Adhyaya 42

Verse 1

श्रीसूत उवाच । अथातः सर्वतीर्थानां वैभवं प्रवदाम्यहम् । सेतुमध्यनिविष्टानामनुक्तानां मुनीश्वराः

Śrī Sūta said: Now, O lords among sages, I shall proclaim the glory of all the sacred fords—the tīrthas situated in the midst of the Setu—which have not yet been described.

Verse 2

अस्ति तीर्थं महापुण्यं नाम्ना तु ऋणमोचनम् । ऋणानि त्रीणि नश्यंति नराणामत्र मज्जनात्

There is a supremely meritorious sacred ford called Ṛṇamocana, the Releaser from Debts. By immersion here, the three debts borne by human beings are destroyed.

Verse 3

द्विजस्य जायमानस्य ऋणानि त्रीणि संति हि । ऋषीणां देवतानां च पितॄणां च द्विजोत्तमाः

Indeed, from the very birth of a twice-born, three debts exist: to the Ṛṣis, to the Deities, and to the Pitṛs, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 4

ब्रह्मचर्याननुष्ठानादृषीणामृणवान्भवेत् । यज्ञादीनामकरणाद्देवानां च ऋणी भवेत्

By failing to undertake brahmacarya, one becomes indebted to the Ṛṣis; and by not performing sacrifices and related rites, one becomes indebted to the Deities as well.

Verse 5

पुत्रानुत्पादनाच्चैव पितृणामृणवान्भवेत् । विनापि ब्रह्मचर्येण विना यागं विना सुतम्

And by not begetting a son, one becomes indebted to the Pitṛs. Even without brahmacarya, without sacrifice, and without offspring—the burden of debt remains.

Verse 6

ऋणमोक्षाभिधे तीर्थे स्नानमात्रेण मानवाः । ऋषिदेवपितॄणां तु ऋणेभ्यो मुक्तिमाप्नुयुः

At the tīrtha called ‘Ṛṇamokṣa’, by bathing alone, people attain release from the debts owed to the Ṛṣis, the Deities, and the Pitṛs.

Verse 7

ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञेन तथा पुत्रोद्भवेन च । नैव तुष्यन्ति ऋषयो देवाः पितृगणास्तथा

Even by brahmacarya, by sacrifice, and by the begetting of a son, the Ṛṣis, the Deities, and likewise the hosts of Pitṛs are not so satisfied (as by the power of this tīrtha).

Verse 8

ऋणमोक्षे यथा स्नानादतुलां तुष्टिमाप्नुयुः । किं चात्र मज्जनात्तीर्थे दरिद्रा अधमर्णिनः

Just as, by bathing at Ṛṇamokṣa, they attain incomparable contentment—what then need be said of immersion in this sacred tīrtha, even for the poor and for those burdened with lowly debts?

Verse 9

मुक्ता ऋणेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो धनिनः स्युर्न संशयः । यदत्र मज्जनात्पुंसामृणमुक्तिः प्रजायते

Freed from every kind of debt, people become truly prosperous—of this there is no doubt—because by bathing here, release from indebtedness arises for men.

Verse 10

तस्मादुक्तमिदं तीर्थमृणमोचनसंज्ञया । अतोऽत्र ऋणिभिः सर्वैः स्नातव्यं तद्विमुक्तये

Therefore this sacred ford is spoken of by the name “Ṛṇamocana” (Debt-Release). Hence, all who are burdened with debts should bathe here in order to be freed from them.

Verse 11

एतत्तीर्थसमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति । पांडवैः कृतमप्यत्र तीर्थमस्त्यपरं महत्

No pilgrimage-place equal to this tīrtha has existed, nor will one arise in the future. And here too there is another great tīrtha, established by the Pāṇḍavas.

