Badarikāśrama-māhātmya · Chapter 1
Source।। शौनक उवाच ।। ।। सूतसूत महाभाग सर्वधर्मविदां वर ।। सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञ पुराणे परिनिष्ठित ।। १ ।। व्यासः सत्यवतीपुत्रो भगवान्विष्णुरव्ययः ।। तस्य यत्प्रियशिष्यस्त्वं त्वत्तो वेत्ता न कश्चन ।। २ ।। प्राप्ते कलियुगे घोरे सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृते ।। जना वै दुष्टकर्माणः सर्वधर्मविवर्जिताः ।।३।। क्षुद्रायुषः क्षुद्रप्राणबलवीर्यतपःक्रियाः ।। अधर्मनिरताः सर्वे वेदशास्त्रविवर्जिताः ।। ४ ।। तीर्थाटनतपोदानहरिभक्तिविवर्जिताः ।। कथमेषामल्पकानामुद्धारोऽल्पप्रयत्नतः ।। ५ ।। तीर्थानामुत्तमं तीर्थं क्षेत्राणामुत्तमं तथा ।। मुमुक्षूणां कुतः सिद्धिः कुत्र वा ऋषिसंचयः ।।६ ।। कुत्र वाल्पप्रयत्नेन तपो मन्त्राश्च सिद्धिदाः ।। कुत्र वा वसति श्रीमाञ्जगतामीश्वरेश्वरः।। भक्तानामनुरक्तानामनुग्रहकृपालयः।। ७ ।। एतदन्यच्च सर्वं मे परार्थैकप्रयोजनम् ।। ब्रूहि भद्राय लोकानामनुग्रहविचक्षण ।। ८ ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। साधु साधु महाभाग भवान्परहिते रतः ।। हरिभक्तिकृतासक्तिप्रक्षालितमनोमलः ।। ९ ।। अथ मे देवकीपुत्रो हृत्पद्ममधिरोहति ।। प्रसंगात्तव विप्रर्षे दुर्ल्लभः साधुसंगमः ।। 2.3.1.१० ।। हरति दुष्कृतसंचयमुत्तमां गतिमलं तनुते तनुमानिनाम् ।। अधिकपुण्यवशादवशात्मनां जगति दुर्लभः साधुसमागमः ।। ११ ।। हरति हृदयबन्धं कर्मपाशार्दितानां वितरति पदमुच्चैरल्पजल्पैकभाजाम ।। जननमरणकर्मश्रांतविश्रांतिहेतुस्त्रिजगति मनुजानां दुर्ल्लभः सत्प्रसंगः ।। १२ ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। अयं प्रश्नः पुरा साधो स्कन्देनाकारि सर्वतः ।। कैलासशिखरे रम्य ऋषीणां परिशृण्वताम् ।। पुरतो गिरिजाभर्तुः कर्तुं निःश्रेयसं सताम्।।१३।। ।। स्कंद उवाच।। ।। भगवन्सर्वलोकानां कर्त्ता हर्त्ता पिता गुरुः ।। क्षेमाय सर्वजंतूनां तपसे कृतनिश्चयः ।। १४ ।। कलिकाले ह्यनुप्राप्ते वेदशास्त्रविवर्जिते ।। कुत्र वा वसति श्रीमान्भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः ।। १५ ।। क्षेत्राणि कानि पुण्यानि तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा ।। केन वा प्राप्यते साक्षाद्भगवान्मधुसूदनः ।। श्रद्दधानाय भगवन्कृपया वद मे पितः ।। १६ ।। ।। श्रीमहादेव उवाच ।। ।। बहूनि संति तीर्थानि क्षेत्राणि च षडानन ।। हरिवासनिवासैकपराणि परमार्थिनाम् ।। १७ ।। काम्यानि कानिचित्संति कानिचिन्मुक्तिदान्यपि ।। इहामुत्रार्थदान्येव बहुपुण्यप्रदानि वै ।। १६ ।। गंगा गोदावरी रेवा तपती यमुना सरित् ।। क्षिप्रा सरस्वती पुण्या गौतमी कौशिकी तथा ।। १९ ।। कावेरी ताम्रपर्णी च चंद्रभागा महेंद्रजा ।। चित्रोत्पला वेत्रवती सरयूः पुण्यवाहिनी ।। 2.3.1.२० ।। चर्मण्वती शतद्रूश्च पयस्विन्यत्रिसंभवा ।। गंडिका बाहुदा सर्वाः पुण्याः सिंधुः सरस्वती ।। २१ ।। भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाश्चैताः सेव्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ।। अयोध्या द्वारका काशी मधुरावंतिका तथा ।। ।।२२।। कुरुक्षेत्रं रामतीर्थं कांची च पुरुषोत्तमम् ।। पुष्करं दर्दुरं क्षेत्रं वाराहं विधिनिर्मितम् ।। बदर्य्याख्यं महापुण्यं क्षेत्रं सर्वार्थसाधनम् ।। २३ ।। अयोध्यां विधिवद्दृष्ट्वा पुरीं मुक्त्येकसाधनीम् ।। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्ताः प्रयांति हरिमंदिरम् ।। २४ ।। विविधविष्णुनिषेवणपूर्वकाचरितपूजननर्तनकीर्तनाः ।। गृहमपास्य हरेरनुचिंतनाज्जितगृहार्जितमृत्युपराक्रमाः ।। २५ ।। स्वर्गद्वारे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा रामालयं शुचिः ।। न तस्य कृत्यं पश्यामि कृतकृत्यो भवेद्यतः ।। २६ ।। द्वारिकायां हरिः साक्षात्स्वालयं नैव मुंचति ।। अद्यापि भवनं कैश्चित्पुण्यवद्भिः प्रदृश्यते ।। २७ ।। गोमत्यां तु नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमुखांबुजम् ।। मुक्तिः प्रजायते शेषो विना सांख्यं षडानन ।। २८ ।। असीवरुणयोर्मध्ये पंचक्रोश्यां महाफलम् ।। अमरा मृत्युमिच्छंति का कथा इतरे जनाः ।। २९ ।। मणिकर्ण्यां ज्ञानवाप्यां विष्णुपादोदके तथा ।। ह्रदे पंचनदे स्नात्वा न मातुः स्तनपो भवेत् ।। 