The Glory of Prachi Sarasvati

Verse 1 (skanda.7.36.1)

॥ देव्युवाच ॥ यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं प्राची सर्वत्र दुर्ल्लभा ॥ विशेषेण कुरुक्षेत्रे प्रभासे पुष्करे तथा

|| devyuvāca || yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ prācī sarvatra durllabhā || viśeṣeṇa kurukṣetre prabhāse puṣkare tathā

The Goddess said: "What you have said — that the Prachi (Sarasvati) is everywhere hard to attain, especially at Kurukshetra, Prabhasa, and Pushkara—"

Verse 2 (skanda.7.36.2)

कथं प्रभासमासाद्य संस्थिता पापनाशिनी ॥ माहात्म्यमखिलं तस्याः प्राच्याः पातकनाशनम् ॥ कथयस्व महेशान यद्यहं ते प्रिया विभो

kathaṁ prabhāsamāsādya saṁsthitā pāpanāśinī || māhātmyamakhilaṁ tasyāḥ prācyāḥ pātakanāśanam || kathayasva maheśāna yadyahaṁ te priyā vibho

"—how, having reached Prabhasa, does the sin-destroying goddess dwell there? Tell me the entire sin-destroying greatness of the Prachi, O great Lord, if I am dear to you, O Lord."

Verse 3 (skanda.7.36.3)

॥ ईश्वर उवाच ॥ साधु प्रोक्तं त्वया भद्रे प्राची सर्वत्र दुर्लभा ॥ कुरुक्षेत्रे पुष्करे च तस्मात्प्राभासिकेऽधिका

|| īśvara uvāca || sādhu proktaṁ tvayā bhadre prācī sarvatra durlabhā || kurukṣetre puṣkare ca tasmātprābhāsike'dhikā

Ishvara said: "Well have you spoken, O gracious one; the Prachi is everywhere hard to attain, but more so at Kurukshetra and Pushkara, and even more at Prabhasa."

Verse 4 (skanda.7.36.4)

प्रभासे तु महादेवी प्राचीं पापप्रणाशिनीम् ॥ नापुण्यो वेद देवेशि कर्मनिर्मूलनक्षमाम्

prabhāse tu mahādevī prācīṁ pāpapraṇāśinīm || nāpuṇyo veda deveśi karmanirmūlanakṣamām

"At Prabhasa, O queen of gods, no impious person knows the great goddess Prachi, destroyer of sin, capable of uprooting evil deeds."

Verse 5 (skanda.7.36.5)

ये पिबंति नराः पुण्यां प्राचीं देवीं सरस्वतीम् ॥ न ते मनुष्या विज्ञेयाः सत्यंसत्यं वरानने

ye pibaṁti narāḥ puṇyāṁ prācīṁ devīṁ sarasvatīm || na te manuṣyā vijñeyāḥ satyaṁsatyaṁ varānane

"Those men who drink of the sacred goddess Prachi Sarasvati are not to be regarded as mere mortals — this is the very truth, O fair-faced one."

Verse 6 (skanda.7.36.6)

धन्यास्ते मुनयस्ते च पुण्यास्ते च तपस्विनः ॥ ये च सारस्वतं तोयं पिबंत्यहरहः सदा

dhanyāste munayaste ca puṇyāste ca tapasvinaḥ || ye ca sārasvataṁ toyaṁ pibaṁtyaharahaḥ sadā

"Blessed are those sages, meritorious are those ascetics, who ever, day after day, drink the water of the Sarasvati."

Verse 7 (skanda.7.36.7)

देवास्ते न मनुष्यास्ते नदीस्तिस्र पिबंति ये ॥ चंद्रभागां च गंगां च तथा देवीं सस्स्वतीम्

devāste na manuṣyāste nadīstisra pibaṁti ye || caṁdrabhāgāṁ ca gaṁgāṁ ca tathā devīṁ sassvatīm

"They are gods, not men, who drink of the three rivers — the Chandrabhaga, the Ganga, and likewise the goddess Sarasvati."

Verse 8 (skanda.7.36.8)

भुक्त्वा वा यदि वाऽभुक्त्वा दिवा वा यदि वा निशि ॥ न कालनियमस्तत्र यत्र प्राची सरस्वती

bhuktvā vā yadi vā'bhuktvā divā vā yadi vā niśi || na kālaniyamastatra yatra prācī sarasvatī

"Whether having eaten or not eaten, whether by day or by night — there is no restriction of time where the Prachi Sarasvati is."

