The Glory of Rishitoya

Verse 1 (skanda.7.297.1)

देव्युवाच। देवदेव जगन्नाथ संसारार्णवतारक। सविस्तरं तु मे ब्रूहि ऋषितोयामहोदयम्

devyuvāca| devadeva jagannātha saṁsārārṇavatāraka| savistaraṁ tu me brūhi ṛṣitoyāmahodayam

The Goddess said: O God of gods, Lord of the universe, deliverer across the ocean of Samsara, tell me in detail the great glory of Rishitoya.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.297.2)

ऋषितोयेति तन्नाम कथं ख्यातं धरातले। कथं सा पुनरायाता देवदारुवने शुभे

ṛṣitoyeti tannāma kathaṁ khyātaṁ dharātale| kathaṁ sā punarāyātā devadāruvane śubhe

How did that name 'Rishitoya' become famous on earth? And, O auspicious one, how did she come again to the Devadaru forest?

Verse 3 (skanda.7.297.3)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि सावधाना वचो मम। माहात्म्यमृषितोयायाः सर्वपातकनाशनम्

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi sāvadhānā vaco mama| māhātmyamṛṣitoyāyāḥ sarvapātakanāśanam

Ishvara said: Listen, O Goddess, I shall relate it—attend carefully to my words: the glory of Rishitoya, which destroys all sins.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.297.4)

देवदारुवने पुण्य ऋषयस्तपसा युताः। निवसंति वरारोहे शतशोथ सहस्रशः

devadāruvane puṇya ṛṣayastapasā yutāḥ| nivasaṁti varārohe śataśotha sahasraśaḥ

In the sacred Devadaru forest, sages endowed with austerity dwell, O fair-limbed one, by the hundreds and thousands.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.297.5)

तेषां निवसतां तत्र बहुकालो गतः प्रिये। पुत्रपौत्रैः प्रवृद्धास्ते दारुकं व्याप्य संस्थिताः

teṣāṁ nivasatāṁ tatra bahukālo gataḥ priye| putrapautraiḥ pravṛddhāste dārukaṁ vyāpya saṁsthitāḥ

As they dwelt there, O dear one, a long time passed; grown numerous with sons and grandsons, they spread out and settled through the Daruka forest.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.297.6)

ते सर्वे चिंतयामासुः समेत्य च परस्परम्। सरस्वती महापुण्या शिरस्याधाय वाडवम्

te sarve ciṁtayāmāsuḥ sametya ca parasparam| sarasvatī mahāpuṇyā śirasyādhāya vāḍavam

All of them, meeting together, began to deliberate—concerning the greatly holy Sarasvati, who bears the submarine fire upon her head,

Verse 7 (skanda.7.297.7)

प्रभासं चिरकालेन क्षेत्रं चैव गमिष्यति। वापीकूपतडागादि मुक्त्वा सागरगामिनीम्

prabhāsaṁ cirakālena kṣetraṁ caiva gamiṣyati| vāpīkūpataḍāgādi muktvā sāgaragāminīm

that after a long time she would go to the very field of Prabhasa, abandoning step-wells, wells, and tanks, becoming one who flows to the ocean.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.297.8)

नाह्लादं कुरुते चेतः स्नानदानजपेषु च। ब्रह्माणं प्रार्थयिष्यामो गत्वा ब्रह्मनिकेतनम्

nāhlādaṁ kurute cetaḥ snānadānajapeṣu ca| brahmāṇaṁ prārthayiṣyāmo gatvā brahmaniketanam

Our minds find no joy in bathing, gift-giving, and recitation; therefore let us go to Brahma's abode and entreat Brahma.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.297.9)

ईश्वर उवाच। एवं निमन्त्र्य ते सर्वे ऋषयस्तपसोज्ज्वलाः। गतास्ते ब्रह्मलोकं तु द्रष्टुं देवं पितामहम्। तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्ब्रह्माणं कमलोद्भवम्

īśvara uvāca| evaṁ nimantrya te sarve ṛṣayastapasojjvalāḥ| gatāste brahmalokaṁ tu draṣṭuṁ devaṁ pitāmaham| tuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ stotrairbrahmāṇaṁ kamalodbhavam