Verse 12

यत्रेष्टं धर्मपुत्राद्यैः पांडवैः पंचभिः पुरा । तदेतत्तीर्थमुद्दिश्य भुक्तिमुक्ति फलप्रदम्

Where, in ancient times, the five Pāṇḍavas—beginning with Dharmaputra—performed sacrifice, that very tīrtha, when visited with intent, bestows the fruits of worldly enjoyment and final liberation.

Verse 13

दशकोटिसहस्राणि तीर्थान्यनुत्तमानि हि । पंचपांडवतीर्थेस्मिन्सान्निध्यं कुर्वते सदा

Indeed, tens of millions of unsurpassed tīrthas ever maintain their presence in this Pañca-Pāṇḍava Tīrtha.

Verse 14

आदित्पा वसवो रुद्राः साध्याश्च समरुद्गणाः । पांडवानां महातीर्थे नित्यं सन्निहितास्तथा

The Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Sādhyas—together with the hosts of Maruts—are likewise ever present at the great tīrtha of the Pāṇḍavas.

Verse 15

अत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्पितृदेवांश्च तर्पयेत् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्म लोके स पूज्यते

Whoever performs ablution here and offers libations (tarpaṇa) to the Fathers and the Gods becomes freed from all sins, and in the world of Brahmā he is honored.

Verse 16

अप्येकं भोजयेद्विप्रमेतत्तीर्थतटेऽमले । तेनासौ कर्मणा त्वत्र परत्रापि च मोदते

Even if one feeds just a single brāhmaṇa on the pure bank of this tīrtha, by that very act one rejoices both in this world and in the next.

Verse 17

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वाप्यन्य एव वा । अस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे स्नात्वा वियोनिं न प्रयाति वै

Whether brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, or anyone else—having bathed in this excellent tīrtha, one does not fall into an inferior birth.

Verse 18

पांडवानां महातीर्थे पुण्ययोगेषु यो नरः । स्नायात्स मनुज श्रेष्ठो नरकं नैव पश्यति

He who bathes at the great tīrtha of the Pāṇḍavas on auspicious holy occasions becomes the best among men and never beholds hell.

Verse 19

पांडवानां महातीर्थं सायं प्रातश्च यः स्मरेत् । स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु गंगादिषु न संशयः

Whoever remembers, evening and morning, the great tīrtha associated with the Pāṇḍavas is indeed regarded as having bathed in all holy places, beginning with the Gaṅgā; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 20

इंद्रादिदेवता भिश्च यत्रेष्टं दैत्यशांतये । तदन्यद्देवतीर्थाख्यं विद्यते गंधमादने

That other place—known as Devatīrtha—is found on Gandhamādana, where Indra and the other deities performed worship for the pacification of the Daityas.

Verse 21

देवतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा सर्वपापविमोचितः । प्राप्नुयादक्षयांल्लोकान्सर्व कामसमन्वितान्

Having bathed at Devatīrtha, a person is freed from all sins and attains imperishable worlds, endowed with every desired fulfillment.

Verse 22

जन्मप्रभृति यत्पापं स्त्रिया वा पुरुषेण वा । कृतं तद्देवकुंडेस्मिन्स्नानात्सद्यो विनश्यति

Whatever sin has been committed from birth—by woman or by man—at once perishes through bathing in this Devakuṇḍa.

Verse 23

यथा सुराणां सर्वेषा मादिर्वै मधुसूदनः । तथादिः सर्वतीर्थानां देवकुंडमनुत्तमम्

Just as Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) is truly the first among all the gods, so Devakuṇḍa—unsurpassed—is foremost among all tīrthas.

Verse 24

यस्तु वर्षशतं पूर्णमग्निहोत्रमुपासते । यस्त्वेको देवकुंडेस्मिन्कदाचित्स्नान माचरेत्

One may maintain the Agnihotra for a full hundred years; another, even once, may perform a sacred bath in this Devakuṇḍa—

Verse 25

सममेव तयोः पुण्यं नात्र संदेहकारणम् । दुर्लभं देवतीर्थेस्मिन्दानं वासश्च दुर्लभः

The merit of those two is exactly the same—there is no cause for doubt here. In this Devatīrtha, charity (dāna) is rare indeed, and residence there is rare as well.

