naraḥ sopavāsaḥ sitāṣṭamyāṁ vāṁchitaṁ labhate ca saḥ

Whoever bathes there in the month of Phalguna, fasting on the bright eighth, obtains what he desires.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.52.6)

तस्या दक्षिणदिग्भागे तत्रास्ति कपिला नदी॥ कपिलो यत्र संप्राप्तः सिद्धिं सांख्यसमुद्भवाम्

tasyā dakṣiṇadigbhāge tatrāsti kapilā nadī kapilo yatra saṁprāptaḥ siddhiṁ sāṁkhyasamudbhavām

In its southern part there is the river Kapila, where Kapila attained the accomplishment born of Sankhya.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.52.7)

कपिलायाश्च पूर्वेण सिद्धक्षेत्रं प्रकीर्तितम्॥ यत्र सिद्धिं गताः सिद्धाः पुरा शत सहस्रशः

kapilāyāśca pūrveṇa siddhakṣetraṁ prakīrtitam yatra siddhiṁ gatāḥ siddhāḥ purā śata sahasraśaḥ

To the east of the Kapila is the field renowned as Siddhakshetra, where hundreds of thousands of siddhas attained perfection long ago.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.52.8)

यो यं काममभिध्याय तपस्तत्र समाचरेत्॥ षण्मासाभ्यंतरे नूनं स तमाप्नोति मानवः

yo yaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya tapastatra samācaret ṣaṇmāsābhyaṁtare nūnaṁ sa tamāpnoti mānavaḥ

Whoever, having set his mind on a wish, performs austerity there, that man surely attains it within six months.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.52.9)

तस्याधस्ताच्छिला विप्रा विद्यते वैष्णवी शुभा॥ भ्रमन्ती चतुरस्रा च सर्वपातकनाशिनी

tasyādhastācchilā viprā vidyate vaiṣṇavī śubhā bhramantī caturasrā ca sarvapātakanāśinī

Beneath it, O brahmins, there lies an auspicious Vaishnavi rock, four-sided and moving, which destroys all sin.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.52.10)

सदा महानदीतोयक्षालिता मुक्तिदा नृणाम्॥ गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये संनिविष्टा सरस्वती

sadā mahānadītoyakṣālitā muktidā nṛṇām gaṁgāyamunayormadhye saṁniviṣṭā sarasvatī

Ever washed by the waters of the great river, granting liberation to men -- there Sarasvati abides, between the Ganga and Yamuna.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.52.11)

त्रिवेणी वहते तस्याः पुरतो भुक्तिमुक्तिदा॥ तस्यामुपरि दग्धानां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

triveṇī vahate tasyāḥ purato bhuktimuktidā tasyāmupari dagdhānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

Before it flows the Triveni, which grants both enjoyment and liberation. Especially for brahmins cremated upon it,

Verse 12 (skanda.6.52.12)

नूनं मुक्तिर्भवेत्तेषां चिता भस्मनि गोष्पदम्॥ दृश्यते तत्र तज्ज्ञात्वा संस्कार्या ब्राह्मणा मृताः

nūnaṁ muktirbhavetteṣāṁ citā bhasmani goṣpadam dṛśyate tatra tajjñātvā saṁskāryā brāhmaṇā mṛtāḥ

liberation surely comes to them -- a cow's hoofprint is seen there in the ashes of the pyre; knowing this, dead brahmins should be cremated there.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.52.13)

तस्यैवोत्तरदिग्भागे रुद्रकोटिर्द्विजोत्तमाः॥ अस्ति संपूजिता विप्रैर्दाक्षिणात्यैर्महात्मभिः

tasyaivottaradigbhāge rudrakoṭirdvijottamāḥ asti saṁpūjitā viprairdākṣiṇātyairmahātmabhiḥ

In the northern part of that very place, O best of the twice-born, there is Rudrakoti, worshipped by great-souled brahmins from the south.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.52.14)

महायोगिस्वरूपेण दाक्षिणात्या द्विजोत्तमाः॥ चमत्कारपुरे क्षेत्रे श्रुत्वा स्वयमुमापतिम्

mahāyogisvarūpeṇa dākṣiṇātyā dvijottamāḥ camatkārapure kṣetre śrutvā svayamumāpatim