Verse 9 (skanda.7.36.9)

प्राचीं सरस्वतीं ये तु पिबंति सततं मृगाः ॥ तेऽपि स्वर्गं गमिष्यंति यज्ञैर्द्विजवरा यथा

prācīṁ sarasvatīṁ ye tu pibaṁti satataṁ mṛgāḥ || te'pi svargaṁ gamiṣyaṁti yajñairdvijavarā yathā

"Even the deer that continually drink of the Prachi Sarasvati will go to heaven, just as the best of twice-born do through sacrifices."

Verse 10 (skanda.7.36.10)

सर्वकामप्रपूर्त्यर्थं नृणां तत्क्षेत्रमुत्तमम् ॥ चिंतामणिसमा देवी यत्र प्राची सरस्वती

sarvakāmaprapūrtyarthaṁ nṛṇāṁ tatkṣetramuttamam || ciṁtāmaṇisamā devī yatra prācī sarasvatī

"That is the supreme field for men, for the fulfilment of all desires, where the goddess Prachi Sarasvati is like a wish-fulfilling gem."

Verse 11 (skanda.7.36.11)

यथा कामदुघा गावः सर्वकामफलप्रदाः ॥ तथा स्वर्गापवर्गाभ्यां प्राची देवी सरस्वती

yathā kāmadughā gāvaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradāḥ || tathā svargāpavargābhyāṁ prācī devī sarasvatī

"Just as the wish-granting cows bestow the fruit of all desires, so does the goddess Prachi Sarasvati bestow both heaven and liberation."

Verse 12 (skanda.7.36.12)

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् ॥ यत्र स्थितानि संन्यासं तस्मात्किमधिकं स्मृतम्

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi munīnāmūrdhvaretasām || yatra sthitāni saṁnyāsaṁ tasmātkimadhikaṁ smṛtam

"There, eighty-eight thousand chaste sages of unspent seed dwell in renunciation — what greater thing could be remembered than this?"

Verse 13 (skanda.7.36.13)

यत्र मंकणकः सिद्धः प्राचीने नियतात्मवान् ॥ ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं चीर्णं मया यत्र वरानने

yatra maṁkaṇakaḥ siddhaḥ prācīne niyatātmavān || brahmahatyāvrataṁ cīrṇaṁ mayā yatra varānane

"It is there, at the Prachi, O fair one, that the self-controlled Mankanaka attained perfection, and it is there that I myself performed the vow of expiation for brahmin-slaying."

Verse 14 (skanda.7.36.14)

वृषतीर्थे महापुण्ये प्राचीकूलसमाश्रिते ॥ निवृत्ते भारते युद्धे तस्मिंस्तीर्थे किरीटिना ॥ प्रायश्चित्तं पुरा चीर्णं विष्णुना प्रेरितात्मना

vṛṣatīrthe mahāpuṇye prācīkūlasamāśrite || nivṛtte bhārate yuddhe tasmiṁstīrthe kirīṭinā || prāyaścittaṁ purā cīrṇaṁ viṣṇunā preritātmanā

"At the greatly meritorious Vrishatirtha, resting on the bank of the Prachi, when the Bharata war had ended, expiation was formerly performed there by Kiriti (Arjuna), his mind impelled by Vishnu."

Verse 15 (skanda.7.36.15)

त्रैलोक्ये सर्वतीर्थानां तत्तीर्थं प्रवरं स्मृतम् ॥ पापघ्नं पुण्यजननं प्राणिनां पुण्यकीर्त्तिद

trailokye sarvatīrthānāṁ tattīrthaṁ pravaraṁ smṛtam || pāpaghnaṁ puṇyajananaṁ prāṇināṁ puṇyakīrttida

"Of all the tirthas in the three worlds, that tirtha is remembered as foremost — destroying sin, generating merit, and granting living beings pure fame."

Verse 16 (skanda.7.36.16)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ आहैवमुक्ते सा देवी शंकरं लोक शंकरम्॥ प्रायश्चित्तं कथं प्राप्तः पार्थः परपुरंजयः ॥ ज्ञातिक्षयोद्भवं पापं कथं नाशमगात्प्रभो

|| sūta uvāca || āhaivamukte sā devī śaṁkaraṁ loka śaṁkaram|| prāyaścittaṁ kathaṁ prāptaḥ pārthaḥ parapuraṁjayaḥ || jñātikṣayodbhavaṁ pāpaṁ kathaṁ nāśamagātprabho

Suta said: When she had been thus addressed, the goddess said to Shankara, benefactor of the world: "How did Partha, conqueror of enemy cities, come to undergo expiation? How, O Lord, did the sin arising from the destruction of his kinsmen come to be destroyed?"

