The Rule of the Pilgrimage Rite

Verse 1 (skanda.7.377.1)

सारस्वत उवाच गंगोदकं मधुघृते कुंकुमागुरुचंद नम् । गुग्गुलं बिल्वपत्राणि बकपुष्पं च यो वहेत्

sārasvata uvāca gaṁgodakaṁ madhughṛte kuṁkumāgurucaṁda nam | guggulaṁ bilvapatrāṇi bakapuṣpaṁ ca yo vahet

Sarasvata said: He who carries Ganga-water, honey, ghee, saffron, aguru, sandalwood, guggulu resin, bilva leaves, and baka flowers -

Verse 2 (skanda.7.377.2)

पदचारी शुचितनुर्भारं स्कन्धे निधाय च । तीर्थे स्नात्वा शिवं विष्णुं ब्रह्माणं शंकरं प्रियम्

padacārī śucitanurbhāraṁ skandhe nidhāya ca | tīrthe snātvā śivaṁ viṣṇuṁ brahmāṇaṁ śaṁkaraṁ priyam

going on foot, his body pure, bearing the load on his shoulder, having bathed at the sacred ford - Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and beloved Shankara -

Verse 3 (skanda.7.377.3)

दृष्ट्वा निवेदयेद्यस्तु स मुक्तः सर्वबन्धनैः । स नरो गणतां याति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

dṛṣṭvā nivedayedyastu sa muktaḥ sarvabandhanaiḥ | sa naro gaṇatāṁ yāti yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

having seen them and offered these things, he is freed from all bondage; that man attains the rank of Shiva's attendants until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.377.4)

कलत्रमित्रपुत्रैर्वा भ्रातृभिः स्वजनैर्नरैः । सहितो वा नरैर्याति तीर्थे देवं विचिंत्य च

kalatramitraputrairvā bhrātṛbhiḥ svajanairnaraiḥ | sahito vā narairyāti tīrthe devaṁ viciṁtya ca

Whether accompanied by wife, friends, sons, brothers, kinsmen, or other men, one goes to the sacred ford contemplating the god there.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.377.5)

देवमूर्तिं शुभां कृत्वा रथस्थां सुप्रतिष्ठिताम् । चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरैरर्चितां कुंकुमेन च

devamūrtiṁ śubhāṁ kṛtvā rathasthāṁ supratiṣṭhitām | candanāgurukarpūrairarcitāṁ kuṁkumena ca

having made an auspicious image of the god, set firmly upon a chariot, worshipped with sandalwood, aguru, camphor, and saffron -

Verse 6 (skanda.7.377.6)

पूजयन्विविधैः पुष्पैर्धूपदीपादिकैर्नृप । गीतनृत्यैः सवादित्रैर्हास्यलास्यैरनेकधा

pūjayanvividhaiḥ puṣpairdhūpadīpādikairnṛpa | gītanṛtyaiḥ savāditrairhāsyalāsyairanekadhā

worshipping with various flowers, incense, lamps and the like, O king, with song and dance to the sound of instruments, and with laughter and playful gestures in many ways -

Verse 7 (skanda.7.377.7)

धरित्रीं कांचनं गाश्च जलान्नवसनानि च । तृणेन्धने प्रियां वाणीं यच्छन्याति नरो यदि

dharitrīṁ kāṁcanaṁ gāśca jalānnavasanāni ca | tṛṇendhane priyāṁ vāṇīṁ yacchanyāti naro yadi

if a man journeys giving land, gold, cows, water, food, clothes, grass and fuel, and kind speech -

Verse 8 (skanda.7.377.8)

देवांगनाकरग्राहगृहीतो नन्दनं वनम् । प्राप्य भुंक्ते शुभान्भोगान्यावदाचन्द्रतारकम्

devāṁganākaragrāhagṛhīto nandanaṁ vanam | prāpya bhuṁkte śubhānbhogānyāvadācandratārakam

taken by the hand of a divine woman, he reaches the Nandana grove and enjoys auspicious pleasures there for as long as the moon and stars endure.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.377.9)

