Adhyaya 219
This chapter records Mārkaṇḍeya’s theological teaching on Koṭīśvara, the foremost tīrtha on the southern bank of the Narmadā. Its central doctrine is ritual efficacy: bathing (snāna), gifting (dāna), and indeed any deed performed there—auspicious or inauspicious—is said to become “koṭi-guṇa,” multiplied a koṭi-fold, by a crore. Koṭitīrtha’s authority is affirmed through sacred precedents: devas, gandharvas, and purified ṛṣis are said to have attained rare siddhis at this place. The site is further established as a Śaiva center, for Mahādeva abides there as Koṭīśvara; mere darśana of the “deva-deveśa” is praised as a means to unsurpassed attainment. Finally, the chapter sets forth a directional ritual geography: ascetics on the southern route are linked with pitṛloka, while exemplary sages on the northern bank of the Narmadā are linked with devaloka, as determined by śāstra. Thus it weaves together tīrtha-glorification, the ethics of action-in-place, and a structured riverbank cosmology.
Shlokas
Verse 1
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच । नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले तीर्थं कोटीश्वरं परम् । यत्र स्नानं च दानं च सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: On the southern bank of the Narmadā is the supreme tīrtha called Koṭīśvara. There, bathing and charity—indeed every act—become a millionfold in merit.
Verse 2
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयो ये तथामलाः । कोटितीर्थे परां सिद्धिं सम्प्राप्ता भुवि दुर्लभाम्
There, the gods with the Gandharvas, and sages who are likewise stainless, attained the highest perfection at Koṭitīrtha—rare to obtain in the world.
Verse 3
स्थापितश्च महादेवस्तत्र कोटीश्वरो नृप । तं दृष्ट्वा देवदेवेशं सिद्धिं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमाम्
O King, there Mahādeva has been installed as Koṭīśvara. By beholding that Lord of the gods, one attains unsurpassed siddhi, the highest perfection.
Verse 4
तत्र तीर्थे तु यत्किंचिच्छुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् । क्रियते तन्नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्
At that tīrtha, O best of kings, whatever is done—auspicious or inauspicious—everything yields a result multiplied a koṭi-fold.
Verse 5
तत्र दक्षिणमार्गस्था ये केचिन्मुनिसत्तमाः । सिद्धा मृताः पदं यान्ति पितृलोकं ध्रुवं हि ते
There, the best of sages who abide on the southern course, accomplished as siddhas, when they depart the body surely attain their destined state: Pitṛloka, the world of the Ancestors.
Verse 6
उत्तरं नर्मदाकूलं ये श्रेष्ठा मुनिपुंगवाः । देवलोकं गताः पूर्वमिति शास्त्रस्य निश्चयः
Those foremost sages who dwell upon the northern bank of the Narmadā are said to attain Devaloka, the world of the gods, first—this is the settled conclusion of the śāstra.