Ishvara said: Having thus resolved, all those sages, blazing with austerity, went to Brahma-loka to behold the god, the Grandsire, and praised Brahma, the lotus-born, with various hymns.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.297.10)

ऋषय ऊचुः। नमः प्रणवरूपाय विश्वकर्त्रे नमोनमः। तथा विश्वस्य रक्षित्रे नमोऽस्तु परमात्मने

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| namaḥ praṇavarūpāya viśvakartre namonamaḥ| tathā viśvasya rakṣitre namo'stu paramātmane

The Rishis said: Homage to you, of the form of Pranava, the creator of the universe, homage again and again; and homage be to the protector of the universe, the Supreme Self.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.297.11)

तथा तस्यैव संहर्त्रे नमो ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणे। पितामह नमस्तुभ्यं सुरज्येष्ठ नमोऽस्तु ते

tathā tasyaiva saṁhartre namo brahmasvarūpiṇe| pitāmaha namastubhyaṁ surajyeṣṭha namo'stu te

And homage to that same one as destroyer, of the form of Brahman; O Grandsire, homage to you, O eldest of gods, homage be to you.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.297.12)

चतुर्वक्त्र नमस्तुभ्यं पद्मयोने नमोऽस्तु ते। विरंचये नमस्तुभ्यं विधये वेधसे नमः

caturvaktra namastubhyaṁ padmayone namo'stu te| viraṁcaye namastubhyaṁ vidhaye vedhase namaḥ

O four-faced one, homage to you; O lotus-born, homage be to you; homage to you, Virinchi; homage to the Ordainer, the Disposer.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.297.13)

चिदानन्द नमस्तुभ्यं हिरण्यगर्भ ते नमः। हंसवाहन ते नित्यं पद्मासन नमोऽस्तुते

cidānanda namastubhyaṁ hiraṇyagarbha te namaḥ| haṁsavāhana te nityaṁ padmāsana namo'stute

O consciousness-and-bliss, homage to you; O Hiranyagarbha, homage to you; O ever swan-mounted, O lotus-seated one, homage be to you.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.297.14)

एवं संस्तुवतां तेषामृषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्। उवाच परमप्रीतो ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः

evaṁ saṁstuvatāṁ teṣāmṛṣīṇāmūrdhvaretasām| uvāca paramaprīto brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ

As those chaste sages of upward-flowing seed were thus praising him, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, most delighted, spoke:

Verse 15 (skanda.7.297.15)

स्वागतं वै द्विजश्रेष्ठा युष्माकं कृतवानहम्। स्तोत्रेणानेन दिव्येन वृणुध्वं वरमुत्तमम्

svāgataṁ vai dvijaśreṣṭhā yuṣmākaṁ kṛtavānaham| stotreṇānena divyena vṛṇudhvaṁ varamuttamam

'Welcome indeed, O best of the twice-born! I have made this welcome for you; pleased by this divine hymn, choose the highest boon.'

Verse 16 (skanda.7.297.16)

ऋषय ऊचुः। अभिषेकाय नो देव नदीं पापप्रणाशिनीम्। विलोक्यते सुरश्रेष्ठ देहि नो वरमुत्तमम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| abhiṣekāya no deva nadīṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm| vilokyate suraśreṣṭha dehi no varamuttamam

The Rishis said: 'O god, for our ablution let a sin-destroying river be shown to us; O best of gods, grant us that very highest boon.'

Verse 17 (skanda.7.297.17)

ईश्वर उवाच। इत्युक्तस्तैस्तदा ब्रह्मा मुनिभिस्तपसोज्ज्वलैः। वीक्षांचक्रे तदा सर्वा मूर्तिमत्यश्च निम्नगाः

īśvara uvāca| ityuktastaistadā brahmā munibhistapasojjvalaiḥ| vīkṣāṁcakre tadā sarvā mūrtimatyaśca nimnagāḥ

Ishvara said: Thus addressed by those sages blazing with austerity, Brahma then surveyed all the embodied, earth-flowing rivers—

Verse 18 (skanda.7.297.18)

