The Glory of Chakra-tirtha

Verse 1 (skanda.7.454.1)

॥ श्रीप्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ ततो गच्छेद्द्विजश्रेष्ठा रथांगाख्यं महोदधिम्। चक्रांका यत्र पाषाणा दृश्यंते मुक्तिदायकाः॥

śrīprahlāda uvāca| tato gacchedvijaśreṣṭhā rathāṅgākhyaṁ mahodadhim| cakrāṅkā yatra pāṣāṇā dṛśyante muktidāyakāḥ||

Shri Prahlada said: Thereafter, O foremost of brahmins, one should go to the great ocean known as Rathanga, where stones marked with the discus can be seen, granting liberation.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.454.2)

यैः पूज्यते जगन्नाथः प्रत्यहं भावसंयुतैः। सदा नेत्रैरनिमिषैर्वीक्ष्यते च जनार्दनः॥

yaiḥ pūjyate jagannāthaḥ pratyahaṁ bhāvasaṁyutaiḥ| sadā netrairanimiṣairvīkṣyate ca janārdanaḥ||

Those stones which, with reverent feeling, are worshipped daily as the Lord of the universe, and which are constantly gazed upon with unblinking eyes as Janardana himself.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.454.3)

यच्च साक्षाद्भगवता दृष्टं कृष्णेन दृष्टितः। तत्तीर्थं सर्वपापघ्नं चक्राख्यं परमं हरेः॥

yacca sākṣādbhagavatā dṛṣṭaṁ kṛṣṇena dṛṣṭitaḥ| tattīrthaṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ cakrākhyaṁ paramaṁ hareḥ||

That sacred place which was itself gazed upon directly by Lord Krishna with his own eyes — that is Hari's supreme sacred site, known as Chakra-tirtha, destroyer of every sin.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.454.4)

यस्य प्रसिद्धिः परमा त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे। प्रयागादधिकं यच्च मुक्तिदं ह्यस्ति पावनम्॥

yasya prasiddhiḥ paramā trailokye sacarācare| prayāgādadhikaṁ yacca muktidaṁ hyasti pāvanam||

Its supreme renown extends across all three worlds, both moving and unmoving, and it is more purifying and more conducive to liberation than even Prayaga.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.454.5)

सुरैरपि प्रपूज्यंते यत्रांगानि शरीरिणाम्। अंकितानि च चक्रेण षण्मासान्नात्र संशयः॥

surairapi prapūjyante yatrāṅgāni śarīriṇām| aṅkitāni ca cakreṇa ṣaṇmāsānnātra saṁśayaḥ||

There, even the limbs of embodied beings, once marked by the discus, are worshipped by the gods themselves for six months — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.454.6)

यद्दृष्ट्वा मुच्यते पापात्प्रसंगेनापि मानवः। तत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानां पावनं प्रवरं स्मृतम्॥

yaddṛṣṭvā mucyate pāpātprasaṅgenāpi mānavaḥ| tattīrthaṁ sarvatīrthānāṁ pāvanaṁ pravaraṁ smṛtam||

Merely by seeing it, even incidentally, a man is freed from sin; that sacred place is remembered as the most purifying and excellent among all sacred sites.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.454.7)

तत्र गत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ मुदा। करौ चास्यं चैव पुनः प्रणमेद्दंडवत्पुनः॥

tatra gatvā dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ prakṣālya caraṇau mudā| karau cāsyaṁ caiva punaḥ praṇameddaṇḍavatpunaḥ||

O foremost of brahmins, having gone there, one should joyfully wash the feet, and then the hands and face too, and prostrate again like a fallen staff.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.454.8)

प्रणिपत्य गृहीत्वार्घ्यं पंचरत्नसमन्वितम्। सपुष्पाक्षतगंधैश्च फलहेमसुचंदनैः॥

praṇipatya gṛhītvārghyaṁ pañcaratnasamanvitam| sapuṣpākṣatagandhaiśca phalahemasucandanaiḥ||

Having bowed, one should take up an offering of welcome containing the five gems, together with flowers, unbroken rice, fragrant paste, fruit, gold, and fine sandalwood.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.454.9)

संपन्नमर्घ्यमादाय मंत्रमेतमुदीरयेत्। प्रत्यङ्मुखः सुनियतः संमुखो वा महोदधेः॥

sampannamarghyamādāya mantrametamudīrayet| pratyaṅmukhaḥ suniyataḥ saṁmukho vā mahodadheḥ||

Taking up this complete offering, facing west or turned toward the great ocean, well restrained, one should utter this mantra:

Verse 10 (skanda.7.454.10)

ॐ नमो विष्णुरूपाय विष्णुचक्राय ते नमः। गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं सर्वकामप्रदो भव॥

oṁ namo viṣṇurūpāya viṣṇucakrāya te namaḥ| gṛhāṇārghyaṁ mayā dattaṁ sarvakāmapradobhava||

'Om, salutations to the form of Vishnu; salutations to you, discus of Vishnu! Accept this offering given by me, and grant all my desires.'

