The Glory of Rishitirtha and Siddheshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.462.1)

॥ प्रह्लाद उवाच ॥ श्रुत्वा तमागतं देवं ब्रह्माणं पितरं स्वकम्। सनकाद्या नमस्कर्त्तुं जग्मुः सर्वे पितामहम्॥

prahlāda uvāca| śrutvā tamāgataṁ devaṁ brahmāṇaṁ pitaraṁ svakam| sanakādyā namaskarttuṁ jagmuḥ sarve pitāmaham||

Prahlada said: Hearing that their divine father, Brahma, had arrived, Sanaka and the others all went to bow to that grandsire.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.462.2)

तं दृष्ट्वा लोककर्त्तारं दण्डवत्प्रणताः क्षितौ। ततो दृष्ट्वा स तनयान्संगृह्य परिषस्वजे॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā lokakartāraṁ daṇḍavatpraṇatāḥ kṣitau| tato dṛṣṭvā sa tanayānsaṁgṛhya pariṣasvaje||

Beholding the creator of the worlds, they prostrated upon the ground like fallen staves. Then, seeing his sons, he embraced them.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.462.3)

पृष्टश्चानामयं तैस्तु पृष्ट्वा तान्समुवाच ह। आराधितो यैर्भगवान्धन्या यूयं वयं तथा॥

pṛṣṭaścānāmayaṁ taistu pṛṣṭvā tānsamuvāca ha| ārādhito yairbhagavāndhanyā yūyaṁ vayaṁ tathā||

They asked after his welfare, and he, having asked after theirs, said to them: 'Blessed are you, who have worshipped the Lord, and blessed are we too.'

Verse 4 (skanda.7.462.4)

संसिद्धिं परमां याता भगवद्दर्शनेन हि। न ज्ञातं पुत्रकाः सम्यगज्ञानाद्बालबुद्धिभिः॥

saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ yātā bhagavaddarśanena hi| na jñātaṁ putrakāḥ samyagajñānādbālabuddhibhiḥ||

'Through the sight of the Lord, you have attained supreme perfection. My sons, due to ignorance and childlike understanding, you did not fully know this before.'

Verse 5 (skanda.7.462.5)

येनार्चितो महादेवस्तस्य तुष्यति केशवः। अनर्चिते नीलकण्ठे न गृह्णात्यर्चनं हरिः। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूज्यतां नीललोहितः॥

yenārcito mahādevastasya tuṣyati keśavaḥ| anarcite nīlakaṇṭhe na gṛhṇātyarcanaṁ hariḥ| tasmātsarvaprayatnena pūjyatāṁ nīlalohitaḥ||

'He by whom Mahadeva is worshipped, upon him Keshava becomes pleased. Without worshipping Nilakantha (Shiva), Hari does not accept worship. Therefore worship Nilalohita (Shiva) with the fullest effort.'

Verse 6 (skanda.7.462.6)

येन संपूर्णतां याति कृष्णपूजा कृता सदा। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या ब्रह्मपुत्रा ययुस्तदा॥

yena sampūrṇatāṁ yāti kṛṣṇapūjā kṛtā sadā| tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasyā brahmaputrā yayustadā||

'by which the worship of Krishna always attains completeness.' Hearing these words, the sons of Brahma then went forth.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.462.7)

देवागाराग्रतो गत्वा योगसिद्धा महर्षयः। लिंगं संस्थापयामासुः शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृता॥

devāgārāgrato gatvā yogasiddhā maharṣayaḥ| liṅgaṁ saṁsthāpayāmāsuḥ śivabhaktipuraskṛtā||

Going before the temple of the god, those great sages, accomplished in yoga, impelled by devotion to Shiva, installed a Shivalinga.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.462.8)

संस्थाप्य शिवलिंगं ते स्नानार्थं मुनिसत्तमाः। कूपं चक्रुस्ततः सर्व ऋषयः संशितव्रताः॥

saṁsthāpya śivaliṅgaṁ te snānārthaṁ munisattamāḥ| kūpaṁ cakrustataḥ sarva ṛṣayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ||

Having installed the Shivalinga, O foremost of sages, all those rigorously vowed sages then dug a well for bathing.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.462.9)

दृष्ट्वा तममृतप्रख्यं जलपूर्णं सुनिर्मलम्। संहृष्टा ऋषयः सर्वे साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्॥

dṛṣṭvā tamamṛtaprakhyaṁ jalapūrṇaṁ sunirmalam| saṁhṛṣṭā ṛṣayaḥ sarve sādhusādhviti cābruvan||

Seeing that well, filled with water like nectar, exceedingly pure, all the sages, delighted, exclaimed, 'Well done, well done!'