Verse 17 (skanda.7.36.17)

एवमुक्तः पुनः प्राह विश्वेशो नीललोहितः ॥ प्रायश्चित्तस्य संप्राप्तः कारणं तद्यथा स्थितम्

evamuktaḥ punaḥ prāha viśveśo nīlalohitaḥ || prāyaścittasya saṁprāptaḥ kāraṇaṁ tadyathā sthitam

Thus addressed, Vishvesha, the blue-red one (Shiva), again told the cause by which the expiation came to be, just as it happened.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.36.18)

॥ ईश्वर उवाच ॥ शृणुष्वावहिता भद्रे कथां पातकनाशिनीम् ॥ यां श्रुत्वा मानवो भक्त्या पवित्रात्मा प्रजायते

|| īśvara uvāca || śṛṇuṣvāvahitā bhadre kathāṁ pātakanāśinīm || yāṁ śrutvā mānavo bhaktyā pavitrātmā prajāyate

Ishvara said: "Listen attentively, O gracious one, to this sin-destroying tale, hearing which with devotion a man becomes pure of soul."

Verse 19 (skanda.7.36.19)

योऽसौ देवि समाख्यातः किरीटी श्वेतवाहनः॥ स जित्वा कौरवान्सर्वान्संहृत्य हयकुञ्जरान्

yo'sau devi samākhyātaḥ kirīṭī śvetavāhanaḥ|| sa jitvā kauravānsarvānsaṁhṛtya hayakuñjarān

"That one, O goddess, known as Kiriti, of the white steeds — having conquered all the Kauravas and having gathered up the horses and elephants—"

Verse 20 (skanda.7.36.20)

पश्चात्सुयोधनं हत्वा भीमेन प्रययौ गृहान्॥ नारायणेन सहितो नरोऽसौ प्रस्थितो रणात्

paścātsuyodhanaṁ hatvā bhīmena prayayau gṛhān|| nārāyaṇena sahito naro'sau prasthito raṇāt

"—and, after Bhima had slain Suyodhana (Duryodhana), set out for home; that Nara, together with Narayana, departed from the battlefield."

Verse 21 (skanda.7.36.21)

द्रष्टुं धर्मसुतं दृष्टः प्रणतः प्रांजलिः स्थितः॥ स विज्ञाय तदाऽऽयान्तौ नरनारायणावुभौ

draṣṭuṁ dharmasutaṁ dṛṣṭaḥ praṇataḥ prāṁjaliḥ sthitaḥ|| sa vijñāya tadā''yāntau naranārāyaṇāvubhau

"Seen approaching to visit the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira), he stood bowed with joined palms; and he, on learning that both Nara and Narayana were then coming—"

Verse 22 (skanda.7.36.22)

राजा युधिष्ठिरः प्राह द्वारस्थान्द्वारपालकान् ॥ भवद्भिरेतावायांतौ निषेध्यौ द्वारसंस्थितौ

rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāha dvārasthāndvārapālakān || bhavadbhiretāvāyāṁtau niṣedhyau dvārasaṁsthitau

"—King Yudhishthira said to the door-keepers stationed at the gate: 'These two coming here are to be barred by you, kept standing at the gate.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.7.36.23)

नर नारायणौ क्रूरौ पापपंकानुलेपिनौ ॥ एवमेतदिति प्रोक्तौ तौ तदा द्वारमागतौ

nara nārāyaṇau krūrau pāpapaṁkānulepinau || evametaditi proktau tau tadā dvāramāgatau

"'Nara and Narayana are cruel, smeared with the mire of sin.'" Told thus, "So be it," those two then came to the gate.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.36.24)

भवन्तौ नेच्छति द्रष्टुं राजा दुर्नयकारिणौ ॥ तत्रस्थः पृष्टवान्भूयः प्रतीहारं नरः स्वयम्

bhavantau necchati draṣṭuṁ rājā durnayakāriṇau || tatrasthaḥ pṛṣṭavānbhūyaḥ pratīhāraṁ naraḥ svayam

