The Rule of Pilgrimage to Vastrapatha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.376.1)

ईश्वर उवाच सारस्वतस्य विप्रस्य श्रुत्वा भोजनृपो वचः । विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा प्रगृह्यांघ्री वचोऽब्रवीत्

īśvara uvāca sārasvatasya viprasya śrutvā bhojanṛpo vacaḥ | vivarṇavadano bhūtvā pragṛhyāṁghrī vaco'bravīt

Ishvara said: Hearing the words of the Sarasvata brahmin, King Bhoja's face turned pale; clasping the sage's feet, he spoke these words.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.376.2)

मुने नैवं त्वया वाच्यं गंतव्यं निश्चितं मया । नराणां पुण्यदा यात्रा कथयस्व कथं भवेत्

mune naivaṁ tvayā vācyaṁ gaṁtavyaṁ niścitaṁ mayā | narāṇāṁ puṇyadā yātrā kathayasva kathaṁ bhavet

O sage, do not speak thus - I am resolved to go. Tell me how this pilgrimage, which bestows merit on men, is to be undertaken.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.376.3)

किं ग्राह्यं किं च मोक्तव्यं किं देयं किं न दीयते । तीर्थोपवासः स्नानं च संध्यास्नानविधिक्रमः । पूजा निद्रा जपो रात्रौ सर्वं संक्षेपतो वद

kiṁ grāhyaṁ kiṁ ca moktavyaṁ kiṁ deyaṁ kiṁ na dīyate | tīrthopavāsaḥ snānaṁ ca saṁdhyāsnānavidhikramaḥ | pūjā nidrā japo rātrau sarvaṁ saṁkṣepato vada

What is to be taken, what given up, what given away, what withheld? The fasting at the sacred ford, the bathing, the order of the twilight-bathing rite, worship, sleep, and nightly recitation - tell me all of this in brief.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.376.4)

सारस्वत उवाच सुराष्ट्रदेशे गन्तव्यं गिरौ रैवतके यदि । नृप यात्राविधिं वक्ष्ये त्वमेकाग्रमनाः शृणु ।

sārasvata uvāca surāṣṭradeśe gantavyaṁ girau raivatake yadi | nṛpa yātrāvidhiṁ vakṣye tvamekāgramanāḥ śṛṇu |

Sarasvata said: If you are to go to Mount Raivataka in the land of Saurashtra, then, O king, I shall tell you the rule of the pilgrimage - listen with a one-pointed mind.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.376.5)

बृहस्पतिबलं गृह्य सूर्यं संतर्प्य चोत्तमम् । वामतः पृष्ठतः सर्वं वृत्वा संशोध्य वासरम्

bṛhaspatibalaṁ gṛhya sūryaṁ saṁtarpya cottamam | vāmataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ sarvaṁ vṛtvā saṁśodhya vāsaram

Taking into account the strength of Jupiter, duly honouring the excellent Sun, examining all things to the left and behind, and purifying [selecting] the day -

Verse 6 (skanda.7.376.6)

चंद्रलग्नं ग्रहाज्ज्ञात्वा बलिष्ठाज्जन्मराशितः । शकुनं च शुभं लब्ध्वा प्रस्थातव्यं नृपैर्नृप

caṁdralagnaṁ grahājjñātvā baliṣṭhājjanmarāśitaḥ | śakunaṁ ca śubhaṁ labdhvā prasthātavyaṁ nṛpairnṛpa

Having ascertained the lunar ascendant through the planet strongest from the natal sign, and having obtained an auspicious omen, kings should set out, O king.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.376.7)

तीर्थे सदैव गंतव्यं सर्वे मासाश्च शोभनाः । तिथयश्चोत्तमाः सर्वाः स्नानदानार्चनादिषु

tīrthe sadaiva gaṁtavyaṁ sarve māsāśca śobhanāḥ | tithayaścottamāḥ sarvāḥ snānadānārcanādiṣu

One may always go to a sacred ford - all months are auspicious for it, and all lunar days are excellent for bathing, giving gifts, and worship.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.376.8)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां मासांते पूर्णिमादिने । संक्रांतौ ग्रहणे काला एते प्रोक्ता भवार्चने

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ māsāṁte pūrṇimādine | saṁkrāṁtau grahaṇe kālā ete proktā bhavārcane

The eighth and fourteenth lunar days, the full-moon day at month's end, the solstice, and an eclipse - these are declared the [best] times for the worship of Bhava.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.376.9)

कैलासं पर्वतं त्यक्त्वा देवीं देवांश्च संगतान् । वैशाखे पंचदश्यां तु भूमिं भित्त्वा भवोऽभवत्

kailāsaṁ parvataṁ tyaktvā devīṁ devāṁśca saṁgatān | vaiśākhe paṁcadaśyāṁ tu bhūmiṁ bhittvā bhavo'bhavat