Verse 11 (skanda.7.454.11)

अग्निश्च तेजो मृडया च रुद्रो रेतोधा विष्णुरमृतस्य नाभिः। एतद्ब्रुवन्वाडवाः सत्यवाक्यं ततोऽवगाहेत पतिं नदीनाम्॥

agniśca tejo mṛḍayā ca rudro retodhā viṣṇuramṛtasya nābhiḥ| etadbruvanvāḍavāḥ satyavākyaṁ tato'vagāheta patiṁ nadīnām||

'Agni is radiance, Rudra is the bestower of bliss and the seed-giver, Vishnu is the navel of immortality' — reciting this true declaration, the learned should then immerse themselves in the lord of rivers, the ocean.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.454.12)

मृदमालभ्य सजलां विप्रा देवकरच्युताम्। धारयित्वा तु शिरसा स्नानं कुर्य्याद्यथाविधि॥

mṛdamālabhya sajalāṁ viprā devakaracyutām| dhārayitvā tu śirasā snānaṁ kuryādyathāvidhi||

O brahmins, having touched the moist clay that has fallen from the hand of the deity, and having borne it upon the head, one should bathe according to the prescribed rite.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.454.13)

तर्पयेच्च पितॄन्देवान्मनुष्यांश्च यथाक्रमम्। तर्पयित्वा हविर्द्रव्यं प्रोक्षयित्वा च भक्तितः॥

tarpayecca pitṝndevānmanuṣyāṁśca yathākramam| tarpayitvā havirdravyaṁ prokṣayitvā ca bhaktitaḥ||

One should, in due order, offer libations to the ancestors, the gods, and humankind; having offered libations, one should devotedly sprinkle the sacrificial offerings.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.454.14)

अश्वमेधसहस्रेण सम्यग्यष्टेन यत्फलम्। स्नानमात्रेण तत्प्रोक्तं चक्रतीर्थे द्विजोत्तमाः॥

aśvamedhasahasreṇa samyagyaṣṭena yatphalam| snānamātreṇa tatproktaṁ cakratīrthe dvijottamāḥ||

O best of brahmins, the fruit obtained by duly performing a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices is declared to be obtained merely by bathing at Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.454.15)

प्रयागे यत्फलं प्रोक्तं माघ्यां माधवपूजने। स्नानमात्रेण तत्प्रोक्तं चक्रतीर्थे द्विजोत्तमाः॥

prayāge yatphalaṁ proktaṁ māghyāṁ mādhavapūjane| snānamātreṇa tatproktaṁ cakratīrthe dvijottamāḥ||

The fruit declared for worshipping Madhava at Prayaga during the month of Magha is likewise declared to be obtained merely by bathing at Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.454.16)

कारयेच्च ततः श्राद्धं पितॄणां श्रद्धयान्वितः। विश्वेदेवान्सुवर्णेन राजतेन तथा पितॄन्॥

kārayecca tataḥ śrāddhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ śraddhayānvitaḥ| viśvedevānsuvarṇena rājatena tathā pitṝn||

Then, filled with faith, one should perform the shraddha rite for the ancestors, honouring the Vishvedevas with gold and the ancestors with silver.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.454.17)

संतर्प्य भोजनेनैव वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः। दीनान्धकृपणेभ्यश्च दानं देयं स्वशक्तितः॥

saṁtarpya bhojanenaiva vastrālaṁkārabhūṣaṇaiḥ| dīnāndhakṛpaṇebhyaśca dānaṁ deyaṁ svaśaktitaḥ||

Having satisfied them with food, and also with garments and ornaments, one should give charity to the poor, the blind, and the destitute according to one's means.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.454.18)

चक्रतीर्थे तीर्थवरे विशेषाद्द्विजसत्तमाः। रत्नदानं प्रकुर्वीत प्रीणनार्थं जगत्पतेः॥

cakratīrthe tīrthavare viśeṣāddvijasattamāḥ| ratnadānaṁ prakurvīta prīṇanārthaṁ jagatpateḥ||

O most excellent brahmins, at that best of sacred places, Chakra-tirtha, one should especially give the gift of gems to please the lord of the universe.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.454.19)

गन्त्रीमनडुहा युक्तां सर्वास्तरणसंयुताम्। सोपस्करां च दद्याद्वै विष्णुर्मे प्रीयतामिति॥

gantrīmanaḍuhā yuktāṁ sarvāstaraṇasaṁyutām| sopaskarāṁ ca dadyādvai viṣṇurme prīyatāmiti||

One should give a cart yoked with oxen, fitted with every kind of covering and accessory, saying: 'May Vishnu be pleased with me.'