"'The king does not wish to see you two, doers of wrong conduct.'" Standing there, Nara himself again questioned the doorkeeper.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.36.25)

आवां किं कारणं राजा नेक्षते वशवर्तिनौ ॥ प्रोवाच प्रणतो राजा ततो द्वाःस्थं पुरःस्थितम्

āvāṁ kiṁ kāraṇaṁ rājā nekṣate vaśavartinau || provāca praṇato rājā tato dvāḥsthaṁ puraḥsthitam

"'For what reason does the king not look upon us two, obedient as we are?'" Then the king, bowing, spoke to the doorkeeper standing before him.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.36.26)

नारायणेन सहितं नरं नरकनिर्भयम् ॥ दुर्योधनेन सहिता बांधवास्ते यतो हताः ॥ पितृतुल्याश्च राजानस्तेन वै पापभाजनम्

nārāyaṇena sahitaṁ naraṁ narakanirbhayam || duryodhanena sahitā bāṁdhavāste yato hatāḥ || pitṛtulyāśca rājānastena vai pāpabhājanam

"'Nara, together with Narayana, is unafraid of hell — but through him, the kinsmen along with Duryodhana were slain, and kings who were like fathers to us; therefore he is a vessel of sin.'"

Verse 27 (skanda.7.36.27)

एवमुक्ते तु तेनाथ मुखमालोकितं हरेः ॥ तेन प्रोक्तमिदं तथ्यं यत्ते राज्ञा प्रभाषितम्

evamukte tu tenātha mukhamālokitaṁ hareḥ || tena proktamidaṁ tathyaṁ yatte rājñā prabhāṣitam

When this was said, he (Arjuna) then looked at the face of Hari; by him (Krishna) this was declared to be true: "What the king has said is fact."

Verse 28 (skanda.7.36.28)

एवमुक्ते नरः प्राह पुनरेव जनार्द्दनम् ॥ कथयस्व कथं पापात्कृष्ण शुद्ध्यामहे वयम्

evamukte naraḥ prāha punareva janārddanam || kathayasva kathaṁ pāpātkṛṣṇa śuddhyāmahe vayam

When this was said, Nara again spoke to Janardana: "Tell me, O Krishna, how we may be purified of this sin."

Verse 29 (skanda.7.36.29)

तीर्थस्नानेन मे शुद्धिर्यथा स्यात्तद्वद स्फुटम् ॥ तच्च गंगादिकं कृष्ण यथाऽस्याघस्य नाशनम्

tīrthasnānena me śuddhiryathā syāttadvada sphuṭam || tacca gaṁgādikaṁ kṛṣṇa yathā'syāghasya nāśanam

"Tell me clearly how my purification may come about through bathing at a tirtha; and whether the Ganga and such tirthas, O Krishna, are the means of destroying this sin."

Verse 30 (skanda.7.36.30)

॥ कृष्ण उवाच ॥ मा गयां गच्छ कौंतेय मा गंगां मा च पुष्करम् ॥ तत्र गच्छ कुरुश्रेष्ठ यत्र प्राची सरस्वती

|| kṛṣṇa uvāca || mā gayāṁ gaccha kauṁteya mā gaṁgāṁ mā ca puṣkaram || tatra gaccha kuruśreṣṭha yatra prācī sarasvatī

Krishna said: "Do not go to Gaya, O son of Kunti; go not to the Ganga, nor to Pushkara. Go there, O best of the Kurus, where the Prachi Sarasvati is."

Verse 31 (skanda.7.36.31)

ब्रह्मघ्नाश्च सुरा पाश्च ये चान्ये पापकारिणः ॥ तत्र स्नात्वा विमुच्यंते यत्र प्राची सरस्वती

brahmaghnāśca surā pāśca ye cānye pāpakāriṇaḥ || tatra snātvā vimucyaṁte yatra prācī sarasvatī

"Killers of Brahmins, drinkers of liquor, and other doers of sin — bathing there, where the Prachi Sarasvati is, they are freed."

