Adhyaya 231

Verse 1

श्रीसूत उवाच । तथैव तीर्थस्तबकान् वक्ष्येऽहमृषिसत्तमाः । यैस्तु तीर्थावलीगुम्फः पूर्वोक्तैरेकतः कृतः

Śrī Sūta said: In the same way, O best of sages, I shall describe the ‘clusters’ of sacred fords—by which the previously taught garland of tīrthas is woven together as a single whole.

Verse 2

विभक्तो भक्तलोकानामानन्दप्रथनः शुभः । मृकण्डतनयः पूर्वं प्राह पार्थाय पृच्छते

Auspicious and beneficent—spreading joy among the community of devotees—Mṛkaṇḍa’s son (Mārkaṇḍeya) formerly spoke these matters to Pārtha, when he inquired.

Verse 3

यथा तथाहं वक्ष्यामि तीर्थानां स्तबकानिह । शिवाम्बुपानजा पुण्या रेवा कल्पलता किल

Accordingly, I shall describe here the clusters of tīrthas. For indeed the meritorious Revā is said to be a wish-fulfilling creeper—born from the drinking of Śiva’s waters.

Verse 4

तीरद्वयोद्भूततीर्थप्रसूनैः पुष्पिता शुभा । यत्पुण्यगन्धलक्ष्म्या वै त्रैलोक्यं सुरभीकृतम्

Auspicious and radiant, she blossoms with the flowers of tīrthas that arise from both banks; by the splendor of her meritorious fragrance, the three worlds are indeed made sweet and fragrant.

Verse 5

तत्पुष्पमकरन्दस्य रसास्वादविदुत्तमः । भ्रमरः खलु मार्कण्डो मुनिर्मतिमतां वरः

Mārkaṇḍa—best among discerning sages—is indeed like a bee, supremely skilled in tasting the nectar of those flowers, the tīrthas.

Verse 6

तत्पुष्पमालां हृदये तीर्थस्तबकचित्रिताम् । दधाति सततं पुण्यां मुनिर्भृगुकुलोद्वहः । तस्याः स्तबकसंस्थानं वक्ष्येऽहमृषिसत्तमाः

That meritorious garland of flowers—adorned with clusters of tīrthas—the sage, the pride of Bhṛgu’s lineage, bears constantly in his heart. O best of sages, I shall now describe the arrangement of those clusters.

Verse 7

ओङ्कारतीर्थमारभ्य यावत्पश्चिमसागरम् । संगमाः पञ्चत्रिंशद्वै नदीनां पापनाशनाः

Beginning from Oṅkāra-tīrtha and extending up to the Western Ocean, there are indeed thirty-five river-confluences (saṅgamas) that destroy sins.

Verse 8

दशैकमुत्तरे तीरे सत्रिविंशति दक्षिणे । पञ्चत्रिंशत्तमः श्रेष्ठो रेवासागरसङ्गमः

On the northern bank there are eleven (saṅgamas), and on the southern bank there are twenty-seven; the thirty-fifth and best is the confluence of the Revā with the Ocean.

Verse 9

सङ्गमः सहितान्येवं रेवातीरद्वयेऽपि च । चतुःशतानि तीर्थानि प्रसिद्धानि द्विजोत्तमाः

Thus, including the confluences, on both banks of the Revā there are four hundred renowned tīrthas, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 10

त्रिशतं शिवतीर्थानि त्रयीस्त्रिंशत्समन्वितम् । तत्रापि व्यक्तितो वक्ष्ये शृणुध्वं तानि सत्तमाः

Three hundred are the Śiva-tīrthas, together with thirty-three more; even among them I shall speak of each distinctly—listen, O best of the noble.

Verse 11

मार्कण्डेश्वरतीर्थानि दश तेषु मुनीश्वराः । दशादित्यभवान्यत्र नवैव कपिलेश्वराः

Among them are ten Mārkaṇḍeśvara-tīrthas, O lords of sages; here are ten sites pertaining to Āditya, and nine Kapileśvaras.