Verse 20 (skanda.7.454.20)

सुविनीतं शीलयुतं तथा सोपस्करं हयम्। भूषयित्वा च विप्राय दद्याद्दक्षिणया सह॥

suvinītaṁ śīlayutaṁ tathā sopaskaraṁ hayam| bhūṣayitvā ca viprāya dadyāddakṣiṇayā saha||

A well-trained horse of good temperament, complete with trappings, should be adorned and given to a brahmin, together with a sacrificial fee.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.454.21)

एवं कृते द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः। मुक्तिं प्रयांति तस्यैव पितरस्त्रिकुलोद्भवाः॥

evaṁ kṛte dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ| muktiṁ prayānti tasyaiva pitarastrikulodbhavāḥ||

O foremost of brahmins, having done this, a man becomes fulfilled in all his purposes, and the ancestors born in his three lineages attain liberation.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.454.22)

प्रेतयोनिं गता ये च ये च कीटत्वमागताः। पच्यंते नरके ये च महारौरवसंज्ञके॥

pretayoniṁ gatā ye ca ye ca kīṭatvamāgatāḥ| pacyante narake ye ca mahārauravasaṁjñake||

Those who have fallen into the state of ghosts, those who have become insects, and those who are suffering in the hell called Maharaurava —

Verse 23 (skanda.7.454.23)

ते सर्वे तृप्तिमायांति चक्रतीर्थ प्रभावतः। श्राद्धे कृते द्विजश्रेष्ठा गयाश्राद्धफलं लभेत्॥

te sarve tṛptimāyānti cakratīrtha prabhāvataḥ| śrāddhe kṛte dvijaśreṣṭhā gayāśrāddhaphalaṁ labhet||

all of them attain satisfaction through the power of Chakra-tirtha. O foremost of brahmins, by performing the shraddha here, one obtains the fruit of the shraddha rite at Gaya.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.454.24)

या गतिर्मातृभक्तानां यज्वनां या गतिः स्मृता। चक्रतीर्थे द्विजश्रेष्ठाः स्नात्वा तां लभते नरः॥

yā gatirmātṛbhaktānāṁ yajvanāṁ yā gatiḥ smṛtā| cakratīrthe dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ snātvā tāṁ labhate naraḥ||

The destiny remembered for those devoted to their mother, and the destiny remembered for those who perform sacrifices, O foremost of brahmins — that destiny a man obtains by bathing at Chakra-tirtha.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.454.25)

श्राद्धं प्रशस्तं विप्रेंद्राः संप्राप्ते चंद्रसंक्षये। सूर्यग्रहे विशेषेण कुरुक्षेत्रफलं स्मृतम्। श्राद्धे स्नाने तथा दाने पितॄणां तर्पणे तथा॥

śrāddhaṁ praśastaṁ viprendrāḥ samprāpte candrasaṁkṣaye| sūryagrahe viśeṣeṇa kurukṣetraphalaṁ smṛtam| śrāddhe snāne tathā dāne pitṝṇāṁ tarpaṇe tathā||

O foremost of brahmins, shraddha performed on the day of the new moon is highly praised; especially during a solar eclipse, the fruit of Kurukshetra is declared for shraddha, bathing, charity, and offering libations to the ancestors.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.454.26)

प्रशस्तं चक्रतीर्थं च नात्र कार्य्या विचारणा। सर्वदा पावनं विप्राश्चक्रतीर्थं न संशयः॥

praśastaṁ cakratīrthaṁ ca nātra kāryā vicāraṇā| sarvadā pāvanaṁ viprāścakratīrthaṁ na saṁśayaḥ||

Chakra-tirtha, too, is equally praised — no doubt need be entertained about this. O brahmins, Chakra-tirtha is ever purifying — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.454.27)

यस्तु श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत यात्रायामागतो नरः। चक्रतीर्थे द्विजश्रेष्ठाः संपूज्य मधुसूदनम्॥

yastu śrāddhaṁ prakurvīta yātrāyāmāgato naraḥ| cakratīrthe dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ sampūjya madhusūdanam||

That man who, arriving on pilgrimage, performs the shraddha rite at Chakra-tirtha, having worshipped Madhusudana —

Verse 28 (skanda.7.454.28)

पूजितेषु द्विजेंद्रेषु विष्णुसांनिध्यमाप्नुयात्। वाचा कृतं कर्मकृतं मनसां समुपार्जितम्॥

pūjiteṣu dvijendreṣu viṣṇusāṁnidhyamāpnuyāt| vācā kṛtaṁ karmakṛtaṁ manasāṁ samupārjitam||

and, having honoured the foremost brahmins, attains the presence of Vishnu. Whatever sin has been committed through speech, through action, and accumulated through the mind —

Verse 29 (skanda.7.454.29)

स्नानमात्रेण तत्पापं नश्यते नात्र संशयः॥

snānamātreṇa tatpāpaṁ naśyate nātra saṁśayaḥ||

that sin is destroyed merely by bathing — of this there is no doubt.