Adhyaya 152

Verse 1

ऋषय ऊचुः । असंख्यातानि तीर्थानि त्वयोक्ता न्यत्र सूतज । देवमानुषजातानि देवतायतनानि च । तथा वानरजातानि राक्षसस्थापितानि च

The sages said: “O son of Sūta, elsewhere you have described countless tīrthas—sacred bathing-places—associated with gods and humans, as well as shrines of deities; likewise those connected with Vānara lineages and those established by Rākṣasas.”

Verse 2

सूतपुत्र वदास्माकं यैर्दृष्टैः स्पर्शितैरपि । सर्वेषां लभ्यते पूर्णं फलं चेप्सितमत्र च

“O son of Sūta, tell us: which tīrthas are such that merely by seeing them—or even touching them—everyone obtains the complete fruit, and also the desired boon here?”

Verse 3

सूत उवाच । सत्यमेतन्महाभागास्तत्र संख्या न विद्यते । तीर्थानां चैव लिंगानामाश्र माणां तथैव च

Sūta said: “This is true, O fortunate sages—there is no counting them there: the sacred tīrthas, the Śiva-liṅgas, and likewise the hermitages (āśramas).”

Verse 4

तत्र यः कुरुते स्नानं शंखतीर्थे समाहितः । एकादश्यां विशेषेण सर्वेषां लभते फलम्

Whoever, with a focused mind, bathes there at Śaṅkha-tīrtha—especially on Ekādaśī—obtains the fruit of all (tīrthas).

Verse 5

यः पश्यति नरो भक्त्या तत्रैकादशरुद्रकम् । सिद्धेश्वरसमं तेन दृष्टाः सर्वे महेश्वराः

Whoever, with devotion, beholds there the Ekādaśa-rudraka (the Eleven Rudras), equal to Siddheśvara—by that very sight all forms of Maheśvara are as good as seen.

Verse 6

यः पश्यति वटादित्यं षष्ठ्यां चैत्रे विशेषतः । भास्कराकृत्स्नशो दृष्टास्तेन तत्रहि संस्थिताः

Whoever beholds Vaṭāditya—especially on the sixth lunar day (ṣaṣṭhī) in the month of Caitra—has, in effect, seen the Sun in his entirety, for all solar forms are established there.

Verse 7

माहित्थां पश्यति तथा ये देवीं श्रद्धयाविताः । तेन दुर्गाः समस्तास्ता वीक्षिता नात्र संशयः

Whoever, endowed with faith, beholds the Goddess at Māhitthā—by that very act all manifestations of Durgā are deemed to have been beheld; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 8

यः पश्यति गणेशं च स्वर्गद्वारप्रदं नृणाम् । सर्वे विनायकास्तेन दृष्टाः स्युर्नात्र संशयः

Whoever beholds Gaṇeśa—the giver of the gate to heaven for human beings—by him all Vināyakas are considered to have been beheld; there is no doubt of it.

Verse 9

शर्मिष्ठास्थापितां गौरीं यो ज्येष्ठां तत्र पश्यति । तेन गौर्यः समस्तास्ता वीक्षिता द्विजसत्तमाः

O best of the twice-born, whoever there beholds the elder Jyeṣṭhā Gaurī established by Śarmiṣṭhā—by him all forms of Gaurī are indeed beheld.

Verse 10

चक्रपाणिं च यः पश्येत्प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः । वासुदेवा समस्ताश्च तेन तत्र निरीक्षिताः

Whoever, rising at dawn, beholds Cakrapāṇi, the Bearer of the Disc—by him, in that very place, all the forms of Vāsudeva are deemed to have been beheld.

Verse 11

ऋषय ऊचुः । त्वयासूत तथाऽस्माकं चक्रपाणिश्च यः स्थितः । नाख्यातः स कथं तत्र विस्मृतः किं वदस्व नः । कस्मिन्काले विशेषेण स द्रष्टव्यो मनीषिभिः

The sages said: “O Sūta, you have spoken thus, yet you have not described Cakrapāṇi, the Disc-bearer who abides there for our sake. Why was he left unmentioned—tell us. At what particular time should that Lord be beheld by the wise?”