Verse 26

देवतीर्थाभिगमनं स्नानं चाप्य तिदुर्लभम् । देवतीर्थं समासाद्य देवर्षिपितृसेवितम्

Approaching Devatīrtha—and bathing there too—is exceedingly rare. Having reached Devatīrtha, which is served by gods, sages (ṛṣis), and ancestors,

Verse 27

अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति । द्विदिनं त्रिदिनं चापि पंच वाथ षडेव वा

He attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha and goes to Viṣṇu’s world—whether he stays for two days, or three, or even five, or six.

Verse 28

उषित्वा देवकुंडस्थतीरे नरकनाशने । न मातृयोनिमाप्नोति सिद्धिं चाप्नोत्यनुत्तमाम्

Having dwelt on the bank of Devakuṇḍa—the destroyer of hellish states—one does not enter a mother’s womb again, and one attains unsurpassed siddhi.

Verse 29

त्रिरात्रस्नानतो ह्यत्र वाजपेयफलं भवेत् । देवतीर्थस्मृतेः सद्यः पापेभ्यो मुच्यते नरः

By bathing here for three nights, one gains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice; and merely by remembering Devatīrtha, a person is immediately freed from sins.

Verse 30

अर्चयित्वा पितॄन्देवानेतत्तीर्थतटे नरः । सर्वकामसमृद्धिः स्यात्सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्

Having worshipped the ancestors and the gods on the bank of this sacred ford, one attains fulfillment of all desired aims and gains the fruit of all sacrifices.

Verse 31

एतत्तीर्थसमं पुण्यं न भूतं न भविष्यति । तस्मादवश्यं स्नातव्यं देवतीर्थे मुमुक्षुभिः

No merit equal to this sacred ford has existed in the past, nor will it exist in the future; therefore seekers of liberation should certainly bathe at Devatīrtha.

Verse 32

ऐहिकामुष्मिकफलप्राप्तिकामैश्च मानवैः । देवतीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं संक्षिप्य कथितं द्विजाः

O brāhmaṇas, for people who desire the fruits of this world and the next, the greatness of Devatīrtha has been told here in brief.

Verse 33

विस्तरेणास्य माहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न पार्य्यते । सुग्रीवतीर्थं वक्ष्यामि रामसेतौ विमुक्तिदे

I am not able to recount this glory in full detail. Now I shall describe Sugrīvatīrtha upon Rāma’s Setu, the bestower of liberation.

Verse 34

अत्र स्नात्वा नरो भक्त्या सूर्यलोकं समश्नुते । सुग्रीवतीर्थे स्नानेन हयमेधफलं भवेत्

By bathing here with devotion, a person attains the world of Sūrya. By bathing at Sugrīvatīrtha, one gains the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 35

ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानां निष्कृतिश्चापि जायते । सुग्रीवतीर्थगमनाद्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

Expiation arises even for sins such as brahmin-slaying. By going to Sugrīvatīrtha, one obtains the merit of gifting a thousand cows.

Verse 36

स्मरणात्तस्य वेदानां पारायणफलं लभेत् । दिनोपवासमात्रेण तस्य तीर्थस्य तीरतः

By remembering that tīrtha, one gains the fruit of reciting the Vedas. And by fasting for just one day on the bank of that sacred ford, the same merit accrues.

Verse 37

महापात कनाशः स्यात्प्रायश्चित्तं विना द्विजाः । तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वाणः पितृदेवांश्च तर्पयेत्

O brāhmaṇas, great sins are destroyed even without separate penances. There, performing the ritual ablution (abhiṣeka), one should also satisfy the ancestors and the gods with offerings of water.