Verse 10 (skanda.7.462.10)

स्थापितं शिवलिंगं च दृष्ट्वा लोकपितामहः। उवाच वचनं ब्रह्मा प्रीतः पुत्रांस्तदा द्विजाः॥

sthāpitaṁ śivaliṅgaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā lokapitāmahaḥ| uvāca vacanaṁ brahmā prītaḥ putrāṁstadā dvijāḥ||

Seeing the installed Shivalinga, O brahmins, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, pleased, then spoke these words to his sons:

Verse 11 (skanda.7.462.11)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ भवद्भिर्योगसंसिद्धैर्यस्मात्संस्थापितः शिवः। तस्मात्सिद्धेश्वर इति ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति॥

brahmovāca| bhavadbhiryogasaṁsiddhairyasmātsaṁsthāpitaḥ śivaḥ| tasmātsiddheśvara iti khyātiṁ loke gamiṣyati||

Brahma said: 'Since Shiva has been installed by you, accomplished in yoga, he shall become known in the world by the name "Siddheshvara."'

Verse 12 (skanda.7.462.12)

समीपे शितिकण्ठस्य कूपोयमृषिभिः कृतः। ऋषितीर्थमिति ख्यातं तस्माल्लोके भविष्यति॥

samīpe śitikaṇṭhasya kūpoyamṛṣibhiḥ kṛtaḥ| ṛṣitīrthamiti khyātaṁ tasmālloke bhaviṣyati||

'This well, dug by the sages near Shitikantha (Shiva), shall thereby become known in the world by the name "Rishitirtha."'

Verse 13 (skanda.7.462.13)

विना श्राद्धेन विप्रेन्द्रा दानेन पितृतर्पणात्। भक्तितः स्नानमात्रेण पितृभिः सह मुच्यते॥

vinā śrāddhena viprendrā dānena pitṛtarpaṇāt| bhaktitaḥ snānamātreṇa pitṛbhiḥ saha mucyate||

O foremost of brahmins, even without shraddha, charity, or libations to the ancestors, merely by devoted bathing here, a man is liberated, together with his ancestors.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.462.14)

असत्यवादिनो ये च परनिन्दा परायणाः। स्नानमात्रेण शुध्यन्ति ऋषितीर्थे न संशयः॥

asatyavādino ye ca paranindā parāyaṇāḥ| snānamātreṇa śudhyanti ṛṣitīrthe na saṁśayaḥ||

Those who speak falsely and are devoted to slandering others are likewise purified merely by bathing at Rishitirtha — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.462.15)

स्नानं प्रशस्तं विषुवे मन्वादिषु तथैव च। तथा कृतयुगाद्यायां माघस्य द्विजसत्तमाः॥

snānaṁ praśastaṁ viṣuve manvādiṣu tathaiva ca| tathā kṛtayugādyāyāṁ māghasya dvijasattamāḥ||

O best of brahmins, bathing is praised at the equinox, on the Manvadi days, on the day marking the start of the Krita age, and during the month of Magha.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.462.16)

शिवरात्रौ वसेद्यस्तु लिंगे सिद्धेशसंज्ञिते। स्नात्वा ऋषिकृते तीर्थे किं तस्यान्येन वै द्विजाः। गत्वा तत्र महाभागा गृहीत्वा फलमुत्तमम्॥

śivarātrau vasedyastu liṅge siddheśasaṁjñite| snātvā ṛṣikṛte tīrthe kiṁ tasyānyena vai dvijāḥ| gatvā tatra mahābhāgā gṛhītvā phalamuttamam||

O brahmins, whoever dwells on Shivaratri near the linga called Siddhesha, and bathes at the sacred place made by the sages — what more does he need? O illustrious ones, going there and taking an excellent fruit,

Verse 17 (skanda.7.462.17)

अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा विधानेन कृत्वा च करयोः कुशान्। गृह्णंत्वर्घ्यमिमं देवा योगसिद्धा महर्षयः॥

arghyaṁ dattvā vidhānena kṛtvā ca karayoḥ kuśān| gṛhṇantvarghyamimaṁ devā yogasiddhā maharṣayaḥ||

Duly taking darbha grass in the hands, one should offer the water of welcome, saying: 'O gods, O great sages accomplished in yoga, accept this offering.'

Verse 18 (skanda.7.462.18)

ऋषितीर्थे च पापघ्ने सिद्धेश्वरसमन्विते। दत्त्वार्घ्यं मृदमालभ्य स्नानं कुर्यात्समाहितः॥

ṛṣitīrthe ca pāpaghne siddheśvarasamanvite| dattvārghyaṁ mṛdamālabhya snānaṁ kuryātsamāhitaḥ||

At Rishitirtha, destroyer of sin, together with Siddheshvara, having offered the water of welcome and applied clay, one should bathe with a focused mind.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.462.19)

तर्पयेच्च पितॄन्देवान्मनुष्यांश्च यथाक्रमम्। ततः श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत पितॄणां श्रद्धयाऽन्वितः॥

tarpayecca pitṝndevānmanuṣyāṁśca yathākramam| tataḥ śrāddhaṁ prakurvīta pitṝṇāṁ śraddhayā'nvitaḥ||