Verse 12

सूत उवाच । अर्जुनेनैष विप्रेन्द्राः क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव प्रतिष्ठितः । शयने बोधने चैव प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः

Sūta said: “O best of brāhmaṇas, this Cakrapāṇi was installed by Arjuna in this very sacred region. At the time of lying down and of awakening—and also on rising at dawn—a person should behold him.”

Verse 13

स्नानं कृत्वा सुभक्त्या च यः पश्येच्चक्रपाणिनम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि तस्य नश्यंति तत्क्षणात्

After bathing, and with sincere devotion, whoever beholds Cakrapāṇi—his sins, beginning with brahmahatyā, are destroyed at that very moment.

Verse 14

भूभारोत्तारणार्थाय धर्मसंस्थापनाय च । ब्रह्मणावतारितौ विप्रा नरनारायणावुभौ

O brāhmaṇas, to lift the burden of the earth and to re-establish dharma, Brahmā caused both Nara and Nārāyaṇa to descend.

Verse 15

कृष्णार्जुनौ तदा मर्त्ये द्वापरांते द्विजोत्तमाः । अवतीर्णो धरापृष्ठे मिथः स्नेहानुगौ तदा । नरनारायणावेतौ स्वयमेव व्यवस्थितौ

O best of brāhmaṇas, at the close of the Dvāpara age, Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna descended to the mortal world upon the earth’s surface, bound to one another by affection. Those two—Nara and Nārāyaṇa—thus stood manifested of their own accord.

Verse 16

यथा रक्षोविनाशाय रामो दशरथात्मजः । अवतीर्णो धरापृष्ठे तद्वत्कृष्णोऽपि चापरः

Just as Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, descended upon the earth to destroy the rākṣasas, so too did Kṛṣṇa—another divine descent—likewise.

Verse 17

यदा पार्थः समायातस्तीर्थयात्रां प्रति द्विजाः । युधिष्ठिरसमादेशाच्छक्रप्रस्थात्पुरोत्तमात्

O brāhmaṇas, when Pārtha (Arjuna) set out on pilgrimage to the sacred tīrthas, he departed from excellent Indraprastha (Śakraprastha) by the command of Yudhiṣṭhira.

Verse 19

द्रौपद्या सहितं दृष्ट्वा रहसि भ्रातरं द्विजम् । प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा विनयावनतोऽर्जुनः

Seeing his brother in private together with Draupadī, Arjuna—bowed in reverence and humbled by courtesy—spoke to him.

Verse 20

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । गच्छार्जुन द्रुतं तत्र नीयन्ते यत्र तस्करैः । धेनवो द्विजवर्यस्य ता मोक्षय धनंजय

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Go swiftly there, Arjuna—where the thieves are driving away the cows of that foremost brāhmaṇa. O Dhanañjaya, set them free.”

Verse 21

तीर्थयात्रां ततो गच्छ यावद्द्वादशवत्सरान् । ततः पापविनिर्मुक्तः समेष्यसि ममांतिकम्

Then go on pilgrimage to the tīrthas for twelve years; thereafter, freed from sin, you shall return again to my presence.

Verse 22

यः सदारं नरं पश्येदेकांतस्थं तु बुद्धिमान् । अपि चात्यंतपापः स्यात्किं पुनर्निजबांधवम्

A prudent person who looks upon a man who is alone with a woman in seclusion incurs grave sin—how much more so if that person is one’s own relative.

Verse 23

तस्मान्न वीक्षयेत्कञ्चिदेकांतस्थं सभार्यकम् । बांधवं च विशेषेण य इच्छेच्छुभमात्मनः

Therefore, one who seeks one’s own welfare should not look upon anyone who is secluded with his wife—especially not one’s own kinsman.

Verse 24

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय रथमारुह्य सत्वरम् । धनुरादाय बाणांश्च जगाम तदनन्तरम्

He pledged, “So be it,” then quickly mounted his chariot; taking up his bow and arrows, he set out at once thereafter.

