Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 19
Sourceनारद उवाच- भार्गवेशं ततो गच्छेद्भक्त्या यत्र च विष्णुना । हुंकारितास्तु देवेन दानवाः प्रलयं गताः १। तत्र स्नात्वा तु राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । शुक्लतीर्थस्य चोत्पत्तिं शृणु त्वं पांडुनंदन २। हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये नानाधातुविचित्रिते । तरुणादित्यसंकाशे तप्तकांचनसंनिभे ३। वज्रस्फटिकसोपाने चित्रपट्टशिलातले । जांबूनदमये दिव्ये नाना पद्मोपशोभिते ४। तत्रासीनं महादेवं सर्वज्ञं प्रभुमव्ययम् । लोकानुग्राहकं शांतं गणवृंदैः समावृतम् ५। स्कंदनंदिमहाकालैर्वीरभद्र गणादिभिः । उमया सहितं देवं मार्कंडः परिपृच्छति ६। देवदेव महादेव इन्द्र कामादि संस्तुत । संसारभवभीतोहं सुखोपायं ब्रवीहि मे ७। भगवन्भूतभव्येश सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तीर्थानां परमं तीर्थं तद्वदस्व महेश्वर ८। ईश्वर उवाच- शृणुविप्र महाभाग सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । स्नानादि कुरु गच्छ त्वं ऋषिसंघैस्समावृतः ९। मन्वत्रि याज्ञवल्क्याश्च काश्यपश्चैव अंगिराः । यमापस्तंब संवर्ताः कात्यायनबृहस्पती १०। नारदो गौतमश्चैव पृच्छंति धर्मकांक्षिणः । गंगाकनखले पुण्या प्रयागं पुष्करं गया ११। कुरुक्षेत्रं तु पुण्यं च राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे । दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ शुक्लतीर्थं महाफलम् १२। दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाच्चैव स्नानाद्ध्यानात्तपोर्जनात् । होमाच्चैवोपवासाच्च शुक्लतीर्थफलं महत् १३। शुक्लतीर्थं महापुण्यं नद्यां तु संव्यवस्थितम् । चाणिक्योनाम राजर्षिः सिद्धिं तत्र समागतः १४। एतत्क्षेत्रं समुत्पन्नं योजनावृत्तिसंस्थितम् । शुक्लतीर्थं महापुण्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् १५। पादपाग्रेण दृष्टेन ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । अहमत्र ऋषिश्रेष्ठ तिष्ठामि ह्युमया सह १६। वैशाखे विमले मासि कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी । कैलासाच्चापि निर्गत्य तत्र संनिहितो ह्यहम् १७। देवकिन्नरगंधर्वाः सिद्धविद्याधरास्तथा । गणाश्चाप्सरसो नागाः सर्वे देवाः समागताः १८। गगनस्थास्तु तिष्ठंति विमानैः सर्वकामकैः । शुक्लतीर्थे तु राजेंद्र आगता धर्मकांक्षिणः १९। रजकेन यथा वस्त्रं शुक्लं भवति वारिणा । आजन्मसंचितं पापं शुक्लतीर्थे व्यपोहति २०। स्नानं दानं महापुण्यं मार्कंड ऋषिसत्तम । शुक्लतीर्थात्परं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति २१। पूर्वे वयसि कर्माणि कृत्वा पापानि मानवः । अहोरात्रोपवासेन शुक्लतीर्थे व्यपोहति २२। तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण यज्ञैर्दानेन वा पुनः । देवदानेन या पुष्टिर्न सा क्रतुशतैरपि २३। कार्तिकस्य च मासस्य कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशी । घृतेन स्नापयेद्देवमुपोष्य परमेश्वरम् २४। एकविंशत्कुलोपेतो न च्यवेच्चैश्वरात्पदात् । शुक्लतीर्थं परं तीर्थमृषिसिद्धनिषेवितम् २५। तत्र स्नात्वा ततो राजन्पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । स्नात्वा वै शुक्लतीर्थेपि अर्चयेद्वृषभध्वजम् २६। जागरं कारयेत्तत्र नृत्यगीतादिमंगलैः । प्रभाते शुक्लतीर्थे तु स्नानं वै देवतार्चनम् २७। आचार्यं भोजयेत्पश्चाच्छिवव्रतपरः शुचिः । भोजनं च