तीर्थे संचरितः पुरुषो रोगैः प्राणान्विमुञ्चति । अदृष्ट्वा दैवतं तीर्थे दृष्टतीर्थफलं लभेत्

tīrthe saṁcaritaḥ puruṣo rogaiḥ prāṇānvimuñcati | adṛṣṭvā daivataṁ tīrthe dṛṣṭatīrthaphalaṁ labhet

The man who, wandering at the sacred ford, gives up his life through illness - even without beholding the deity, he obtains the fruit of having seen the ford.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.377.10)

संसारदोषान्विविधान्विचिन्त्य स्त्रीपुत्रमित्रेष्वपि बंधमुक्तः । विज्ञाय बद्धं पुरुषं प्रधानैः स सर्वतीर्थानि करोति देहम्

saṁsāradoṣānvividhānvicintya strīputramitreṣvapi baṁdhamuktaḥ | vijñāya baddhaṁ puruṣaṁ pradhānaiḥ sa sarvatīrthāni karoti deham

Reflecting on the manifold flaws of worldly existence, freed from attachment even to wife, sons, and friends, and knowing the soul to be bound by the primal elements - he makes his very body [equal to] all the sacred fords.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.377.11)

आजन्मजन्मांन्तरसंचितानि दग्ध्वा स पापानि नरो नरेन्द्र । तेजोमयं सर्वगतं पुराणं भवोद्भवं पश्यति मुच्यते सः

ājanmajanmāṁntarasaṁcitāni dagdhvā sa pāpāni naro narendra | tejomayaṁ sarvagataṁ purāṇaṁ bhavodbhavaṁ paśyati mucyate saḥ

Having burnt away the sins accumulated across birth after birth, O lord of men, that man beholds the radiant, all-pervading, primeval source of existence - and he is liberated.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.377.12)

तीर्थे विप्रवचो ग्राह्यं स्नात्वा संध्यार्चनादिकम् । दर्भास्तिला हविष्यान्नं प्रयोगाः श्रद्धया कृताः

tīrthe vipravaco grāhyaṁ snātvā saṁdhyārcanādikam | darbhāstilā haviṣyānnaṁ prayogāḥ śraddhayā kṛtāḥ

At the sacred ford, a brahmin's counsel should be heeded; after bathing, the twilight rites and worship, kusha grass, sesame, and sacred food - these observances should be performed with faith.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.377.13)

अगस्त्यं भृङ्गराजं च पुष्पं शतदलं शुभम् । कर्पूरागुरुश्रीखंडं कुंकुमं तुलसीदलम्

agastyaṁ bhṛṅgarājaṁ ca puṣpaṁ śatadalaṁ śubham | karpūrāguruśrīkhaṁḍaṁ kuṁkumaṁ tulasīdalam

Agastya-flower and Bhringaraja, the auspicious hundred-petalled lotus, camphor, aguru, sandalwood, saffron, and tulasi leaves -

Verse 14 (skanda.7.377.14)

बिल्वप्रमाणपिंडेषु दीपोद्द्योतितभूमिषु । तांबूल फलनैवेद्यं तिलदर्भोदकेन च

bilvapramāṇapiṁḍeṣu dīpoddyotitabhūmiṣu | tāṁbūla phalanaivedyaṁ tiladarbhodakena ca

offered in bilva-sized portions on ground lit up with lamps - betel, fruit, and food-offerings, together with sesame, kusha grass, and water -

Verse 15 (skanda.7.377.15)

तीर्थे संकल्पितं मर्त्यैस्तदनंतं प्रजायते । अयने विषुवे चैव संक्रांतौ ग्रहणेषु च

tīrthe saṁkalpitaṁ martyaistadanaṁtaṁ prajāyate | ayane viṣuve caiva saṁkrāṁtau grahaṇeṣu ca

whatever is offered with resolve by mortals at the sacred ford yields limitless fruit - especially at the solstice, the equinox, the sankranti, and at eclipses,