One should, in due order, offer libations to the ancestors, the gods, and humankind; then, with faith, perform the shraddha rite for the ancestors.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.462.20)

तथा च दक्षिणां दद्याद्वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः। विशेषतः प्रदेयानि फलानि रसवंति च॥

tathā ca dakṣiṇāṁ dadyādvittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ| viśeṣataḥ pradeyāni phalāni rasavaṁti ca||

And, free from any miserliness about wealth, one should give a sacrificial fee; juicy fruits especially should be given.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.462.21)

दद्याच्छयामाकनीवारान्विद्रुमं चाजिनानि च। सप्तधान्यानि शालींश्च सक्तूंश्च गुडसंयुतान्॥

dadyācchyāmākanīvārānvidrumaṁ cājināni ca| saptadhānyāni śālīṁśca saktūṁśca guḍasaṁyutān||

One should give shyamaka and nivara grains, coral, deerskins, the seven kinds of grain, rice, and roasted flour mixed with jaggery.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.462.22)

गंधमाल्यानि तांबूलं वस्त्राणि च तथा पयः। एवं कृत्वा समग्रं च कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः॥

gandhamālyāni tāmbūlaṁ vastrāṇi ca tathā payaḥ| evaṁ kṛtvā samagraṁ ca kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ||

One should give fragrant garlands, betel leaf, garments, and milk. Having thus completed everything fully, a man becomes fulfilled in all his purposes.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.462.23)

पूजयित्वा महादेवं सिद्धेश्वरमुमापतिम्। सफलं जन्म मर्त्यस्य जीवितं च सुजीवितम्॥

pūjayitvā mahādevaṁ siddheśvaramumāpatim| saphalaṁ janma martyasya jīvitaṁ ca sujīvitam||

Having worshipped the great Lord Siddheshvara, husband of Uma, a mortal's birth becomes fulfilled, and his life becomes truly worth living.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.462.24)

यः स्नात्वा ऋषितीर्थे तु पश्येत्सिद्धेश्वरं शिवम्। पितरस्तस्य तुष्यन्ति तुष्यन्ति च पितामहाः॥

yaḥ snātvā ṛṣitīrthe tu paśyetsiddheśvaraṁ śivam| pitarastasya tuṣyanti tuṣyanti ca pitāmahāḥ||

Whoever, having bathed at Rishitirtha, beholds Siddheshvara Shiva, brings satisfaction to his ancestors, and to his grandfathers as well.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.462.25)

अपुत्रा पुत्रिणः स्युस्ते पुत्रिणश्चापि पौत्रिणः। निर्धना धनवंतश्च सिद्धेश्वररता नराः॥

aputrā putriṇaḥ syuste putriṇaścāpi pautriṇaḥ| nirdhanā dhanavaṁtaśca siddheśvararatā narāḥ||

Men devoted to Siddheshvara — the childless become blessed with sons, those with sons become blessed with grandsons, and the poor become wealthy.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.462.26)

दुष्कृतं याति विलयं सुकृतं च विवर्द्धते। भवेन्मनोरथावाप्तिः प्रणते सिद्धनायके॥

duṣkṛtaṁ yāti vilayaṁ sukṛtaṁ ca vivarddhate| bhavenmanorathāvāptiḥ praṇate siddhanāyake||

Their evil deeds are destroyed and their good deeds increase; by bowing to the lord of the siddhas, one's heartfelt wishes are fulfilled.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.462.27)

ऋषितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा सिद्धेश्वरं हरम्। सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥

ṛṣitīrthe naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā siddheśvaraṁ haram| sarvānkāmānavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā||

Bathing at Rishitirtha and beholding Siddheshvara Hara, a man obtains all his desires — no doubt need be entertained about this.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.462.28)

शिवरात्र्यां विशेषेण सिद्धेशः संप्रपूजितः। यंयं कामयते कामं तं ददाति न संशयः। चिन्तामणिसमः स्वामी ह्यथवा चाक्षयो निधिः॥

śivarātryāṁ viśeṣeṇa siddheśaḥ samprapūjitaḥ| yaṁyaṁ kāmayate kāmaṁ taṁ dadāti na saṁśayaḥ| cintāmaṇisamaḥ svāmī hyathavā cākṣayo nidhiḥ||

Siddhesha, especially worshipped on Shivaratri, grants whatever desire is sought — of this there is no doubt; that lord is like the wish-fulfilling gem, or an inexhaustible treasure.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.462.29)

श्रुत्वाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं सर्वाघहरणं परम्। प्रयाति परमं स्थानं मानवः श्रद्धयान्वितः॥

śrutvādhyāyamimaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvāghaharaṇaṁ param| prayāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ mānavaḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ||

Having heard this meritorious chapter, supreme remover of all sin, a man filled with faith attains the supreme abode.