Verse 25

येन मार्गेण ता गावो नीयन्ते तस्करैर्बलात् । तिरस्कृत्य द्विजान्सर्वाञ्छितशस्त्रधरैर्द्विजाः

Along the route by which those cows were being forcibly driven away by thieves—after the twice-born had all been insulted and pushed aside by men bearing drawn weapons—he pursued them.

Verse 26

अथ हत्वा क्षणाच्चौरान्गाः सर्वाः स्वयमाहृताः । स्वाः स्वा निवेदयामास ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्

Then, in a moment, having slain the thieves, he himself brought back all the cows and presented each one to its own great-souled brāhmaṇa owner.

Verse 27

ततस्तीर्थान्यनेकानि स दृष्ट्वायतनानि च । क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव समायातः स्नानार्थं पांडुनन्दनः

Thereafter, having visited many tīrthas and beheld many sanctuaries, the son of Pāṇḍu came to this very sacred region for the purpose of ritual bathing.

Verse 28

तेन पूर्वमपि प्रायस्तत्क्षेत्रमवलोकितम् । दुर्योधनसमायुक्तो यदा तत्र समागतः

Earlier too, he had for the most part already beheld that sacred field. And when he arrived there accompanied by Duryodhana, he again came into that holy region.

Verse 29

अथ संपूजयामास यल्लिंगं स्थापितं पुरा । अर्जुनेश्वर संज्ञं तु पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः

Then he duly worshipped the liṅga that had been established in former times—known by the name Arjuneśvara—offering flowers, incense, and fragrant unguents.

Verse 30

अन्येषां कौरवेन्द्राणां पांडवानां विशेषतः

—and he did so also for the sake of the other Kuru lords, and especially for the Pāṇḍavas.

Verse 31

अथ संचिंतयामास मनसा पांडुनंदनः । अहं नरः स्वयं साक्षात्कृष्णो नारायणः स्वयम्

Then the son of Pāṇḍu reflected within his mind: “I am Nara himself in person; and Kṛṣṇa is Nārāyaṇa himself.”

Verse 32

तस्मादत्र करिष्यामि चक्रपाणिं सुरेश्वरम् । प्रासादो मानवश्चैव यादृङ्नास्ति धरातले

“Therefore, here I shall establish Cakrapāṇi, the Lord of the gods; and I shall build a temple-palace, such as does not exist anywhere on the earth.”

Verse 33

कल्पांतेऽपि न नाशः स्यादस्य क्षेत्रस्य कर्हिचित् । प्रासादोऽपि तथाप्येवमत्र क्षेत्रे भविष्यति

“Even at the end of an aeon, the destruction of this sacred region shall never occur. And likewise, this temple too shall endure here in this kṣetra.”

Verse 34

एवं स निश्चयं कृत्वा स्वचित्ते पांडवानुजः । प्रासादं निर्ममे पश्चाद्वैष्णवं द्विजसत्तमाः

Thus, having formed this resolve within his own heart, the younger brother among the Pāṇḍavas then built a Vaiṣṇava temple—O best of twice-born ones.

Verse 35

ततो विप्रान्समाहूय चमत्कारपुरोद्भवान् । प्रतिष्ठां कारयामास मतं तेषां समाश्रितः

Then, summoning the brāhmaṇas—those eminent priests sprung from the sacred city of Camatkāra—he had the consecration (pratiṣṭhā) performed, acting in accordance with their counsel.

Verse 36

दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकानि शासनानि बहूनि च । अन्यच्च प्रददौ पश्चात्स तेषां तुष्टिदायकम्

Having bestowed many gifts, and also numerous grants and endowments, he afterwards offered yet other offerings as well—things that brought satisfaction to them.

Verse 37

ततः प्रोवाच तान्सर्वान्कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः । नरोऽहं ब्राह्मणाज्जातः पाण्डोर्भूमिं प्रपेदिवान्

Then, standing with hands joined in reverence, he addressed them all: “I am Nara, born from a brāhmaṇa; and I have come to the realm of Pāṇḍu.”