Southern brahmins, O best of the twice-born, having heard that the Lord of Uma himself resides in the form of the Great Yogi in the field of Chamatkarapura,

Verse 15 (skanda.6.52.15)

ततः कौतूहलाविष्टाः श्रद्धया परया युताः॥ कोटिसंख्या द्रुतं जग्मुस्तस्य दर्शनवांछया

tataḥ kautūhalāviṣṭāḥ śraddhayā parayā yutāḥ koṭisaṁkhyā drutaṁ jagmustasya darśanavāṁchayā

then, filled with eagerness and supreme faith, went there swiftly in their tens of millions, desiring to behold him.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.52.16)

अहंपूर्वमहंपूर्वं वीक्षयिष्यामि तं हरम्॥ इति श्रद्धासमोपेताश्चक्रुस्ते शपथं गताः

ahaṁpūrvamahaṁpūrvaṁ vīkṣayiṣyāmi taṁ haram iti śraddhāsamopetāścakruste śapathaṁ gatāḥ

"Each saying, 'I first, I first shall behold that Hara,' and full of equal faith, they went and made an oath among themselves:"

Verse 17 (skanda.6.52.17)

एतेषां मध्यतो यस्तं महायोगिनमीश्वरम्॥ चरमं देवमीक्षेत भविष्यति स पापकृत्

eteṣāṁ madhyato yastaṁ mahāyoginamīśvaram caramaṁ devamīkṣeta bhaviṣyati sa pāpakṛt

"'Whichever among us sees that great Lord, that supreme Yogi, last, shall be deemed a sinner.'"

Verse 18 (skanda.6.52.18)

ततस्तेषामभिप्रायं ज्ञात्वा देवो महेश्वरः॥ भक्तिप्रीतो हितार्थाय कोटिरूपैर्व्यवस्थितः

tatasteṣāmabhiprāyaṁ jñātvā devo maheśvaraḥ bhaktiprīto hitārthāya koṭirūpairvyavasthitaḥ

Then, knowing their intent, the god Maheshvara, pleased by their devotion, for their benefit stationed himself in tens of millions of forms.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.52.19)

हेलया दर्शनं प्राप्तः सर्वेषां द्विजसत्तमाः॥ ततः प्रभृति तत्स्थानं रुद्रकोटीतिविश्रुतम्

helayā darśanaṁ prāptaḥ sarveṣāṁ dvijasattamāḥ tataḥ prabhṛti tatsthānaṁ rudrakoṭītiviśrutam

With ease he granted vision of himself to all of them, O best of brahmins; from then on that place became known as Rudrakoti.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.52.20)

तदर्थं पठितः श्लोको नारदेन पुरा द्विजाः॥ रुद्रावर्तं समालोक्य प्रहृष्टेन द्विजोत्तमाः

tadarthaṁ paṭhitaḥ śloko nāradena purā dvijāḥ rudrāvartaṁ samālokya prahṛṣṭena dvijottamāḥ

Concerning this a verse was once recited by Narada, O twice-born, joyfully, after he had beheld Rudravarta, O best of the twice-born:

Verse 21 (skanda.6.52.21)

आषाढीं कार्तिकीं माघीं तथा चैत्रसमुद्भवाम्॥ धन्याः पृथिव्यां लप्स्यंते रुद्रावर्ते चतुर्दशीम्

āṣāḍhīṁ kārtikīṁ māghīṁ tathā caitrasamudbhavām dhanyāḥ pṛthivyāṁ lapsyaṁte rudrāvarte caturdaśīm

"'Blessed on this earth are those who obtain the fourteenth tithi at Rudravarta -- whether in Ashadha, Kartika, Magha, or Chaitra.'"