Verse 16 (skanda.7.377.16)

मासांतेऽपर पक्षे तु क्षयाहे पितृमातृके । गजच्छायां त्रयोदश्यां द्रव्ये प्राप्तौ द्विजोत्तमः

māsāṁte'para pakṣe tu kṣayāhe pitṛmātṛke | gajacchāyāṁ trayodaśyāṁ dravye prāptau dvijottamaḥ

at month's end, in the dark fortnight, on a kshaya-tithi, on the anniversary day of father or mother, at Gajachhaya, on the thirteenth lunar day, and whenever wealth is obtained, to a foremost brahmin -

Verse 17 (skanda.7.377.17)

गृहे श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत पितॄणामृणमुक्तये । गृहाच्छतगुणं नद्यां या नदी याति सागरम्

gṛhe śrāddhaṁ prakurvīta pitṝṇāmṛṇamuktaye | gṛhācchataguṇaṁ nadyāṁ yā nadī yāti sāgaram

one should perform the shraddha rite at home, to be freed from the debt owed to the ancestors. The merit gained at a river is a hundredfold that at home - more still at a river that flows into the ocean.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.377.18)

प्रभासे पुष्करे राजन्गंगायां पिंडतारके । प्रयागे नृपगोमत्यां भवदामोदराग्रतः

prabhāse puṣkare rājangaṁgāyāṁ piṁḍatārake | prayāge nṛpagomatyāṁ bhavadāmodarāgrataḥ

At Prabhasa, at Pushkara, O king, at the Ganga, at Pindataraka, at Prayaga, at the royal Gomati, and before Bhava-Damodara -

Verse 19 (skanda.7.377.19)

नर्मदादिषु तीर्थेषु कुर्याच्छ्राद्धं नरो यदि । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः पितरो यांति सद्गतिम्

narmadādiṣu tīrtheṣu kuryācchrāddhaṁ naro yadi | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ pitaro yāṁti sadgatim

if a man performs the shraddha rite at the Narmada and other such sacred fords, his ancestors, freed from all sin, attain the good final destination.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.377.20)

संतानमुत्तमं लब्ध्वा भुक्त्वा भोगाननुत्तमान् । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य प्रान्ते याति सुरालयम्

saṁtānamuttamaṁ labdhvā bhuktvā bhogānanuttamān | divyaṁ vimānamāruhya prānte yāti surālayam

having obtained excellent offspring and enjoyed unsurpassed pleasures, he mounts a divine chariot and at the end goes to the abode of the gods.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.377.21)

जातकर्मादियज्ञेषु विवाहे यज्ञकर्मणि । देवप्रतिष्ठाप्रारंभे वृद्धिश्राद्धं प्रकल्पयेत्

jātakarmādiyajñeṣu vivāhe yajñakarmaṇi | devapratiṣṭhāprāraṁbhe vṛddhiśrāddhaṁ prakalpayet

At the birth-rite and other such sacraments, at marriage, at sacrificial rites, and at the commencement of a deity's installation, one should perform the Vriddhi-shraddha.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.377.22)

तृप्यन्ति देवताः सर्वा स्तृप्यंति पितरो नृणाम् । वृद्धिश्राद्धकृतो गेहे जायते सर्वमंगलम्

tṛpyanti devatāḥ sarvā stṛpyaṁti pitaro nṛṇām | vṛddhiśrāddhakṛto gehe jāyate sarvamaṁgalam

All the gods are satisfied, and men's ancestors too are satisfied; in the household where the Vriddhi-shraddha is performed, every auspiciousness arises.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.377.23)

कामः क्रोधश्च लोभश्च मोहो मद्यमदादयः । माया मात्सर्यपैशुन्यमविवेको विचारणा

kāmaḥ krodhaśca lobhaśca moho madyamadādayaḥ | māyā mātsaryapaiśunyamaviveko vicāraṇā

Desire, anger, greed, delusion, intoxication from liquor and the like, deceit, envy, slander, lack of discernment, [and] excessive deliberation -