Verse 39

आप्तोर्यामस्य यज्ञस्य फलमष्टगुणं भवेत् । सुग्रीवतीर्थस्नानेन नरमेधफलं लभेत

The fruit of the Āptoryāma sacrifice becomes eightfold. By bathing at Sugrīvatīrtha, one obtains the fruit of the Naramedha sacrifice.

Verse 40

सुग्रीवतीर्थमा हात्म्यमेवं वः कथितं द्विजाः । वैभवं नलतीर्थस्य त्विदानीं प्रब्रवीमि वः

Thus, O twice-born ones, I have told you the greatness of Sugrīva-tīrtha. Now I shall declare to you the splendid glory of Nala-tīrtha.

Verse 41

नलतीर्थे नरः स्नानात्स्वर्गलोकं समश्नुते । नलतीर्थे सकृत्सनानात्सर्वपापाविमोचितः

By bathing at Nala-tīrtha, a person attains the heavenly worlds. By bathing there even once, one is freed from all sins.

Verse 42

अग्निष्टोमातिरात्रादिफलमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम् । त्रिरात्रमुषितस्तस्मिंस्तर्पयन्पितृदेवताः

One gains the unsurpassed fruit of sacrifices such as the Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra. Having stayed there for three nights and offering tarpaṇa to the Fathers and the gods, one attains that merit.

Verse 43

सूर्यवद्भासते विप्रा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् । नीलतीर्थं प्रवक्ष्यामि महापातकनाशनम्

It shines like the Sun, O brāhmaṇas; one obtains the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. Now I shall describe Nīla-tīrtha, the destroyer of great sins.

Verse 44

अग्निपुत्रेण नीलेन कृतं सेतौ विमुक्तिदम् । नीलतीर्थे नरः स्नानात्सर्वपापविमोचितः

Made at Setu by Nīla, the son of Agni, it bestows liberation. By bathing at Nīla-tīrtha, a person is freed from all sins.

Verse 45

बहुवर्ण्यस्य यागस्य फलं शतगुणं लभेत् । नीलतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा सर्वा भीष्टप्रदायिनि

One would obtain a hundredfold the fruit of a richly praised sacrifice. Having bathed at Nīla-tīrtha—the bestower of every desired boon—one gains such merit.

Verse 46

अग्निलोकमवाप्नोति सर्वकामसमृद्धिमान् । गवाक्षेण कृतं तीर्थं गंधमादनपर्वते

He attains the world of Agni and becomes endowed with the prosperity of all desired aims. There is a tīrtha established by Gavākṣa on Mount Gandhamādana.

Verse 47

विद्यते स्नानमात्रेण नरकं नैव याति सः । अगदेन कृतं तीर्थमस्ति सेतौ विमुक्तिदे

By the mere act of bathing, he does not go to hell. There is a tīrtha at Setu, established by Agada, which bestows liberation.

Verse 48

अत्र स्नानेन मनुजो देवेंद्रत्वं समश्नुते । गजेन गवयेनात्र शरभेण महौजसा

By bathing here, a human being attains the status of Indra among the gods. Here tīrthas were established by Gaja, by Gavaya, and by the mighty Śarabha.

Verse 49

कुमुदेन हरेणापि पनसेन बलीयसा । कृतानि यानि तीर्थानि तथाऽन्यैः सर्ववानरैः

And the tīrthas established by Kumuda, by Hara as well, by the mighty Panasa, and likewise by all the other vānara heroes—these too are to be revered and remembered as sacred.

Verse 50

रामसेतौ महापुण्ये गन्धमादनपर्वते । तेषु तीर्थेषु यः स्नाति सोऽमृतत्वं समश्नुते

On the supremely meritorious Rāma-setu, on Gandhamādana Mountain—whoever bathes in those tīrthas attains immortality, that is, liberation.

Verse 51

विभीषणकृतं तीर्थमस्ति पापविमोचनम् । महादुःखप्रशमनं महारोगनिबर्हणम्

There is a tīrtha established by Vibhīṣaṇa: it frees one from sins, soothes great sorrow, and drives away grievous diseases.

