The Power of Koti-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.434.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ कोटितीर्थं ततो गच्छेत्सर्वपातकनाशनम्॥ तीर्थानां यत्र संजाता कोटिः पार्थिव हेलया

|| pulastya uvāca || koṭitīrthaṁ tato gacchetsarvapātakanāśanam|| tīrthānāṁ yatra saṁjātā koṭiḥ pārthiva helayā

Pulastya said: Thereafter one should go to Koti-tirtha, the destroyer of all sins, O king, where a crore of holy fords came into being through mere sport.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.434.2)

यदा स्यात्कलिकालस्तु रौद्रो राजन्महीतले॥ म्लेच्छभूता जनाः सर्वे तत्स्पर्शात्तीर्थविप्लवः

yadā syātkalikālastu raudro rājanmahītale|| mlecchabhūtā janāḥ sarve tatsparśāttīrthaviplavaḥ

When the terrible age of Kali shall come upon the earth, O king, all people will become like Mlecchas, and by their touch the holy fords will be despoiled.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.434.3)

तिस्रः कोट्योऽर्धकोटिश्च तीर्थानां भूमिवासिनाम्॥ तेषां कोटिस्ततोऽवात्सीत्पर्वतेऽर्बुदसंज्ञके

tisraḥ koṭyo'rdhakoṭiśca tīrthānāṁ bhūmivāsinām|| teṣāṁ koṭistato'vātsītparvate'rbudasaṁjñake

The holy fords dwelling upon the earth number three and a half crore. Of these, one crore then came to dwell on the mountain named Arbuda.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.434.4)

पुष्करे च तथा कोटिः कुरुक्षेत्रे च पार्थिव॥ वाराणस्यामर्धकोटिः स्तुता देवैः सवासवैः॥ राजन्नेतानि रक्षंति सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः

puṣkare ca tathā koṭiḥ kurukṣetre ca pārthiva|| vārāṇasyāmardhakoṭiḥ stutā devaiḥ savāsavaiḥ|| rājannetāni rakṣaṁti sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ

Likewise, O king, one crore are at Pushkara and one crore at Kurukshetra, while at Varanasi there is half a crore, praised by the gods together with Indra. O king, all the gods together with Indra protect these.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.434.5)

यदा यदा भयार्त्तानि म्लेच्छस्पर्शात्समंततः॥ स्थानेष्वेतेषु तिष्ठंति तीर्थान्युक्तेषु सत्वरम्

yadā yadā bhayārttāni mlecchasparśātsamaṁtataḥ|| sthāneṣveteṣu tiṣṭhaṁti tīrthānyukteṣu satvaram

Whenever those holy fords are, from every side, afflicted by the touch of Mlecchas, they swiftly take refuge and abide in these aforesaid places.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.434.6)

कोटितीर्थानि त्रीण्येव तत्र जातानि भूतले॥ अर्ध कोटिसमेतानि सर्वपापहराणि च

koṭitīrthāni trīṇyeva tatra jātāni bhūtale|| ardha koṭisametāni sarvapāpaharāṇi ca

Thus three Koti-tirthas came into being upon the earth, together with a half-crore more, and they take away all sins.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.434.7)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्नानं तत्र समाचरेत्॥ कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदश्यां नभस्ये च विशेषतः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena snānaṁ tatra samācaret|| kṛṣṇapakṣe trayodaśyāṁ nabhasye ca viśeṣataḥ

Therefore one should bathe there with all diligence, especially on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.434.8)

तत्र स्नानादिकं सर्वं जपहोमादिकं च यत्॥ सर्वं कोटिगुणं राजंस्तत्प्रसादादसंशयम्

tatra snānādikaṁ sarvaṁ japahomādikaṁ ca yat|| sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ rājaṁstatprasādādasaṁśayam

Whatever bathing and whatever recitation, fire-offering and the rest are performed there, O king, all of it becomes a millionfold more fruitful by its grace — of this there is no doubt.