Verse 32 (skanda.7.36.32)

नारायणेन प्रोक्तोऽसौ नरस्तद्वचनाद्द्रुतम् ॥ सहितस्तेन संप्राप्तः प्राचीनं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

nārāyaṇena prokto'sau narastadvacanāddrutam || sahitastena saṁprāptaḥ prācīnaṁ tīrthamuttamam

Thus told by Narayana, Nara, at his word, swiftly, together with him, reached the excellent, ancient tirtha of the Prachi.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.36.33)

त्रिरात्रोपोषितः स्नातस्त्रिकालं नियतात्मवान् ॥ तेन तस्माद्विनिर्मुक्तः पातकात्पूर्वसंचितात्

trirātropoṣitaḥ snātastrikālaṁ niyatātmavān || tena tasmādvinirmuktaḥ pātakātpūrvasaṁcitāt

Having fasted for three nights, bathing three times a day, self-controlled, he was by that means freed from the sin accumulated before.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.36.34)

विज्ञाय शुद्धमेनं तु राजा धर्मसुतो द्रुतम् ॥ भ्रातृभिः सहितः प्राप्तस्तं द्रष्टुं नरपुंगवम्

vijñāya śuddhamenaṁ tu rājā dharmasuto drutam || bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaḥ prāptastaṁ draṣṭuṁ narapuṁgavam

Learning that he was now purified, the king, son of Dharma, swiftly came, together with his brothers, to see that foremost of men.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.36.35)

ततस्तं प्रणतं दृष्ट्वा धर्मपुत्रः पुरःस्थितम् ॥ आलिलिंग प्रहृष्टात्मा पृष्टवांश्चाप्यनामयम्

tatastaṁ praṇataṁ dṛṣṭvā dharmaputraḥ puraḥsthitam || āliliṁga prahṛṣṭātmā pṛṣṭavāṁścāpyanāmayam

Then, seeing him bowed and standing before him, the son of Dharma, his heart delighted, embraced him and also asked after his well-being.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.36.36)

भीमादिभिर्भ्रातृभिश्च तदा गुरुगणैर्वृतः ॥ आलिंगितः प्रहृष्टैस्तु नरो गुणगणैर्वृतः

bhīmādibhirbhrātṛbhiśca tadā gurugaṇairvṛtaḥ || āliṁgitaḥ prahṛṣṭaistu naro guṇagaṇairvṛtaḥ

Then, surrounded by his brothers headed by Bhima and by the elders, Nara, endowed with a host of virtues, was embraced by the delighted company.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.36.37)

एतद्धि तन्महातीर्थं प्राचीनेति च शब्दितम् ॥ स्नानक्रमेण मर्त्त्यानामन्येषामपि पावकम्

etaddhi tanmahātīrthaṁ prācīneti ca śabditam || snānakrameṇa marttyānāmanyeṣāmapi pāvakam

This indeed is that great tirtha, called Prachina; by the procedure of bathing there, it purifies other mortals as well.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.36.38)

त्रिरात्रोपोषितः स्नातस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्ब्रह्महाऽपि यः ॥ विमुक्तः पातकात्तस्मान्मोदते दिवि रुद्रवत्

trirātropoṣitaḥ snātastīrthe'sminbrahmahā'pi yaḥ || vimuktaḥ pātakāttasmānmodate divi rudravat

Whoever, having fasted three nights, bathes at this tirtha — even a slayer of Brahmins — is freed from that sin and rejoices in heaven like Rudra.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.36.39)

प्राचीने देव्यहं नित्यं वसामि सहितस्त्वया ॥ प्रभासे तु महाक्षेत्रे विशेषात्तत्र भामिनि ॥

prācīne devyahaṁ nityaṁ vasāmi sahitastvayā || prabhāse tu mahākṣetre viśeṣāttatra bhāmini ||

"At the Prachi, O goddess, I always dwell together with you; especially there, at the great field of Prabhasa, O fair one."

Verse 40 (skanda.7.36.40)

सरस्वत्युत्तरे तीरे यस्त्यजेदात्मनस्तनुम् ॥ प्राचीने तु वरारोहे न चेहागच्छते पुनः

sarasvatyuttare tīre yastyajedātmanastanum || prācīne tu varārohe na cehāgacchate punaḥ

"Whoever gives up his body on the northern bank of Sarasvati, at the Prachi, O lovely one, does not come back here again."

