The Origin and Glory of Brahma-pada

Verse 1 (skanda.7.437.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततो गच्छेद्ब्रह्मपदं तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्॥ यत्र पूर्वं पदं न्यस्तं ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा

|| pulastya uvāca || tato gacchedbrahmapadaṁ tīrthaṁ trailokyaviśrutam|| yatra pūrvaṁ padaṁ nyastaṁ brahmaṇā lokakāriṇā

Pulastya said: Thereafter one should go to the tirtha called Brahma-pada, renowned throughout the three worlds, where Brahma, the maker of the worlds, once placed his footstep.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.437.2)

पुरा ब्रह्मादयो देवास्तत्र सर्वे समाहिताः॥ अर्बुदे पर्वते रम्य ऋषयश्च सुनिर्मलाः

purā brahmādayo devāstatra sarve samāhitāḥ|| arbude parvate ramya ṛṣayaśca sunirmalāḥ

Formerly Brahma and the other gods, all gathered there in concentration, along with the most pure sages, upon that lovely mountain Arbuda.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.437.3)

अचलेश्वरयात्रायां सुभक्त्या भाविता नृप॥ अथ ते मुनयः सर्वे प्रोचुर्देवं पितामहम्

acaleśvarayātrāyāṁ subhaktyā bhāvitā nṛpa|| atha te munayaḥ sarve procurdevaṁ pitāmaham

O king, filled with sincere devotion on the pilgrimage of Achaleshvara, then all those sages spoke to the divine grandsire (Brahma).

Verse 4 (skanda.7.437.4)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ प्रभूतनियमैर्होमैर्व्रतस्नानैश्च नित्यशः॥ उपवासैश्च निर्विण्णा वयं सर्वे पितामह

|| ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || prabhūtaniyamairhomairvratasnānaiśca nityaśaḥ|| upavāsaiśca nirviṇṇā vayaṁ sarve pitāmaha

The sages said: Through countless restraints, fire-offerings, vow-observances and bathings, and constant fasting, we have all become weary, O grandsire.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.437.5)

तस्मात्सदुपदेशं त्वं किंचिद्दातुमिहार्हसि॥ तरामो येन देवेश दुर्गं संसारसागरम्

tasmātsadupadeśaṁ tvaṁ kiṁciddātumihārhasi|| tarāmo yena deveśa durgaṁ saṁsārasāgaram

Therefore you should give us here some true instruction, by which, O lord of gods, we may cross the impassable ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.437.6)

अयाचितोपचारैश्च जपहोमैः सुदुष्करैः॥ मन्त्रैर्व्रतैस्तथा दानैः स्वर्गप्राप्तिं वदस्व नः

ayācitopacāraiśca japahomaiḥ suduṣkaraiḥ|| mantrairvrataistathā dānaiḥ svargaprāptiṁ vadasva naḥ

Tell us the means to attain heaven — apart from unsolicited rites, most arduous recitations and fire-offerings, mantras, vows, and gifts.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.437.7)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तदा देवः कृपान्वितः॥ चिंतयामास सुचिरमिह किंचित्प्रहस्य च

teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tadā devaḥ kṛpānvitaḥ|| ciṁtayāmāsa suciramiha kiṁcitprahasya ca

Having heard their words, the compassionate deity then pondered for a long while, smiling a little at this.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.437.8)

ततः स्वकं पदं त्यक्त्वा रम्ये पर्वतरोधसि॥ अथोवाच मुनीन्सर्वान्ब्रह्मा संश्लक्ष्णया गिरा

tataḥ svakaṁ padaṁ tyaktvā ramye parvatarodhasi|| athovāca munīnsarvānbrahmā saṁślakṣṇayā girā

Then, placing his own footstep on that lovely mountain-slope, Brahma spoke to all the sages in a gentle voice.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.437.9)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ एतन्महापदं रम्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम्॥ स्पृशंतु ऋषयः सर्वे ततो यास्यथ सद्गतिम्

|| brahmovāca || etanmahāpadaṁ ramyaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam|| spṛśaṁtu ṛṣayaḥ sarve tato yāsyatha sadgatim

Brahma said: This lovely great footprint destroys all sins. Let all the sages touch it; thereafter you shall attain the good goal.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.437.10)

विना स्नानेन दानेन व्रतहोमजपादिभिः॥ हितार्थं सर्वलोकानां मया न्यस्तं पदं शुभम्

vinā snānena dānena vratahomajapādibhiḥ|| hitārthaṁ sarvalokānāṁ mayā nyastaṁ padaṁ śubham

Without bathing, giving, vows, fire-offerings, or recitation, for the welfare of all worlds I have placed here this auspicious footprint.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.437.11)