Verse 38

मानुषेणैव रूपेण त्यक्त्वा तां बदरीं शुभाम् । प्रसिद्ध्यर्थं मया चात्र प्रासादोऽयं विनि र्मितः । मन्नाम्ना नरसंज्ञश्च श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा

“Having set aside that auspicious Badarī and assuming a human form, I have caused this temple to be built here for the sake of making this place renowned. And with a mind purified by faith, it shall be known by my name, bearing the designation ‘Nara.’”

Verse 39

तस्मादेष भवद्भिश्च चक्रपाणिरिति द्विजाः । कीर्तनीयः सदा येन मम नाम प्रकाश्य ताम्

“Therefore, O twice-born ones, you too should always praise him as ‘Cakrapāṇi’—by which my own name is made manifest and renowned.”

Verse 40

विष्णुलोके ध्वनिर्याति यावच्चंद्रदिवाकरौ

“Its acclaim resounds even in Viṣṇu’s world, for as long as the Moon and the Sun endure.”

Verse 41

तथा महोत्सवः कार्यः शयने बोधने हरेः । चैत्रमासे विशेषेण संप्राप्ते विष्णुवासरे

Likewise, a great festival should be performed at the time of Hari’s “sleeping” and “awakening”; and especially in the month of Caitra, when Viṣṇu’s weekday (Thursday) arrives.

Verse 42

एतेषु त्रिषु लोकेषु त्यक्त्वेमां बदरीमहम् । पूजामस्य करिष्यामि स्वयं विष्णोर्द्विजोत्तमाः

O best of the twice-born, having left this Badarī within these three worlds, I shall myself perform the worship of this form of Viṣṇu.

Verse 43

यस्तत्र दिवसे मर्त्यः पूजामस्य विधा स्यति । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स यास्यति

Any mortal who, on that day, duly performs the worship of this deity becomes freed from all sins and shall go to Viṣṇu’s world.

Verse 44

तथा ये वासुदेवस्य क्षेत्रे केचिद्व्यवस्थिताः । तेषां प्रदर्शनं श्रेयो नित्यं दृष्ट्वा च लप्स्यते

Likewise, those who reside in Vāsudeva’s sacred precinct—beholding them is auspicious; by seeing them regularly, one continually gains spiritual welfare.

Verse 45

सूत उवाच । बाढमित्येव तैरुक्तो दाशार्हः पांडुनंदनः । तेषां तद्भारमावेश्य प्रशांतेनांतरात्मना । ययौ तीर्थानि चान्यानि कृतकृत्यस्ततः परम्

Sūta said: Thus addressed by them—“So be it!”—the Dāśārha, the son of Pāṇḍu, accepted their charge. With his inward self made tranquil, and having fulfilled his purpose, he then departed to other sacred fords (tīrthas).

Verse 46

एवं तत्र स्थितो देवश्चक्रपाणिवपुर्द्धरः । स्वयमेव हृषीकेशो जंतूनां पापनाशनः

Thus the Deity remained established there, bearing the form of Cakrapāṇi—Hṛṣīkeśa himself—destroyer of the sins of all living beings.

Verse 47

अद्याऽपि च कला विष्णोः प्राप्ते चैकादशीत्रये । पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन तस्माच्छ्रद्धासमन्वितैः । सदैव पूजनीयश्च वन्दनीयो विशेषतः

Even today the divine potency of Viṣṇu abides here; and when the triad of Ekādaśīs arrives, then—according to the rite declared earlier—those endowed with faith should ever worship, and most especially offer reverent salutations.

Verse 152

इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीति साहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये चक्रपाणिमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्विपञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the holy Skanda Mahāpurāṇa—within the Saṃhitā of eighty-one thousand verses—here concludes the one-hundred-and-fifty-second chapter of the Sixth Book, the Nāgara-khaṇḍa, in the Tīrtha-māhātmya of the sacred region of Hāṭakeśvara, entitled “The Description of the Greatness of Cakrapāṇi.”