Verse 22 (skanda.6.52.22)

आजन्मशतसाहस्रं कृत्वा पापं नरः क्षितौ॥ रुद्रावर्तं समालोक्य विपाप्मत्वं प्रपद्यते

ājanmaśatasāhasraṁ kṛtvā pāpaṁ naraḥ kṣitau rudrāvartaṁ samālokya vipāpmatvaṁ prapadyate

"'A man who has committed a hundred thousand sins from birth upon this earth becomes free of sin merely by beholding Rudravarta.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.6.52.23)

रुद्रावर्त्ते नरो गत्वा दृष्ट्वा योगेश्वरं हरम्॥ शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां विपाप्मा जायते ध्रुवम्

rudrāvartte naro gatvā dṛṣṭvā yogeśvaraṁ haram śuklapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ vipāpmā jāyate dhruvam

"'A man who goes to Rudravarta and beholds Hara, the Lord of Yoga, on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight, surely becomes free of sin.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.6.52.24)

यस्तत्र कुरुते श्राद्धं महायोगिपुरे द्विजाः॥ रुद्रावर्ते स चाप्नोति फलं शतमखोद्भवम्

yastatra kurute śrāddhaṁ mahāyogipure dvijāḥ rudrāvarte sa cāpnoti phalaṁ śatamakhodbhavam

"'Whoever performs a shraddha there, O brahmins, at Mahayogipura, obtains at Rudravarta the fruit that comes from a hundred sacrifices.'"

Verse 25 (skanda.6.52.25)

उपवासपरो भूत्वा यः कुर्याद्रात्रिजागरम्॥ कामगेन विमानेन स स्वर्गे याति मानवः

upavāsaparo bhūtvā yaḥ kuryādrātrijāgaram kāmagena vimānena sa svarge yāti mānavaḥ

"'A man who fasts and keeps a night vigil there goes to heaven in a chariot that travels at will.'"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.52.26)

तत्र यः कपिलां दद्याद्ब्राह्मणायाहिताग्नये॥ स गणः स्यान्न संदेहो हरस्य दयितस्तथा

tatra yaḥ kapilāṁ dadyādbrāhmaṇāyāhitāgnaye sa gaṇaḥ syānna saṁdeho harasya dayitastathā

"'Whoever gives there a tawny cow to a brahmin who maintains the sacred fire becomes, without doubt, a gana, dear to Hara.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.52.27)

षडक्षरं जपेद्यस्तु महायोगिपुरः स्थितः॥ मंत्रं तस्य भवेच्छ्रेयः षङ्गुणं राजसूयतः

ṣaḍakṣaraṁ japedyastu mahāyogipuraḥ sthitaḥ maṁtraṁ tasya bhavecchreyaḥ ṣaṅguṇaṁ rājasūyataḥ

"'Whoever, standing before Mahayogipura, recites the six-syllabled mantra, gains from it a benefit six times that of the Rajasuya sacrifice.'"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.52.28)

यस्तस्य पुरतो भक्त्या जपेद्वा शतरुद्रियम्॥ चतुर्णामपि वेदानां सोऽधीतानां भजेत्फलम्

yastasya purato bhaktyā japedvā śatarudriyam caturṇāmapi vedānāṁ so'dhītānāṁ bhajetphalam

"'Whoever recites the Shatarudriya before him with devotion partakes of the fruit of having studied all four Vedas.'"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.52.29)

गीतं वा यदि वा नृत्यं तत्पुरः कुरुते नरः॥ स सर्वेषां भजेच्छ्रेयो मखानां नात्र संशयः

gītaṁ vā yadi vā nṛtyaṁ tatpuraḥ kurute naraḥ sa sarveṣāṁ bhajecchreyo makhānāṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

"'A man who performs song or dance before him partakes of the merit of all sacrifices -- of this there is no doubt.'"

Verse 30 (skanda.6.52.30)

एवमुक्त्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठाः स मुनिर्ब्रह्मसंभवः॥ विरराम ततो हृष्टस्तीर्थयात्रां गतो द्रुतम्

evamuktvā dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ sa munirbrahmasaṁbhavaḥ virarāma tato hṛṣṭastīrthayātrāṁ gato drutam

Having said this, O best of the twice-born, that sage born of Brahma fell silent, and then, rejoicing, swiftly went on his pilgrimage.