अस्मिन्पदे मया न्यस्ते यांति लोकाः सहस्रशः॥ स्पृशंतु ऋषयः सर्वे देवाश्चापि पदं मम

asminpade mayā nyaste yāṁti lokāḥ sahasraśaḥ|| spṛśaṁtu ṛṣayaḥ sarve devāścāpi padaṁ mama

Since this footprint has been set here by me, thousands of worlds are attained through it. Let all sages and gods too touch my footprint.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.437.12)

एकैवात्र प्रकर्त्तव्या श्रद्धा वाऽव्यभिचारिणी॥ यश्च श्रद्धान्वितः सम्यक्पदमेतन्मुनीश्वराः

ekaivātra prakarttavyā śraddhā vā'vyabhicāriṇī|| yaśca śraddhānvitaḥ samyakpadametanmunīśvarāḥ

Here one need only cultivate a single unwavering faith. And whoever, O lords of sages, is truly filled with faith toward this footprint —

Verse 13 (skanda.7.437.13)

पूजयिष्यति संप्राप्ते कार्तिके पूर्णिमादिने॥ तोयैः फलैश्च विविधैर्गंधमाल्यानुलेपनैः

pūjayiṣyati saṁprāpte kārtike pūrṇimādine|| toyaiḥ phalaiśca vividhairgaṁdhamālyānulepanaiḥ

and will worship it, when the full-moon day of Kartika arrives, with water, various fruits, fragrant substances, garlands, and unguents,

Verse 14 (skanda.7.437.14)

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा तु मिष्टान्नेन स्वशक्तितः॥ स यास्यति न सन्देहो मम लोकं सुदुर्लभम्

brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā tu miṣṭānnena svaśaktitaḥ|| sa yāsyati na sandeho mama lokaṁ suduralabham

and, having fed Brahmins sweet food according to his ability, he will without doubt attain my world, which is most difficult to reach.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.437.15)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततो मुनिगणाः सर्वे सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्विताः॥ पूजयित्वा पदं तत्र ब्रह्मलोकं समागताः

|| pulastya uvāca || tato munigaṇāḥ sarve samyakchraddhāsamanvitāḥ|| pūjayitvā padaṁ tatra brahmalokaṁ samāgatāḥ

Pulastya said: Then all the hosts of sages, truly filled with faith, worshipped that footprint there and attained the world of Brahma.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.437.16)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पदं पूज्यं नरोत्तम॥ पितामहपदं सम्यक्छ्रद्धया स्वर्गदायकम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena padaṁ pūjyaṁ narottama|| pitāmahapadaṁ samyakchraddhayā svargadāyakam

Therefore, O best of men, one should worship the grandsire's footprint with all diligence; with true faith it is a bestower of heaven.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.437.17)

अन्यत्कौतूहलं राजन्महद्दृष्टं महाद्भुतम्॥ पदस्य तस्य यच्छ्रुत्वा जायते विस्मयो महान्

anyatkautūhalaṁ rājanmahaddṛṣṭaṁ mahādbhutam|| padasya tasya yacchrutvā jāyate vismayo mahān

O king, another great wonder concerning that footprint has been observed, most marvelous — hearing of which great astonishment arises.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.437.18)

आयामविस्तरेणाऽपि प्राप्ते कृतयुगे नृप॥ न संख्या जायते राजञ्छुक्लवर्णस्य मानवैः

āyāmavistareṇā'pi prāpte kṛtayuge nṛpa|| na saṁkhyā jāyate rājañchuklavarṇasya mānavaiḥ

O king, when the Krita age prevails, even in its length and breadth, men cannot reckon the measure of its white color.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.437.19)

ततस्त्रेतायुगे प्राप्ते रक्तवर्णं प्रदृश्यते॥ सुव्यक्तं संख्यया युक्तं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्

tatastretāyuge prāpte raktavarṇaṁ pradṛśyate|| suvyaktaṁ saṁkhyayā yuktaṁ sarvalokanamaskṛtam

Then, when the Treta age prevails, it appears red in color, clearly perceptible and measurable, and worshipped by all the worlds.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.437.20)

द्वापरे कपिलं तच्च लघुमात्रं प्रदृश्यते॥ कलौ कृष्णं सुसूक्ष्मं च रम्ये पर्वतरोधसि

dvāpare kapilaṁ tacca laghumātraṁ pradṛśyate|| kalau kṛṣṇaṁ susūkṣmaṁ ca ramye parvatarodhasi

In the Dvapara age it appears tawny-brown and small in size, and in the Kali age, on that lovely mountain-slope, it becomes black and extremely subtle.