Verse 24 (skanda.7.377.24)

अहंकारो यदृच्छा च चापल्यं लौल्यता नृप । अत्यायासोप्यनायासः प्रमादो द्रोहसाहसम्

ahaṁkāro yadṛcchā ca cāpalyaṁ laulyatā nṛpa | atyāyāsopyanāyāsaḥ pramādo drohasāhasam

egotism, caprice, fickleness, greediness, O king, excessive exertion as well as its opposite indolence, heedlessness, and reckless malice -

Verse 25 (skanda.7.377.25)

आलस्यं दीर्घसूत्रत्वं परदारोपसेवनम् । अल्पाहारो निराहारः शोकश्चौर्यं नृपोत्तम

ālasyaṁ dīrghasūtratvaṁ paradāropasevanam | alpāhāro nirāhāraḥ śokaścauryaṁ nṛpottama

laziness, procrastination, consorting with another's wife, eating too little or not at all, grief, and theft, O best of kings -

Verse 26 (skanda.7.377.26)

एतान्दोषान्गृहे नित्यं वर्जयन्यदि वर्तते । स नरो मण्डनं भूमेर्देशस्य नगरस्य च

etāndoṣāngṛhe nityaṁ varjayanyadi vartate | sa naro maṇḍanaṁ bhūmerdeśasya nagarasya ca

if a man lives always avoiding these faults in his household, he is the ornament of the earth, of the land, and of the city.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.377.27)

श्रीमान्विद्वान्कुलीनोऽसौ स एव पुरुषोत्तमः । सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकश्च नित्यं तस्य प्रजायते

śrīmānvidvānkulīno'sau sa eva puruṣottamaḥ | sarvatīrthābhiṣekaśca nityaṁ tasya prajāyate

He is prosperous, learned, well-born - he alone is the most excellent of men; the merit of bathing at all sacred fords is continually his.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.377.28)

तदा तीर्थफलं सम्यक्त्यक्तदोषस्य जायते । स्नानं सन्ध्या जपो होमः पितृदेवर्षितर्पणम् । श्राद्धं देवस्य पूजा च त्यक्तदोषस्य जायते

tadā tīrthaphalaṁ samyaktyaktadoṣasya jāyate | snānaṁ sandhyā japo homaḥ pitṛdevarṣitarpaṇam | śrāddhaṁ devasya pūjā ca tyaktadoṣasya jāyate

Only then does the true fruit of the sacred ford arise, for one who has abandoned these faults. Bathing, twilight-worship, recitation, fire-oblation, offerings to ancestors, gods, and sages, the shraddha rite, and worship of god - all these bear fruit only for one who has abandoned these faults.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.377.29)

प्रयागे वा कुरुक्षेत्रे सरस्वत्यां च सागरे । गयायां वा रुद्रपदे नरनारायणाश्रमे

prayāge vā kurukṣetre sarasvatyāṁ ca sāgare | gayāyāṁ vā rudrapade naranārāyaṇāśrame

At Prayaga, or Kurukshetra, at the Sarasvati and the ocean, at Gaya, or at Rudrapada, at the ashram of Nara-Narayana -

Verse 30 (skanda.7.377.30)

प्रभासे पुष्करे कृष्णे गोमत्यां पिंडतारके । वस्त्रापथे गिरौ पुण्ये तथा दामोदरे नृप

prabhāse puṣkare kṛṣṇe gomatyāṁ piṁḍatārake | vastrāpathe girau puṇye tathā dāmodare nṛpa

at Prabhasa, at Pushkara, at the Krishna, at the Gomati, at Pindataraka, at the sacred mount of Vastrapatha, and likewise at Damodara, O king -

Verse 31 (skanda.7.377.31)

भीमेश्वरे नर्मदायां स्कांदे रामेश्वरादिषु । उज्जयिन्यां महाकाले वाराणस्यां च भूर्भुवः

bhīmeśvare narmadāyāṁ skāṁde rāmeśvarādiṣu | ujjayinyāṁ mahākāle vārāṇasyāṁ ca bhūrbhuvaḥ

at Bhimeshvara, at the Narmada, at the Skanda shrine, at Rameshvara and the like, at Ujjayini's Mahakala, and at Varanasi, the ford of the three worlds -