गङ्गा च यमुना चैव तथा देवी सरस्वती। चन्द्रभागा च रेवा च शरयूर्गंडकी तथा

gaṅgā ca yamunā caiva tathā devī sarasvatī| candrabhāgā ca revā ca śarayūrgaṁḍakī tathā

the Ganga, and the Yamuna too, and likewise the goddess Sarasvati; the Chandrabhaga, and the Reva, and the Sarayu and Gandaki too.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.297.19)

तापी चैव वरारोहे तथा गोदावरी नदी। कावेरी चन्द्रपुत्री च शिप्रा चर्मण्वती तथा

tāpī caiva varārohe tathā godāvarī nadī| kāverī candraputrī ca śiprā carmaṇvatī tathā

The Tapi too, O fair-limbed one, and the river Godavari as well; the Kaveri, Chandraputri, the Shipra and the Charmanvati too.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.297.20)

सिन्धुश्च वेदिका चैव नदाः सर्वे वरानने। मूर्तिमत्यः स्थिताः सर्वाः पवित्राः पापनाशिनी

sindhuśca vedikā caiva nadāḥ sarve varānane| mūrtimatyaḥ sthitāḥ sarvāḥ pavitrāḥ pāpanāśinī

O fair-faced one, the Sindhu too, and the Vedika too, and all the other rivers—all of them stood there embodied, pure, destroyers of sin.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.297.21)

दृष्ट्वा पितामहः सर्वा गत्वरा धरणीं प्रति। देवदारुवने रम्ये प्रभासे क्षेत्र उत्तमे। कमण्डलौ कृता दृष्टिर्विविशुस्ताः कमण्डलुम्

dṛṣṭvā pitāmahaḥ sarvā gatvarā dharaṇīṁ prati| devadāruvane ramye prabhāse kṣetra uttame| kamaṇḍalau kṛtā dṛṣṭirviviśustāḥ kamaṇḍalum

The Grandsire, seeing all of them hastening toward the earth, in the lovely Devadaru forest, in the excellent field of Prabhasa, cast his gaze upon his water-pot; and they entered that water-pot.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.297.22)

ब्रह्मोवाच। धृताः सर्वा महापुण्या नद्यो ब्रह्मकमण्डलौ। प्रविष्टाः पृथिवीं यांतु ऋषीणामनुकम्पया

brahmovāca| dhṛtāḥ sarvā mahāpuṇyā nadyo brahmakamaṇḍalau| praviṣṭāḥ pṛthivīṁ yāṁtu ṛṣīṇāmanukampayā

Brahma said: 'All these greatly holy rivers, held within Brahma's water-pot, let them enter the earth, out of compassion for the sages.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.297.23)

प्रहिणोमि यद्येकां च ह्यन्या रुष्यति मे द्विजाः। तस्मात्सर्वाः प्रमोक्ष्यामि कमण्डलुकृतालयाः

prahiṇomi yadyekāṁ ca hyanyā ruṣyati me dvijāḥ| tasmātsarvāḥ pramokṣyāmi kamaṇḍalukṛtālayāḥ

'O brahmins, if I send forth only one, another among them will be angry with me; therefore, having given them abode in the water-pot, I shall release them all together.'

Verse 24 (skanda.7.297.24)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो ब्रह्मा मुमोचाऽथ तत्रस्थाश्च महापगाः। मुक्त्वा ब्रह्मा मुनीन्सर्वान्प्रोवाचेदं पुनःपुनः

īśvara uvāca| tato brahmā mumocā'tha tatrasthāśca mahāpagāḥ| muktvā brahmā munīnsarvānprovācedaṁ punaḥpunaḥ

Ishvara said: Then Brahma released those great rivers stationed there; having released them, Brahma said this to all the sages, again and again—

Verse 25 (skanda.7.297.25)

ऋषिभिः प्रार्थ्यमानेन नद्यो मुक्ता मया यतः। तोयरूपा महावेगा अभिषेकाय सत्वराः

ṛṣibhiḥ prārthyamānena nadyo muktā mayā yataḥ| toyarūpā mahāvegā abhiṣekāya satvarāḥ

'Since these rivers have been released by me at the sages' entreaty, in the form of water, of great force, swift for your ablution—

Verse 26 (skanda.7.297.26)

ऋषितोयेति नाम्ना सा भविष्यति धरातले। ऋषीणां वल्लभा देवी सर्वपातकनाशिनी

ṛṣitoyeti nāmnā sā bhaviṣyati dharātale| ṛṣīṇāṁ vallabhā devī sarvapātakanāśinī

she shall become, on this earth, renowned by the name Rishitoya, dear to the sages, the goddess who destroys all sins.'