Verse 12

सोमसंस्थापितान्यष्टौ तावन्तो नर्मदेश्वराः । कोटितीर्थान्यथाष्टौ च सप्त सिद्धेश्वरास्तथा

Eight were established by Soma, and likewise there are eight Narmadeśvaras. Then there are eight Koṭi-tīrthas, and also seven Siddheśvaras.

Verse 13

नागेश्वराश्च सप्तैव रेवातीरद्वयेऽपि तु । सप्तैव वह्निविहितान्यथाप्यावर्तसप्तकम्

There are also seven Nāgeśvaras on both banks of the Revā. Seven too were established by Vahni, the Fire, and likewise there is the sevenfold set of Āvarta, the sacred whirlpool-sites.

Verse 14

केदारेश्वरतीर्थानि पञ्च पञ्चेन्द्रजानि च । वरुणेशाश्च पञ्चैव पञ्चैव धनदेश्वराः

Five are the Kedāreśvara-tīrthas, and five are born of Indra; five too are Varuṇeśas, and five likewise are Dhanadeśvaras.

Verse 15

देवतीर्थानि पञ्चैव चत्वारो वै यमेश्वराः । वैद्यनाथाश्च चत्वारश्चत्वारो वानरेश्वराः

Five are the Deva-tīrthas; indeed there are four Yameśvaras; four are the Vaidyanāthas, and four are the Vānareśvaras.

Verse 16

अङ्गारेश्वरतीर्थानि तावन्त्येव मुनीश्वराः । सारस्वतानि चत्वारि चत्वारो दारुकेश्वराः

The Aṅgāreśvara-tīrthas are of the same number, O lords of sages; there are four Sārasvata tīrthas, and four Dārukeśvaras.

Verse 17

गौतमेश्वरतीर्थानि त्रीणि रामेश्वरास्त्रयः । कपालेश्वरतीर्थानि त्रीणि हंसकृतानि च

The sage declared: there are three sacred fords known as Gautameśvara; three shrines of Rāmeśvara; three tīrthas of Kapāleśvara; and also three holy places established by Haṃsa, the divine Swan.

Verse 18

त्रीण्येव मोक्षतीर्थानि त्रयो वै विमलेश्वराः । सहस्रयज्ञतीर्थानि त्रीण्येव मुनिरब्रवीत्

The sage said: there are precisely three tīrthas famed for granting liberation; and indeed three shrines of Vimaleśvara. Likewise, he declared that there are exactly three tīrthas known as Sahasra-yajña, the “Thousand Sacrifices”.

Verse 19

भीमेश्वरास्त्रयः ख्याताः स्वर्णतीर्थानि त्रीणि च । धौतपापद्वयं प्रोक्तं करञ्जेशद्वयं तथा

Three Bhīmeśvara shrines are renowned; and there are three Svarṇa-tīrthas as well. Also spoken of are two sites called Dhautapāpa, the “Washer of Sin,” and likewise two shrines of Karañjeśa.

Verse 20

ऋणमोचनतीर्थे द्वे तथा स्कन्देश्वरद्वयम् । दशाश्वमेधतीर्थे द्वे नन्दीतीर्थद्वयं द्विजाः

O twice-born ones, there are two Ṛṇamocana-tīrthas that release one from debt, and likewise two shrines of Skandeśvara. There are two Daśāśvamedha-tīrthas, and also a pair of Nandī-tīrthas, O dvijas.

Verse 21

मन्मथेशद्वयं चैव भृगुतीर्थद्वयं तथा । पराशरेश्वरौ द्वौ च अयोनीसंभवद्वयम्

There is also a pair of Manmatheśa shrines, and likewise a pair of Bhṛgu-tīrthas. Two shrines of Parāśareśvara are mentioned, and also the pair called Ayonīsaṃbhava, “born without a womb.”

Verse 22

व्यासेश्वरद्वयं प्रोक्तं पितृतीर्थद्वयं तथा । नन्दिकेश्वरतीर्थे द्वे द्वौ च गोपेश्वरौ स्मृतौ

A pair of Vyāseśvara shrines is spoken of, and likewise a pair of Pitṛ-tīrthas, sacred fords of the Ancestors. There are two Nandikeśvara-tīrthas, and two Gopeśvara shrines are also remembered.