Leaving Mount Kailasa, together with the Goddess and the assembled gods, on the fifteenth of Vaishakha, splitting open the earth, Bhava manifested there.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.376.10)

तस्मिन्नेव दिने देवी स्वर्णरेखा नदी तलात् । पंथानं वासुकिं प्राप्य सर्वपापप्रणाशनी

tasminneva dine devī svarṇarekhā nadī talāt | paṁthānaṁ vāsukiṁ prāpya sarvapāpapraṇāśanī

On that very day the goddess-river Svarnarekha, destroyer of all sins, rising from beneath the earth by the path of Vasuki -

Verse 11 (skanda.7.376.11)

ऐरावतपदाक्रांत उज्जयन्तो महागिरिः । सुस्राव तोयं बहुधा गजपादोद्भवं शुचि

airāvatapadākrāṁta ujjayanto mahāgiriḥ | susrāva toyaṁ bahudhā gajapādodbhavaṁ śuci

the great mountain Ujjayanta, pressed by the foot of Airavata, poured forth pure water in many streams, sprung from the elephant's footprint.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.376.12)

देवा ब्रह्मादयः सर्वे गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा । वस्त्रापथे महाक्षेत्रे भवभावेन संगताः

devā brahmādayaḥ sarve gaṁgādyāḥ saritastathā | vastrāpathe mahākṣetre bhavabhāvena saṁgatāḥ

All the gods beginning with Brahma, and all the rivers beginning with Ganga, gathered together in loving devotion at the great sacred field of Vastrapatha.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.376.13)

वस्त्रापथस्य क्षेत्रस्य प्रमाणं शृणु भूपते । हरस्य त्यजतो भूमौ पतितं वस्त्रभूषणम्

vastrāpathasya kṣetrasya pramāṇaṁ śṛṇu bhūpate | harasya tyajato bhūmau patitaṁ vastrabhūṣaṇam

Hear, O king, the extent of the sacred field of Vastrapatha: the span over which Hara's garment and ornaments fell to the ground as he cast them off -

Verse 14 (skanda.7.376.14)

तावन्मात्रं स्मृतं क्षेत्रं देवैर्वस्त्रापथं कृतम् । उत्तरेण नदी भद्रा पूर्वस्यां योजनद्वयम्

tāvanmātraṁ smṛtaṁ kṣetraṁ devairvastrāpathaṁ kṛtam | uttareṇa nadī bhadrā pūrvasyāṁ yojanadvayam

that same extent is remembered as the sacred field made by the gods, called Vastrapatha. To the north lies the river Bhadra; to the east, a span of two yojanas.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.376.15)

दक्षिणेन बलेः स्थानमुज्जयन्तो नदीमनु । अपरस्यां परं नद्यो संगमं वामनात्पुरात्

dakṣiṇena baleḥ sthānamujjayanto nadīmanu | aparasyāṁ paraṁ nadyo saṁgamaṁ vāmanātpurāt

To the south is Bali's abode, along the course of the river [and] Ujjayanta; to the west, beyond the town of Vamana, is the confluence of the rivers.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.376.16)

एतद्वस्त्रापथं क्षेत्रं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् । क्षेत्रस्य विस्तरो ज्ञेयो योजनानां चतुष्टयम्

etadvastrāpathaṁ kṣetraṁ bhuktimuktipradāyakam | kṣetrasya vistaro jñeyo yojanānāṁ catuṣṭayam

This sacred field of Vastrapatha bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation. The extent of the field is to be known as four yojanas.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.376.17)

वैशाखपंचदश्यां तु भवो भावेन भूपते । पूज्यते शिवलोके तु स्थीयते ब्रह्मवासरम्

vaiśākhapaṁcadaśyāṁ tu bhavo bhāvena bhūpate | pūjyate śivaloke tu sthīyate brahmavāsaram

On the fifteenth of Vaishakha, O king, Bhava is worshipped with devotion, and one abides in Shiva's world for the span of a day of Brahma.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.376.18)

अतो वसंते संप्राप्ते प्रयाणं कुरु भूपते । निगृह्य नियमान्भूत्वा शुचिः स्नातो जितेन्द्रियः

ato vasaṁte saṁprāpte prayāṇaṁ kuru bhūpate | nigṛhya niyamānbhūtvā śuciḥ snāto jitendriyaḥ

Therefore, when spring arrives, undertake the journey, O king - holding fast to the observances, being pure, bathed, and with senses subdued.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.376.19)

गजवाजिरथांस्त्यक्ता पदाभ्यां याति यो नरः । पुष्पकेण विमानेन स याति शिवमंदिरम्

gajavājirathāṁstyaktā padābhyāṁ yāti yo naraḥ | puṣpakeṇa vimānena sa yāti śivamaṁdiram