Verse 41 (skanda.7.36.41)

आप्लुतो वाजिमेधस्य फलं प्राप्स्यति पुष्कलम् ॥ नियमैश्चोपवासैश्च शोषयेद्देहमात्मनः

āpluto vājimedhasya phalaṁ prāpsyati puṣkalam || niyamaiścopavāsaiśca śoṣayeddehamātmanaḥ

Bathed there, he obtains the abundant fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. By observances and fasts, one should dry up one's own body.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.36.42)

जलाहारा वायुभक्षाः पर्णाहाराश्च तापसाः ॥ यथा स्थंडिलगा नित्यं ये चान्यनियमाः पृथक्

jalāhārā vāyubhakṣāḥ parṇāhārāśca tāpasāḥ || yathā sthaṁḍilagā nityaṁ ye cānyaniyamāḥ pṛthak

Ascetics who subsist on water, on air, or on leaves, sleeping always on bare ground, and following other separate observances—

Verse 43 (skanda.7.36.43)

एवं मंक्याश्रमे येषां वसतां मृत्युरागतः ॥ न ते मनुष्या देवास्ते सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते

evaṁ maṁkyāśrame yeṣāṁ vasatāṁ mṛtyurāgataḥ || na te manuṣyā devāste satyametadbravīmi te

"—thus, those who, dwelling in the hermitage of Mankanaka, meet death, are not men but gods; this truth I declare to you."

Verse 44 (skanda.7.36.44)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु यो दद्यात्त्रुटिमात्रं तु कांचनम्॥ श्रद्धया द्विजमुख्याय मेरुतुल्यं फलं लभेत्

asmiṁstīrthe tu yo dadyāttruṭimātraṁ tu kāṁcanam|| śraddhayā dvijamukhyāya merutulyaṁ phalaṁ labhet

"Whoever, at this tirtha, gives even a tiny particle of gold with devotion to a foremost Brahmin, obtains a fruit equal to giving Mount Meru."

Verse 45 (skanda.7.36.45)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु ये श्राद्धं करिष्यंति च मानवाः ॥ एकविंशत्कुलोपेताः स्वर्गं यास्यंति ते ध्रुवम्

asmiṁstīrthe tu ye śrāddhaṁ kariṣyaṁti ca mānavāḥ || ekaviṁśatkulopetāḥ svargaṁ yāsyaṁti te dhruvam

"Those men who perform shraddha at this tirtha will surely go to heaven together with twenty-one generations of their family."

Verse 46 (skanda.7.36.46)

पितॄणां वल्लभे तीर्थे पिण्डेनैकेन तर्प्पिताः ॥ ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यंति गयाश्राद्धकृतो यथा ॥

pitṝṇāṁ vallabhe tīrthe piṇḍenaikena tarppitāḥ || brahmalokaṁ gamiṣyaṁti gayāśrāddhakṛto yathā ||

"Satisfied with even a single pinda offering at this tirtha, beloved of the ancestors, they go to the world of Brahma, just as one who performs shraddha at Gaya."

Verse 47 (skanda.7.36.47)

कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्द्दश्यां स्नानं च विहितं सदा ॥ पिण्याकैंगुदकेनापि पिंडं तत्र ददाति यः ॥ पितॄणामक्षया तृप्तिः पितृलोकं स गच्छति

kṛṣṇapakṣe caturddaśyāṁ snānaṁ ca vihitaṁ sadā || piṇyākaiṁgudakenāpi piṁḍaṁ tatra dadāti yaḥ || pitṝṇāmakṣayā tṛptiḥ pitṛlokaṁ sa gacchati

"Bathing is always prescribed on the fourteenth of the dark fortnight; whoever offers a pinda there even with oil-cake and ingudaka flour brings imperishable satisfaction to the ancestors, and he goes to the world of the fathers."

Verse 48 (skanda.7.36.48)

भूयश्चान्नं प्रयच्छंति मोक्षमार्गं व्रजंति ते

bhūyaścānnaṁ prayacchaṁti mokṣamārgaṁ vrajaṁti te

"And moreover, those who give food there proceed on the path to liberation."

Verse 49 (skanda.7.36.49)

दधि दद्याद्योऽपि तत्र ब्राह्मणाय मनोरमम् ॥ सोऽग्निलोकं समासाद्य भुंक्ते भोगान्सुशोभनान्

dadhi dadyādyo'pi tatra brāhmaṇāya manoramam || so'gnilokaṁ samāsādya bhuṁkte bhogānsuśobhanān

"Whoever also gives pleasing curds there to a Brahmin, having reached the world of Agni, enjoys the most beautiful pleasures."