यथाशक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यं न कारयेत् २८। प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा शनैर्देवांतिकं व्रजेत् । एवं वै कुरुते यस्तु तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु २९। दिव्ययानसमारूढस्तूयमानोऽप्सरोगणैः । शिवतुल्यबलोपेतस्तिष्ठत्याभूतसंप्लवम् ३०। शुक्लतीर्थे तु या नारी ददाति कनकं शुभम् । घृतेन स्नापयेद्देवं कुमारं चाभिपूजयेत् ३१। एवं या कुरुते भक्त्या तस्याः पुण्यफलं शृणु । मोदते देवलोकस्था यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश ३२। अयने वा चतुर्दश्यां संक्रांतौ विषुवे तथा । स्नात्वा तु सोपवासः स निर्जितात्मा समाहितः ३३। दानं दद्याद्यथाशक्त्या प्रीयेतां हरिशंकरौ । शुक्लतीर्थप्रभावेण सर्वं भवति चाक्षयम् ३४। अनाथं दुर्गतं विप्रं नाथवंतमथापि वा । उद्वाहयति यस्तीर्थे तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु ३५। यावत्तद्रोमसंख्या तु तत्प्रसूतिकुलेषु च । तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि शिवलोके महीयते ३६। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे ऊनविंशोध्यायः १९
nārada uvāca- bhārgaveśaṃ tato gacchedbhaktyā yatra ca viṣṇunā | huṃkāritāstu devena dānavāḥ pralayaṃ gatāḥ 1| tatra snātvā tu rājeṃdra sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | śuklatīrthasya cotpattiṃ śṛṇu tvaṃ pāṃḍunaṃdana 2| himavacchikhare ramye nānādhātuvicitrite | taruṇādityasaṃkāśe taptakāṃcanasaṃnibhe 3| vajrasphaṭikasopāne citrapaṭṭaśilātale | jāṃbūnadamaye divye nānā padmopaśobhite 4| tatrāsīnaṃ mahādevaṃ sarvajñaṃ prabhumavyayam | lokānugrāhakaṃ śāṃtaṃ gaṇavṛṃdaiḥ samāvṛtam 5| skaṃdanaṃdimahākālairvīrabhadra gaṇādibhiḥ | umayā sahitaṃ devaṃ mārkaṃḍaḥ paripṛcchati 6| devadeva mahādeva indra kāmādi saṃstuta | saṃsārabhavabhītohaṃ sukhopāyaṃ bravīhi me 7| bhagavanbhūtabhavyeśa sarvapāpapraṇāśanam | tīrthānāṃ paramaṃ tīrthaṃ tadvadasva maheśvara 8| īśvara uvāca- śṛṇuvipra mahābhāga sarvaśāstraviśārada | snānādi kuru gaccha tvaṃ ṛṣisaṃghaissamāvṛtaḥ 9| manvatri yājñavalkyāśca kāśyapaścaiva aṃgirāḥ | yamāpastaṃba saṃvartāḥ kātyāyanabṛhaspatī 10| nārado gautamaścaiva pṛcchaṃti dharmakāṃkṣiṇaḥ | gaṃgākanakhale puṇyā prayāgaṃ puṣkaraṃ gayā 11| kurukṣetraṃ tu puṇyaṃ ca rāhugraste divākare | divā vā yadi vā rātrau śuklatīrthaṃ mahāphalam 12| darśanātsparśanāccaiva snānāddhyānāttaporjanāt | homāccaivopavāsācca śuklatīrthaphalaṃ mahat 13| śuklatīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ nadyāṃ tu saṃvyavasthitam | cāṇikyonāma rājarṣiḥ siddhiṃ tatra samāgataḥ 14| etatkṣetraṃ samutpannaṃ yojanāvṛttisaṃsthitam | śuklatīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam 15| pādapāgreṇa dṛṣṭena brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati | ahamatra ṛṣiśreṣṭha tiṣṭhāmi hyumayā saha 16| vaiśākhe vimale māsi kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī | kailāsāccāpi nirgatya tatra saṃnihito hyaham 17| devakinnaragaṃdharvāḥ siddhavidyādharāstathā | gaṇāścāpsaraso nāgāḥ sarve devāḥ samāgatāḥ 18| gaganasthāstu tiṣṭhaṃti vimānaiḥ sarvakāmakaiḥ | śuklatīrthe tu rājeṃdra āgatā dharmakāṃkṣiṇaḥ 