The man who, giving up elephant, horse, and chariot, goes on foot - he journeys to Shiva's abode in the Pushpaka celestial chariot.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.376.20)

एकभक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च । भिक्षाहारेण तोयेन फलाहारेण वा यदि

ekabhaktena naktena tathaivāyācitena ca | bhikṣāhāreṇa toyena phalāhāreṇa vā yadi

if he journeys eating but once a day, or only at night, on unsolicited food, on alms-food, on water alone, or on fruit alone -

Verse 21 (skanda.7.376.21)

उपवासेन कृच्छ्रेण शाकाहारेण याति यः । स याति सुन्दरीवृन्दैर्वीज्यमानो गणैर्दिवि

upavāsena kṛcchreṇa śākāhāreṇa yāti yaḥ | sa yāti sundarīvṛndairvījyamāno gaṇairdivi

He who journeys by fasting, by penance, or by a diet of vegetables alone - he goes to heaven, fanned by throngs of lovely maidens among the divine hosts.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.376.22)

मलस्नानं विना मार्गे पादाभ्यंगविवर्जितः । मलधारी क्षीणतनुर्यष्टिहस्तो जितेन्द्रियः

malasnānaṁ vinā mārge pādābhyaṁgavivarjitaḥ | maladhārī kṣīṇatanuryaṣṭihasto jitendriyaḥ

He who on the way goes without washing off the dirt, without anointing his feet, bearing his grime, his body wasted, staff in hand, senses mastered -

Verse 23 (skanda.7.376.23)

शीतातपजलक्लिष्टः शिवस्मरणतत्परः । यदि याति नरो याति स भित्त्वा सूर्यमंडलम्

śītātapajalakliṣṭaḥ śivasmaraṇatatparaḥ | yadi yāti naro yāti sa bhittvā sūryamaṁḍalam

if such a man, though afflicted by cold, heat, and water, journeys intent on remembrance of Shiva - he goes on, piercing through the very orb of the sun.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.376.24)

नरकस्थानपि पितॄन्मातृतः पितृतो नृप । अक्षयं सप्त सप्तैव नयेदेवं शिवालये

narakasthānapi pitṝnmātṛtaḥ pitṛto nṛpa | akṣayaṁ sapta saptaiva nayedevaṁ śivālaye

Even his ancestors dwelling in hell, seven on the mother's side and seven on the father's side, O king, he thus leads to imperishable [bliss] in Shiva's abode.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.376.25)

लुण्ठन्भूमौ यदा याति मृगचर्मावगुंठितः । दण्डप्रमाणभूमेर्वा संख्यां कुर्वन्नरो यदि

luṇṭhanbhūmau yadā yāti mṛgacarmāvaguṁṭhitaḥ | daṇḍapramāṇabhūmervā saṁkhyāṁ kurvannaro yadi

When he goes rolling upon the ground, wrapped in a deerskin, or when he goes measuring the ground out staff-length by staff-length, counting it -

Verse 26 (skanda.7.376.26)

अरण्ये निर्जले स्थाने जलांतःपरिपीडितः । शरण्यं शंकरं कृत्वा मनो निश्चलमात्मनः

araṇye nirjale sthāne jalāṁtaḥparipīḍitaḥ | śaraṇyaṁ śaṁkaraṁ kṛtvā mano niścalamātmanaḥ

in a forest, in a waterless place, or afflicted while immersed in water, making Shankara his sole refuge, his mind kept unwavering -

Verse 27 (skanda.7.376.27)

सप्तद्वीपवतीं पृथ्वीं समुद्रवसनां नृप । स लब्ध्वा बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्यज्ञे दत्त्वा च मेदिनीम्

saptadvīpavatīṁ pṛthvīṁ samudravasanāṁ nṛpa | sa labdhvā bahubhiryajñairyajñe dattvā ca medinīm

such a man, O king, obtains the fruit of one who won the seven-continented earth, robed in the ocean, through many sacrifices, and then gave that earth away as a sacrificial gift.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.376.28)

सप्तभौमविमानस्थो दिव्यदेहो हराकृतिः । निरीक्ष्य मेदिनीं मंदं कृत मंगलमण्डनम्

saptabhaumavimānastho divyadeho harākṛtiḥ | nirīkṣya medinīṁ maṁdaṁ kṛta maṁgalamaṇḍanam

Seated in a seven-storeyed celestial chariot, his body divine, bearing the form of Hara, adorned with auspicious ornaments, he gazes gently down upon the earth.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.376.29)

मृगनेत्राभुजस्पर्शलग्नपीनपयोधरः । गीतवाद्यविनोदेन सत्यलोकं व्रजेन्नरः

mṛganetrābhujasparśalagnapīnapayodharaḥ | gītavādyavinodena satyalokaṁ vrajennaraḥ