Verse 50 (skanda.7.36.50)

ऊर्णां प्रावरणं योऽपि भक्त्या दद्याद्द्विजोत्तमे ॥ सोऽपि याति परां सिद्धिं मर्त्यैरन्यैः सुदुर्ल्लभाम्

ūrṇāṁ prāvaraṇaṁ yo'pi bhaktyā dadyāddvijottame || so'pi yāti parāṁ siddhiṁ martyairanyaiḥ sudurllabhām

"Whoever, with devotion, gives a woolen garment to a most excellent Brahmin there also attains the supreme perfection, most hard to obtain for other mortals."

Verse 51 (skanda.7.36.51)

ये चात्र मलनाशाय विशेयुर्मानवा जलम्॥ गोप्रदानसमं तेषां सुखेन फलमादिशेत्

ye cātra malanāśāya viśeyurmānavā jalam|| gopradānasamaṁ teṣāṁ sukhena phalamādiśet

"Those men who enter the water here to destroy their impurities — for them, the fruit equal to the gift of a cow should be declared, easily obtained."

Verse 52 (skanda.7.36.52)

भावेन यो नरस्तत्र कश्चित्स्नानं समाचरेत् ॥ सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मलोके महीयते

bhāvena yo narastatra kaścitsnānaṁ samācaret || sarvapāpavinirmukto brahmaloke mahīyate

"Whatever man performs bathing there with devout feeling becomes freed from all sin and is glorified in the world of Brahma."

Verse 53 (skanda.7.36.53)

तर्पणात्पिंडदानाच्च नरकेष्वपि संस्थिताः ॥ स्वर्गं प्रयांति पितरः सुपुत्रेण हि तारिताः

tarpaṇātpiṁḍadānācca narakeṣvapi saṁsthitāḥ || svargaṁ prayāṁti pitaraḥ suputreṇa hi tāritāḥ

"By tarpana (libations) and pinda-offerings, even ancestors who are established in hells go to heaven, saved indeed by a good son."

Verse 54 (skanda.7.36.54)

प्राचीं सरस्वतीं प्राप्य याति तीर्थं हिमालयम्॥ स करस्थं समुत्सृज्य कूर्परेण समालिहेत्

prācīṁ sarasvatīṁ prāpya yāti tīrthaṁ himālayam|| sa karasthaṁ samutsṛjya kūrpareṇa samālihet

Having reached the Prachi Sarasvati, one goes on to the tirtha at the Himalaya; casting aside what is in the hand, one should touch it with the elbow.

Verse 55 (skanda.7.36.55)

यंयं काममभिध्याय तस्मिन्प्राणान्परित्यजेत् ॥ तंतं सकलमाप्नोति तीर्थमाहात्म्ययोगतः

yaṁyaṁ kāmamabhidhyāya tasminprāṇānparityajet || taṁtaṁ sakalamāpnoti tīrthamāhātmyayogataḥ

"Whatever desire a man contemplates when he gives up his life-breath there, that he obtains completely, through the power of the tirtha's greatness."

Verse 56 (skanda.7.36.56)

अन्यद्देवि पुरा गीतं गांगेयेन युधिष्ठिरे ॥ सत्यमेव हि गंगायां वयं जाता युधिष्ठिर

anyaddevi purā gītaṁ gāṁgeyena yudhiṣṭhire || satyameva hi gaṁgāyāṁ vayaṁ jātā yudhiṣṭhira

"Something else, O goddess, was sung of old by Gangeya (Bhishma) to Yudhishthira: 'Truly, O Yudhishthira, though we were born of the Ganga—'"

Verse 57 (skanda.7.36.57)

याः काश्चित्सरितो लोके तासां पुण्या सरस्वती

yāḥ kāścitsarito loke tāsāṁ puṇyā sarasvatī

"—of whatever rivers there are in the world, Sarasvati is the most sacred of them."

Verse 58 (skanda.7.36.58)

सरस्वती सर्वनदीषु पुण्या सरस्वती लोकसुखावहा सदा ॥ सरस्वतीं प्राप्य सुदुःखिता नराः सदा न शोचन्ति परत्र चेह च

sarasvatī sarvanadīṣu puṇyā sarasvatī lokasukhāvahā sadā || sarasvatīṁ prāpya suduḥkhitā narāḥ sadā na śocanti paratra ceha ca

"Sarasvati is sacred among all rivers; Sarasvati ever brings happiness to the world. Men, even the most sorrowful, having attained Sarasvati, never grieve again, either hereafter or here."