Verse 23

मारुतेशद्वयं तद्वद्द्वौ च ज्वालेश्वरौ स्मृतौ । शुक्लतीर्थद्वयं पुण्यमप्सरेशद्वयं तथा

In the same manner, there is a pair of Māruteśa shrines, and two Jvāleśvara shrines are remembered. The pair of Śukla-tīrthas is holy and meritorious, and likewise the pair of Apsareśa shrines.

Verse 24

पिप्पलेश्वरतीर्थे द्वे माण्डव्येश्वरसंज्ञिते । द्वीपेश्वरद्वयं चैव प्राह तद्वद्भृगूद्वहः । उत्तरेश्वरतीर्थे द्वे अशोकेशद्वयी तथा

There are two Pippaleśvara-tīrthas, known by the name Māṇḍavyeśvara. The eminent scion of Bhṛgu likewise declared a pair of Dvīpeśvara shrines. In the same way, there are two Uttareśvara-tīrthas, and also a pair of Aśokeśa shrines.

Verse 25

द्वे योधनपुरे चैव रोहिणीतीर्थकद्वयम् । लुङ्केश्वरद्वयं ख्यातमाख्यानं मुनिना तथा

There are also two (tīrthas) in Yodhanapura, and a pair of Rohiṇī-tīrthas. The pair of Luṅkeśvara shrines is renowned—so declares the sage’s narration.

Verse 26

सैकोनविंशतिशतं तीर्थान्येकैकशो द्विजाः । स्तबकेषु कृतं तीर्थं द्विशतं सचतुर्दशम्

O twice-born ones, there are one hundred and nineteen tīrthas, counted one by one. And in the ‘clusters’ (stabakas), the tīrthas established amount to two hundred and fourteen.

Verse 27

शैवान्येतानि तीर्थानि वैष्णवानि च सत्तमाः । शृणुध्वं प्रोच्यमानानि ब्राह्मशाक्तानि च क्रमात्

These are the Śaiva sacred fords, and also the Vaiṣṇava ones, O best among the virtuous. Now listen in order as the Brāhma (of Brahmā) and Śākta (of the Goddess) tīrthas are being described.

Verse 28

अष्टविंशतितीर्थानि वैष्णवान्यब्रवीन्मुनिः । तेषु वाराहतीर्थानि षडेव मुनिसत्तमाः

The sage declared that there are twenty-eight Vaiṣṇava tīrthas. Among them, O best of sages, six are specifically Varāha-tīrthas.

Verse 29

चत्वारि चक्रतीर्थानि शेषाण्यष्टादशैव हि । विष्णुनाधिष्ठितान्येव प्राह पूर्वं मृकण्डजः

Four are the Cakra-tīrthas; the remaining, indeed, are eighteen. All of them are presided over by Viṣṇu—so Mṛkaṇḍaja (Mārkaṇḍeya) had earlier declared.

Verse 30

तथैव ब्रह्मणा सिद्ध्यै सप्ततीर्थान्यवीवदत् । त्रिषु च ब्रह्मणः पूजा ब्रह्मेशाश्चतुरोऽपरे । अष्टाविंशन्मया ख्याता यथासङ्ख्यं यथाक्रमम्

Likewise, for the attainment of Brahmā’s siddhi, he set forth seven tīrthas. At three, worship of Brahmā is performed; and four others are Brahmeśa-tīrthas. Thus, twenty-eight have been described by me—according to their number and in proper sequence.

Verse 31

एतत्पवित्रमतुलं ह्येतत्पापहरं परम् । नर्मदाचरितं पुण्यं माहात्म्यं मुनिभाषितम्

This is incomparable in purity; this is supreme in removing sin. This holy account of the Narmadā—this Māhātmya—has been spoken by the sage.

Verse 32

सूत उवाच । एवमुद्देशतः प्रोक्तो रेवातीर्थक्रमो मया । यथा पार्थाय संक्षेपान्मार्कण्डो मुनिरब्रवीत्

Sūta said: Thus, in brief outline, the sequence of the Revā tīrthas has been stated by me—just as the sage Mārkaṇḍa once told it concisely to Pārtha (Arjuna).