Verse 32 (skanda.7.377.32)

कालिंद्यां मथुरायां च सकृद्याति नरो यदि । सदोषो मुच्यते दोषैर्ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः कृतैः ।

kāliṁdyāṁ mathurāyāṁ ca sakṛdyāti naro yadi | sadoṣo mucyate doṣairbrahmahatyādibhiḥ kṛtaiḥ |

and at the Kalindi and Mathura - if a man goes even once, though guilty, he is freed from sins committed, even one such as the killing of a brahmin.

Verse 33 (skanda.7.377.33)

अपि कीटः पतंगो वा पक्षी वा सूकरोऽपि वा । खरोष्ट्रकुंजरा वाजिमृगसिंहसरीसृपाः

api kīṭaḥ pataṁgo vā pakṣī vā sūkaro'pi vā | kharoṣṭrakuṁjarā vājimṛgasiṁhasarīsṛpāḥ

Be it an insect, a moth, a bird, or even a boar; donkeys, camels, elephants, horses, deer, lions, and reptiles -

Verse 34 (skanda.7.377.34)

ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतो राजंस्तेषु स्था नेषु ये मृताः । सर्वे ते पुण्यकर्माणः स्वर्गं भुक्त्वा सुखं बहु

jñānato'jñānato rājaṁsteṣu sthā neṣu ye mṛtāḥ | sarve te puṇyakarmāṇaḥ svargaṁ bhuktvā sukhaṁ bahu

whatever creatures die in those places, knowingly or unknowingly, O king - all of them become doers of meritorious deeds, and enjoy great happiness in heaven.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.377.35)

चतुर्वर्णेषु सर्वे ते जायंते कर्मबंधनात् । कर्मबंधं विहायाशु मुक्तिं यांति नराः पुनः

caturvarṇeṣu sarve te jāyaṁte karmabaṁdhanāt | karmabaṁdhaṁ vihāyāśu muktiṁ yāṁti narāḥ punaḥ

By the bond of their karma, all of them are then born among the four varnas; and, casting off the bond of karma, men swiftly attain liberation once more.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.377.36)

मोदंते तीर्थमरणात्स्वर्गभोगावसानतः । संप्राप्य भारते खंडे कर्मभूमिं महोदयम्

modaṁte tīrthamaraṇātsvargabhogāvasānataḥ | saṁprāpya bhārate khaṁḍe karmabhūmiṁ mahodayam

From death at a sacred ford until the end of their enjoyment in heaven they rejoice, and then attain, in the land of Bharata-khanda, the great and rising field of karma -

Verse 37 (skanda.7.377.37)

अनेकाश्चर्यसंयुक्तं बहुपर्वतमंडितम् । गंगायाः सरितः सर्वाः समुद्रैः सह संगताः

anekāścaryasaṁyuktaṁ bahuparvatamaṁḍitam | gaṁgāyāḥ saritaḥ sarvāḥ samudraiḥ saha saṁgatāḥ

that land, full of many wonders, adorned with many mountains, where all the rivers, beginning with Ganga, meet together with the oceans -

Verse 38 (skanda.7.377.38)

पदेपदे निधानानि संति तीर्थान्यनेकशः । येषां स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्

padepade nidhānāni saṁti tīrthānyanekaśaḥ | yeṣāṁ smaraṇamātreṇa sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet

where at every step there are treasures - many sacred fords - by the mere remembrance of which the destruction of all sin comes about.