Verse 27 (skanda.7.297.27)

ईश्वर उवाच। एवं देवि समायाता देवदारुवने नदी। ऋषितोयेति विख्याता पवित्रा च वरानने

īśvara uvāca| evaṁ devi samāyātā devadāruvane nadī| ṛṣitoyeti vikhyātā pavitrā ca varānane

Ishvara said: Thus, O Goddess, the river came to the Devadaru forest, renowned as Rishitoya, and pure, O fair-faced one.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.297.28)

तूर्यदुंदुभिनिर्घोषैर्वेदमङ्गलनिःस्वनैः। समुद्रं प्रापिता देवी ऋषिभिर्वेदपारगैः

tūryaduṁdubhinirghoṣairvedamaṅgalaniḥsvanaiḥ| samudraṁ prāpitā devī ṛṣibhirvedapāragaiḥ

With the blare of trumpets and kettledrums, with auspicious Vedic recitations, the goddess was brought to the ocean by the sages versed in the Vedas.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.297.29)

सर्वत्र सुलभा देवी त्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा। महोदये महातीर्थे मूलचंडीशसन्निधौ

sarvatra sulabhā devī triṣu sthāneṣu durlabhā| mahodaye mahātīrthe mūlacaṁḍīśasannidhau

That goddess is easily accessible everywhere, yet hard to attain in three places: at the great tirtha of Mahodaya, near Mula-Chandisha,

Verse 30 (skanda.7.297.30)

समुद्रेण समेता तु यत्र सा पूर्ववाहिनी। यत्रर्षितोया लभ्येत तत्र किं मृग्यते परम्

samudreṇa sametā tu yatra sā pūrvavāhinī| yatrarṣitoyā labhyeta tatra kiṁ mṛgyate param

and where, united with the ocean, she flows eastward—wherever Rishitoya is found, what else need be sought there?

Verse 31 (skanda.7.297.31)

मनुष्यास्ते सदा धन्यास्तत्तोयं तु पिबंति ये। अस्थीनि यत्र लीयंते षण्मासाभ्यन्तरेण तु

manuṣyāste sadā dhanyāstattoyaṁ tu pibaṁti ye| asthīni yatra līyaṁte ṣaṇmāsābhyantareṇa tu

Those men are ever blessed who drink that water, in which bones dissolve within six months.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.297.32)

प्रातःकाले वहेद्गंगा सायं च यमुना तथा

prātaḥkāle vahedgaṁgā sāyaṁ ca yamunā tathā

In the morning the Ganga flows there, and in the evening the Yamuna.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.297.33)

नदीसहस्रसंयुक्ता मध्याह्ने तु सरस्वती। अपराह्णे वहेद्रेवा सायाह्ने सूर्यपुत्रिका

nadīsahasrasaṁyuktā madhyāhne tu sarasvatī| aparāhṇe vahedrevā sāyāhne sūryaputrikā

At midday, united with a thousand rivers, the Sarasvati flows; in the afternoon the Reva, and at dusk the Daughter of the Sun.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.297.34)

एवं जानन्नरो यस्तु तत्र स्नानविचक्षणः। आचरेद्विधिना श्राद्धं स तस्याः फलभाग्भवेत्

evaṁ jānannaro yastu tatra snānavicakṣaṇaḥ| ācaredvidhinā śrāddhaṁ sa tasyāḥ phalabhāgbhavet

A man who, knowing this, is skilled in bathing there and duly performs the shraddha rite, becomes a sharer in her fruit.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.297.35)

एवं संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तमृषितोयामहोदयम्। सर्वपापहरं नृणां सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

evaṁ saṁkṣepataḥ proktamṛṣitoyāmahodayam| sarvapāpaharaṁ nṛṇāṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam

Thus has been told, in brief, the great glory of Rishitoya, which removes all sin from men and grants the fruit of every desire.