19| rajakena yathā vastraṃ śuklaṃ bhavati vāriṇā | ājanmasaṃcitaṃ pāpaṃ śuklatīrthe vyapohati 20| snānaṃ dānaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ mārkaṃḍa ṛṣisattama | śuklatīrthātparaṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati 21| pūrve vayasi karmāṇi kṛtvā pāpāni mānavaḥ | ahorātropavāsena śuklatīrthe vyapohati 22| tapasā brahmacaryeṇa yajñairdānena vā punaḥ | devadānena yā puṣṭirna sā kratuśatairapi 23| kārtikasya ca māsasya kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśī | ghṛtena snāpayeddevamupoṣya parameśvaram 24| ekaviṃśatkulopeto na cyaveccaiśvarātpadāt | śuklatīrthaṃ paraṃ tīrthamṛṣisiddhaniṣevitam 25| tatra snātvā tato rājanpunarjanma na vidyate | snātvā vai śuklatīrthepi arcayedvṛṣabhadhvajam 26| jāgaraṃ kārayettatra nṛtyagītādimaṃgalaiḥ | prabhāte śuklatīrthe tu snānaṃ vai devatārcanam 27| ācāryaṃ bhojayetpaścācchivavrataparaḥ śuciḥ | bhojanaṃ ca yathāśaktyā vittaśāṭhyaṃ na kārayet 28| pradakṣiṇaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā śanairdevāṃtikaṃ vrajet | evaṃ vai kurute yastu tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu 29| divyayānasamārūḍhastūyamāno'psarogaṇaiḥ | śivatulyabalopetastiṣṭhatyābhūtasaṃplavam 30| śuklatīrthe tu yā nārī dadāti kanakaṃ śubham | ghṛtena snāpayeddevaṃ kumāraṃ cābhipūjayet 31| evaṃ yā kurute bhaktyā tasyāḥ puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu | modate devalokasthā yāvadiṃdrāścaturdaśa 32| ayane vā caturdaśyāṃ saṃkrāṃtau viṣuve tathā | snātvā tu sopavāsaḥ sa nirjitātmā samāhitaḥ 33| dānaṃ dadyādyathāśaktyā prīyetāṃ hariśaṃkarau | śuklatīrthaprabhāveṇa sarvaṃ bhavati cākṣayam 34| anāthaṃ durgataṃ vipraṃ nāthavaṃtamathāpi vā | udvāhayati yastīrthe tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu 35| yāvattadromasaṃkhyā tu tatprasūtikuleṣu ca | tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi śivaloke mahīyate 36| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe ūnaviṃśodhyāyaḥ 19
English translation
Nārada said :
1-2a. Thence he should devoutly go to Bhārgaveśa where the demons were destroyed by god Viṣṇu with his huṃkāra sound. O lord of kings, having bathed there, he is free from all sins.
2b-6. O son of Pāṇḍu , also listen to the (description of) Śuklatīrtha . Mārkaṇḍa , seeing god ( Mahādeva ) with Umā, who was seated on the peak of Himālaya which was charming, variegated with various minerals, which resembled the young sun and heated gold, which had the staircase of strong crystals, which had a slab of stone with a variegated strap, which was golden, which was divine and adorned with many lotuses, asked (Mahādeva) who was omniscient, who was the immutable lord, who favoured the worlds, who was surrounded by the hosts of attendants and by Skanda , Nandi , Mahākāla , and attendants like Vīrabhadra :
7. “O Mahādeva, god of gods, praised by (gods like) Indra and Kāma , I am afraid of the worldly existence. Tell me the means of happiness.