Verse 33

अवान्तराणि तीर्थानि तेषु गुप्तान्यनेकशः । यत्र यावत्प्रमाणानि तान्याकर्णयतानघाः

Within them are subsidiary tīrthas, many of them hidden. Hear now, O sinless ones, where they are and to what extent their sacred range is measured.

Verse 34

ओङ्कारतीर्थपरितः पर्वतादमरकण्टात् । क्रोशद्वये सर्वदिक्षु सार्धकोटीत्रयी मता

All around Oṅkāra-tīrtha, from the mountain of Amarakāṇṭa, within a radius of two krośas in every direction, the sacred count is held to be three and a half crores (of tīrthas).

Verse 35

तीर्थानां संख्यया गुप्तप्रकटानां द्विजोत्तमाः । कोटिरेका तु तीर्थानां कपिलासङ्गमे पृथक्

By the count of tīrthas—both hidden and manifest—O best of the twice-born: at Kapilā-saṅgama alone, the tīrthas are a crore plus one, reckoned separately.

Verse 36

अशोकवनिकायाश्च तीर्थं लक्षं प्रतिष्ठितम् । शतमं गारगर्तायाः सङ्गमे मुनिसत्तमाः

At the Aśoka-grove too, a hundred thousand tīrthas are established. And at the confluence of the Gāragartā, O best of sages, there are a hundred (tīrthas).

Verse 37

तीर्थानामयुतं तद्वत्कुब्जायाः सङ्गमे स्थितम् । शतं हिरण्यगर्भायाः सङ्गमे समवस्थितम्

At the confluence of Kubjā likewise abides a multitude of sacred tīrthas—ten thousand in number; and at the confluence called Hiraṇyagarbhā, a hundred tīrthas are said to be firmly established.

Verse 38

तीर्थानामष्टषष्टिश्च विशोकासङ्गमे स्थिता । तथा सहस्रं तीर्थानां संस्थितं वागुसङ्गमे

At the Viśokā confluence there are sixty-eight sacred tīrthas; and likewise, at the Vāgu confluence, a thousand tīrthas are declared to be established.

Verse 39

शतं सरस्वतीसङ्गे शुक्लतीर्थे शतद्वयम् । सहस्रं विष्णुतीर्थेषु महिष्मत्यामथायुतम्

At the Sarasvatī confluence there are a hundred tīrthas; at Śukla-tīrtha, two hundred. In the Viṣṇu-tīrthas there are a thousand; and at Mahīṣmatī, ten thousand more.

Verse 40

शूलभेदे च तीर्थानां साग्रं लक्षं स्थितं द्विजाः । देवग्रामे सहस्रं च तीर्थानां मुनिरब्रवीत्

O brāhmaṇas, at Śūlabheda there abide a hundred thousand tīrthas and more; and at Devagrāma, the sage declared that a thousand tīrthas are established.

Verse 41

लुङ्केश्वरे च तीर्थानां साग्रा सप्तशती स्थिता । तीर्थान्यष्टोत्तरशतं मणिनद्याश्च सङ्गमे । वैद्यनाथे च तीर्थानां शतमष्टाधिकं विदुः

At Luṅkeśvara there abide seven hundred tīrthas and more. At the confluence of the Maṇinadī there are one hundred and eight tīrthas. And at Vaidyanātha, they know that the tīrthas number one hundred and eight.

Verse 42

एवं तावत्प्रमाणानि तीर्थे कुम्भेश्वरे द्विजाः । साग्रं लक्षं च तीर्थानां स्थितं रेवोरसङ्गमे

Thus far are the measures (counts) at the tīrtha of Kumbheśvara, O brāhmaṇas. And at the Revora confluence there abide a hundred thousand tīrthas and more.

Verse 43

ततश्चाप्यधिकानि स्युरिति मार्कण्डभाषितम् । अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि व्यासद्वीपाश्रितानि च

And beyond these there are said to be still more—so spoke Mārkaṇḍeya. Eighty-eight thousand (tīrthas) are also stated to be associated with Vyāsa-dvīpa.