Verse 52

महापातकसंघानामनलोपममुत्तमम् । कुंभीपाकादिनरकक्लेशनाशनकारणम्

It is supreme—like fire against masses of great sins—and becomes the cause for destroying the torments of hells such as Kumbhīpāka.

Verse 53

दुःस्वप्र नाशनं धन्यं महादारिद्र्यबाधनम् । तत्र यो मनुजः स्नायात्तस्य नास्तीह पातकम्

Auspicious and blessed, it destroys evil dreams and checks crushing poverty. Whoever bathes there has no sin remaining in this very life.

Verse 54

स वैकुंठमवाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम् । विभीषणस्य सचिवैः कृतं तीर्थचतुष्टयम्

He attains Vaikuṇṭha, free from return (rebirth). A set of four tīrthas was established by the ministers of Vibhīṣaṇa.

Verse 55

तत्र स्नानेन मनुजः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । सरयूश्च नदी विप्रा गंधमादनपर्वते

By bathing there, a person is freed from all sins. O brāhmaṇa lady, the river Sarayū too is present on Gandhamādana Mountain.

Verse 56

रामनाथं महादेवं सेवितुं वर्तते सदा । तत्र स्नात्वा नराः सर्वे सर्वपातकवर्जिताः

Rāmanātha Mahādeva is ever present there to be worshipped. Having bathed there, all people become free from every sin.

Verse 57

सर्वयज्ञतपस्तीर्थसेवाफलमवाप्नुयुः । दशकोटिसहस्राणि तीर्थानि द्विजसत्तमाः

O best of the twice-born, one gains the fruit of all sacrifices, austerities, and tīrtha-service. Here are tens of thousands of crores of tīrthas, O excellent brāhmaṇas.

Verse 58

वसंत्यस्मिन्महापुण्ये गन्धमादनपर्वते । गंगाद्याः सरितः सर्वास्तथा वै सप्तसागराः

On this supremely holy Gandhamādana Mountain dwell all rivers beginning with the Gaṅgā—and likewise, indeed, the seven oceans.

Verse 59

ऋष्याश्रमाणि पुण्यानि तथा पुण्यवनानि च । अनुत्तमानि क्षेत्राणि हीरशंकरयोस्तथा

There are holy hermitages of the ṛṣis, and sacred forests as well; there are also unsurpassed holy fields (kṣetras)—likewise those connected with Hīra and Śaṅkara.

Verse 60

सान्निध्यं कुर्वते नित्यं गन्धमादनपर्वते । उपवीतांतरं तीर्थं प्रोक्तवांश्चतुराननः

At Gandhamādana Mountain, the Lord ever maintains His constant presence. And the sacred ford named Upavītāntara has been proclaimed by the Four-faced (Brahmā).

Verse 61

त्रयस्त्रिंशत्कोट्योऽत्र देवाः पितृगणैः सह । सर्वैश्च मुनिभिः सार्द्धं यक्षैः सिद्धैश्च किन्नरैः । वसंति सेतौ देवस्य रामच न्द्रस्य चाज्ञया

Here, the thirty-three crore gods dwell together with the hosts of the Pitṛs; along with all the sages, and with Yakṣas, Siddhas, and Kinnaras, they abide on the Setu by the command of the divine Rāmacandra.

Verse 62

श्रीसूत उवाच । एवमुक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठा तीर्थानां वैभवं मया

Śrī Sūta said: “Thus, O best of the twice-born, I have spoken of the majesty of the sacred tīrthas.”

Verse 63

इदं पठन्वा शृण्वन्वा दुःखसंघाद्विमुच्यते । कैवल्यं च समाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितम्

By reading this or by hearing it, one is freed from the mass of sorrows; and one attains kaivalya—liberation devoid of return to rebirth.