8. O you revered lord, the lord of what has been and what will be, O you great god, describe to me the greatest among the holy places, destroying all sins.”
The lord said :
9-29a. O illustrious brāhmaṇa , well-versed in all branches of knowledge, go, surrounded by the groups of sages, and have a bath etc. The sages Manu , Atri , Yājñavalkya , Kaśyapa , and Aṅgiras , Āpastamba , Saṃvarta , Kātyāyana , Bṛhaspati , Nārada and Gautama , desiring to secure righteousness asked him. At Kanakhala Gaṅga is holy; and also Prayāga , Puṣkara and Gayā (are holy places). When the Sun is swallowed by Rāhu (i.e. on a solar eclipse day) Kurukṣetra also is holy. By day or at night, Śuklatīrtha gives a great fruit. On seeing it, touching (i.e. having contact with) it, bathing there, meditating, practising penance, (or performing) a sacrifice, (or by) fasting Śuklatīrtha gives great fruit. Śuklatīrtha is very holy and is well situated on the river. A royal sage named Cāṇikya attained perfection there. This holy place that sprang up extends over a yojana . Śuklatīrtha is very holy; it destroys all sins. When seen from the top of a tree it removes (the sin of) the murder of a brāhmaṇa. O best sage, I stay here with Umā. During the pure month of Vaiśākha , on the fourteenth day of the dark half, I go out from Kailāsa and stay there. Gods, kinnaras , gandharvas , siddhas , vidyādharas , my attendants, nāgas , and all gods gather here; and remaining in the sky they have aeroplanes satisfying all desires. O lord of kings, those who desiring piety, come to Śuklatīrtha, (have their sins washed) as a garment is made (i.e. washed) white by a washerman. The sin collected from birth melts away at Śuklatīrtha. Even if he dies within the limit of half a yojana (of this holy place) he is not reborn. O Mārkaṇḍa, best of the sages, giving gifts and bathing (at this holy place) give a great merit. A holy place superior to Śuklatīrtha was never there nor will be there. A man having committed sins during his youth, removes (i.e. is free from) them by observing a fast for a day and night at Śuklatīrtha. That perfection which is had by means of penance, self-restraint, sacrifices, giving gifts and offering presents to deities, is not had even by (performing) hundreds of sacrifices. On the fourteenth day of the dark half of Kārtika a man should observe a fast and bathe (the image of) the lord with ghee . He, along with (members of his family) till the twenty-first (descendant) will not fall from the divine position. Śuklatīrtha is a great holy place. It is resorted to by sages and siddhas. O king, having bathed (i.e. if he bathes) there, he is not reborn. Having bathed at Śuklatīrtha, he should worship Śiva . He should keep awake (during the night) by (resorting to) auspicious (things) like dancing, singing etc. In the morning he should bath in the Śuklatīrtha, and worship the deities. Being pure and devoted to Śiva’s vow, he should then feed his preceptor according to his capacity; then he should take food; he should not be dishonest about wealth. Then after circumambulating he should gently approach the deity.
29b-36. Listen to the meritorious fruit that he who does like this, gets. Having got into a celestial car, being extolled by bevies of celestial nymphs and endowed with strength like that of Śiva, he lives till deluge. Listen to the meritorious fruit that a woman who gives pure gold (to a brāhmaṇa) at Śuklatīrha and would bathe Kumāra (i.e. Kārtikeya ) with ghee and worship him—who does like this devoutly—obtains. As long as the fourteen Indras live in heaven he rejoices. He having fully restrained himself and composed, having bathed and observed a fast during the period of the sun’s passage—north or south of the equator, on the fourteenth day, on a Saṃkrānti day or on (the day of) the equinox, should give gifts according to his capacity. (Thereby) Viṣṇu and Śiva would be pleased. By the efficacy of Śuklatīrtha all (this) becomes inexhaustible. Listen to the meritorious fruit which he who carries a helpless person, an indigent brāhmaṇa, or even one who is dependent, obtains. He is honoured in Śiva’s heaven for as many thousand years as the number of hairs (on the bodies of the persons) that are born in his family.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43169, revision 401292 (2024-03-27T04:20:03Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365238.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.