Verse 44

सङ्गमे च करञ्जायाः स्थितमष्टोत्तरायुतम् । एरण्डीसङ्गमे तद्वत्तीर्थान्यष्टाधिकं शतम्

At the Karañjā confluence there abide ten thousand and eight tīrthas; and at the Eraṇḍī confluence likewise there are one hundred and eight tīrthas.

Verse 45

धूतपापे च तीर्थानां षष्टिरष्टाधिका स्थिता । स्कन्दतीर्थे शतं पुण्यं तीर्थानां मुनिरुक्तवान्

At Dhūtapāpa, sixty-eight tīrthas are established. And at Skanda-tīrtha, the sage has declared a sacred hundred tīrthas to be present.

Verse 46

कोहनेश च तीर्थानां षष्टिरष्टाधिका स्थिता । सार्धकोटी च तीर्थानां स्थिता वै कोरिलापुरे

At Kohaneśa, sixty-eight tīrthas are established. And at Korilāpura, indeed, a crore and a half of tīrthas are said to abide.

Verse 47

रामकेशवतीर्थे च सहस्रं साग्रमुक्तवान् । अस्माहके सहस्रं च तीर्थानि निवसन्ति हि

He declared that at Rāmakeśava-tīrtha there are a thousand tīrthas and more; and indeed, at Asmāhaka too, a thousand sacred fords abide.

Verse 48

लक्षाष्टकं सहस्रे द्वे शुक्लतीर्थे द्विजोत्तमाः । तीर्थानि कथयामास पुरा पार्थाय भार्गवः

O best of the twice-born, at Śukla-tīrtha Bhārgava long ago described to Pārtha the holy fords—eight lakhs and also two thousand.

Verse 49

शतमष्टाधिकं प्राह प्रत्येकं सङ्गमेषु च । नदीनामवशिष्टानां कावेरीसङ्गमं विना

He stated that at each confluence there are one hundred and eight tīrthas for the remaining rivers—except at the confluence of the Kāverī.

Verse 50

कावेर्याः सङ्गमे विप्राः स्थिता पञ्चशती तथा । तीर्थानां पर्वसु तथा विशेषो मुनिनोदितः

At the confluence of the Kāverī, O brāhmaṇas, five hundred tīrthas are established. Likewise, the sage has proclaimed special distinctions of the tīrthas on festival-days and sacred occasions.

Verse 51

मोक्षतीर्थं हि सत्प्राहुः पुराणपुरुषाश्रितम् । भृगोः क्षेत्रे च तीर्थानां कोटिरेका समाश्रिता

The righteous call it “Mokṣa-tīrtha,” for it is sheltered by the Primordial Puruṣa. And in Bhṛgu’s sacred region, a crore and one tīrthas are said to be established.

Verse 52

साधिकानामृषिश्रेष्ठा वक्तुं शक्तो हि को भवेत् । सर्वामराश्रयं प्रोक्तं सर्वतीर्थाश्रयं तथा

O best of sages, who could truly describe them in full? This region is declared a refuge of all the devas, and likewise a refuge of all tīrthas.

Verse 53

त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं पूजितं सिद्धिसाधनम् । भारभूत्यां च तीर्थानां स्थितमष्टोत्तरं शतम्

Renowned throughout the three worlds, worshipped, and a means to attain siddhi—at Bhārabhūti too, one hundred and eight tīrthas are established.

Verse 54

अक्रूरेश्वरतीर्थे च सार्धं तीर्थशतं स्थितम् । विमलेश्वरतीर्थे तु रेवासागरसङ्गमे । दशायुतानि तीर्थानां साधिकान्यब्रवीन्मुनिः

At Akrūreśvara-tīrtha, a hundred and a half tīrthas are established. But at Vimaleśvara-tīrtha, at the confluence of the Revā with the ocean, the sage declared ten thousand tīrthas—and more besides.

Verse 231

अध्याय

The Sacred Chapter