Verse 39 (skanda.7.377.39)

पातालमार्गा बहवः स्वर्गमार्गश्च दृश्यते । गगने दृश्यते सूर्यो हृदये दृश्यते हरः

pātālamārgā bahavaḥ svargamārgaśca dṛśyate | gagane dṛśyate sūryo hṛdaye dṛśyate haraḥ

There the many paths to the netherworld, and the path to heaven too, are to be seen; as the sun is seen in the sky, so Hara is seen in the heart.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.377.40)

ध्यानेन ज्ञानयोगेन तपसा वचसा गुरोः । सत्येन साहसेनैव दृश्यते भुवनत्रयम्

dhyānena jñānayogena tapasā vacasā guroḥ | satyena sāhasenaiva dṛśyate bhuvanatrayam

By meditation, by the yoga of knowledge, by austerity, by the guru's word, by truth, and by resolve alone are the three worlds beheld.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.377.41)

वेदस्मृतिपुराणैश्च ये न पश्यंति भूतलम् । पातालं स्वर्गलोकं च वंचितास्ते नरा इह

vedasmṛtipurāṇaiśca ye na paśyaṁti bhūtalam | pātālaṁ svargalokaṁ ca vaṁcitāste narā iha

Those who fail to perceive, through the Vedas, the Smritis, and the Puranas, this earth, the netherworld, and the world of heaven - such men are indeed cheated.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.377.42)

ये विरज्यंति न स्त्रीषु कामासक्ता विचेतसः । देहोन्यथा वरस्त्रीणामन्यथा तैश्च चिंतितम्

ye virajyaṁti na strīṣu kāmāsaktā vicetasaḥ | dehonyathā varastrīṇāmanyathā taiśca ciṁtitam

Those who, bound by desire and bereft of discernment, do not turn away from women - the true nature of a woman's body is one thing, yet they imagine it to be something else entirely.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.377.43)

जन्मभूमिषु ते रक्ता जन्यंते जंतवः पुनः । मुक्तिमार्गात्पुनर्भ्रष्टा जायंते पशुयोनिषु

janmabhūmiṣu te raktā janyaṁte jaṁtavaḥ punaḥ | muktimārgātpunarbhraṣṭā jāyaṁte paśuyoniṣu

Attached to the round of birth, such beings are born again and again as creatures; fallen once more from the path of liberation, they are born in the wombs of beasts.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.377.44)

धनानि संप्राप्य वराटिकां ये द्विजातिमुख्याय विधाय पूजाम् । यच्छंति नो निर्मलचेतना ये नराधमा दैवहता मृतास्ते

dhanāni saṁprāpya varāṭikāṁ ye dvijātimukhyāya vidhāya pūjām | yacchaṁti no nirmalacetanā ye narādhamā daivahatā mṛtāste

Those who, having obtained wealth - even so much as a cowrie - do not, with pure intent, offer worship and give it to a foremost brahmin, are base men struck down by fate - as good as dead.

Verse 45 (skanda.7.377.45)

देहं सुपुष्टं विजरं च यौवनं लब्ध्वा न गंगादिषु यांति ये नराः । माता पिता नो न सुतो न बांधवो भार्या स्वसा नो दुहिता न विद्यते

dehaṁ supuṣṭaṁ vijaraṁ ca yauvanaṁ labdhvā na gaṁgādiṣu yāṁti ye narāḥ | mātā pitā no na suto na bāṁdhavo bhāryā svasā no duhitā na vidyate

Those men who, having obtained a well-nourished body and unfading youth, do not go to the Ganga and other such sacred rivers - for them there exists no mother, no father, no son, no kinsman, no wife, no sister, no daughter.

Verse 46 (skanda.7.377.46)

एकस्तु यो याति कथं न क्लिश्यते मूर्खो न जानाति भवं महेश्वरम् । स्नात्वा न पश्यंति हरं महेश्वरं दैवेन ते वै मुषिता नराधमाः

ekastu yo yāti kathaṁ na kliśyate mūrkho na jānāti bhavaṁ maheśvaram | snātvā na paśyaṁti haraṁ maheśvaraṁ daivena te vai muṣitā narādhamāḥ

But he who goes there alone - how should he not suffer hardship? The fool does not know Bhava, the great lord. Those who, having bathed, still do not behold Hara the great lord - such base men are indeed robbed by fate.