Doe-eyed women, their full breasts pressed close at the touch of his arms - amid such delight, and the entertainment of song and music, that man journeys on to Satyaloka.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.376.30)

विधाय भुजवेगं वा पादौ बद्ध्वा शनैः शनैः । मौनेन मानुषो मायां त्यक्त्वा याति शिवालये

vidhāya bhujavegaṁ vā pādau baddhvā śanaiḥ śanaiḥ | maunena mānuṣo māyāṁ tyaktvā yāti śivālaye

Or moving forward by the strength of his arms, or binding his feet and going ever so slowly, in silence - the man who thus abandons worldly illusion reaches Shiva's abode.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.376.31)

ब्रह्मघ्नो वा सुरापो वा स्तेयी वा गुरुतल्पगः । कृतघ्नो मुच्यते पापैर्मृतो मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

brahmaghno vā surāpo vā steyī vā gurutalpagaḥ | kṛtaghno mucyate pāpairmṛto muktimavāpnuyāt

Whether he be a slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, one who has defiled his guru's bed, or an ingrate - he is freed from his sins, and at death attains liberation.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.376.32)

मातरं पितरं देशं भ्रातरं स्वजनबांधवान् । ग्रामं भूमिं गृहं त्यक्त्वा कृत्वा चेंद्रियसंयमम्

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ deśaṁ bhrātaraṁ svajanabāṁdhavān | grāmaṁ bhūmiṁ gṛhaṁ tyaktvā kṛtvā ceṁdriyasaṁyamam

Leaving behind mother, father, homeland, brother, kinsmen and relatives, village, land, and house, and having disciplined his senses -

Verse 33 (skanda.7.376.33)

गृहीत्वा शिवसंस्कारं नरो भ्राम्यति भूतले । द्रष्टुं तीर्थान्यनेकानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च

gṛhītvā śivasaṁskāraṁ naro bhrāmyati bhūtale | draṣṭuṁ tīrthānyanekāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

having taken up the sacraments of Shiva, a man wanders over the earth to behold the many sacred fords and holy shrines.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.376.34)

कस्मिंस्तीर्थे शुभे स्थाने छित्त्वा संसारबन्धनम् । अभयां दक्षिणां दत्त्वा शिवशिवेति भाषकः

kasmiṁstīrthe śubhe sthāne chittvā saṁsārabandhanam | abhayāṁ dakṣiṇāṁ dattvā śivaśiveti bhāṣakaḥ

At some auspicious sacred ford, having cut the bonds of worldly existence, giving the gift of fearlessness as his offering, uttering 'Shiva, Shiva' -

Verse 35 (skanda.7.376.35)

एकांते निर्जने स्थाने शिवस्मरणतत्परः । यदि तिष्ठति तं यान्ति नमस्कर्तुं नराधिप

ekāṁte nirjane sthāne śivasmaraṇatatparaḥ | yadi tiṣṭhati taṁ yānti namaskartuṁ narādhipa

if he abides in a solitary, deserted place, intent on remembrance of Shiva, then, O lord of men, the gods come there to pay homage to him.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.376.36)

आयांति देवताः सर्वे चिह्नं तस्य निरीक्षितुम् । विमानवृन्दैर्नेतव्यः कदासौ पुरुषोत्तमः

āyāṁti devatāḥ sarve cihnaṁ tasya nirīkṣitum | vimānavṛndairnetavyaḥ kadāsau puruṣottamaḥ

All the gods come to observe the sign of his devotion, wondering: 'When shall this most excellent of men be carried off by our hosts of celestial chariots?'

Verse 37 (skanda.7.376.37)

यदा तु पञ्चत्वमुपैति काले कलेवरं स्कन्धकृतं नरैश्च । निरीक्ष्यमाणः सुरसुन्दरीभिः स नीयमानो मदविह्वलाभिः

yadā tu pañcatvamupaiti kāle kalevaraṁ skandhakṛtaṁ naraiśca | nirīkṣyamāṇaḥ surasundarībhiḥ sa nīyamāno madavihvalābhiḥ

And when in time his body meets its dissolution, borne on men's shoulders, gazed upon by the beautiful women of the gods, he is carried away by those same maidens, overwhelmed with rapture -

Verse 38 (skanda.7.376.38)

सुरेन्द्रसूर्याग्निधनेशरुद्रैः संपूज्यमानः शिवरूपधारी । सुरादिलोकान्प्रविमुच्य वेगाच्छिवालये तिष्ठति रुद्रभक्तः

surendrasūryāgnidhaneśarudraiḥ saṁpūjyamānaḥ śivarūpadhārī | surādilokānpravimucya vegācchivālaye tiṣṭhati rudrabhaktaḥ

Honoured by Indra, Surya, Agni, Kubera, and the Rudras, bearing the very form of Shiva, swiftly passing beyond the worlds of the gods and the rest, that devotee of Rudra abides forever in Shiva's abode.