2.3.1.३० ।। प्रसंगेनापि विश्वेशं दृष्ट्वा काश्यां षडानन ।। मुक्तिः प्रजायते पुंसां जन्ममृत्युविवर्जिता ।। ३१ ।। बहुना किमिहोक्तेन नैतत्क्षेत्रसमं क्वचित् ।। तपोपवासनिरतो मथुरायां षडानन ।। जन्मस्थानं समासाद्य सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। ३२ ।। विश्रांतितीर्थे विधिवत्स्नात्वा कृत्वा तिलोदकम् ।। पितॄनुद्धृत्य नरकाद्विष्णुलोकं प्रगच्छति ।। ३३ ।। यदि कुर्यात्प्रमादेन पातकं तत्र मानवः ।। विश्रांते स्नानमासाद्य भस्मीभवति तत्क्षणात् ।। ३४ ।। अवंत्यां विधिवत्स्नात्वा शिप्रायां माधवे नराः ।। पिशाचत्वं न पश्यंति जन्मांतरशतैरपि ।। ३५ ।। कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान्।। महाकालं हरं दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। ३६ ।। मुक्तिक्षेत्रमिदं साक्षान्मम लोकैकसाधनम् ।। दानाद्दरिद्रताहानिरिह लोके परत्र च ।। ३७ ।। कुरुक्षेत्रे रामतीर्थे स्वर्णं दत्त्वा स्वशक्तितः ।। सूर्योपरागे विधिवत्स नरो मुक्तिभाग्भवेत् ।। ३८ ।। ये तत्र प्रतिगृह्णंति नरा लोभवशंगताः ।। पुरुषत्वं न तेषां वै कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।। ३९ ।। हरिक्षेत्रे हरिं दृष्ट्वा स्नात्वा पादोदके जनः ।। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो हरिणा सह मोदते ।। 2.3.1.४० ।। खगगणा विविधा निवसंत्यहो ऋषिगणाः फलमूलदलाशनाः ।। पवनसंयमनक्रमनिर्जितेंद्रियपराक्रमणा मुनयस्त्विह ।। ४१ ।। विष्णुकांच्यां हरिः साक्षाच्छिवकांच्यां शिवः स्वयम् ।। अभेदादुभयोर्भक्त्या मुक्तिः करतले स्थिता ।। विभेदजननात्पुंसां जायते कुत्सिता गतिः ।। ४२ ।। सकृद्दृष्ट्वा जगन्नाथं मार्कंडेयह्रदे प्लुतः ।। विना ज्ञानेन योगेन न मातुः स्तनपो भवेत् ।। ४३ ।। रोहिण्यामुदधौ स्नात्वा इंद्रद्युम्नह्रदे तथा ।। भुक्त्वा निेवेदितं विष्णोर्वैकुंठे वसतिं लभेत्।। ४४।। दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं क्षेत्रं शंखोपरि स्थितम्।। चतु्र्भुजत्वमायांति कीटा अपि न संशयः।। ४५।। कार्त्तिक्यां पुष्करे स्नात्वा श्राद्धं कृत्वा सदक्षिणम्।। भोजयित्वा द्विजान्भक्त्या ब्रह्मलोके महीयते।।४६।। सकृत्स्नात्वा ह्रदे तस्मिन्यूपं दृष्ट्वा समाहितः ।। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो जायते द्विजसत्तमः ।। ४७ ।। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि योगाभ्यासेन यत्फलम् ।। सौकरे विधिवत्स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा हरिं शुचिः ।।४८ ।। सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति ।। तीर्थराजं महापुण्यं सर्वतीर्थनिषेवितम् ।। ४९ ।। कामिनां सर्वजंतूनामीप्सितं कर्मभिर्भवेत् ।। वेण्यां स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कृत्वा माधवदर्शनम् ।। भुक्त्वा पुण्यवतां भोगानन्ते माधवतां व्रजेत् ।। ।। 2.3.1.५० ।। माघे मासि नरः स्नात्वा त्रिवेण्यां भक्तिभावितः ।। बदरीकीर्तनात्पुण्यं तत्समाप्नोति मानवः ।। ५१ ।। दशाश्वमेधिकं तीर्थं दशयज्ञफलप्रदम् ।। संक्षेपात्कथितं पुत्र किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ।। ५२ ।। ।। स्कंद उवाच ।। ।। बदर्य्याख्यं हरेः क्षेत्रं त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभम् ।। क्षेत्रस्य स्मरणादेव महापातकिनो नराः ।। विमुक्तकिल्विषाः सद्यो मरणान्मुक्तिभागिनः ।। ५३ ।। अन्यतीर्थे कृतं येन तपः परमदारुणम् ।। तत्समा बदरीयात्रा मनसापि प्रजायते ।। ५४ ।। बहूनि संति तीर्थानि दिवि भूमौ रसातले ।। बदरीसदृशं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।। ५५ ।। अश्वमेध सहस्राणि वायुभोज्ये च यत्फलम् ।। क्षेत्रांतरे विशालायां तत्फलं क्षणमात्रतः ।। ५६ ।। कृते मुक्तिप्रदा प्रोक्ता त्रेतायां योगसिद्धिदा ।। विशाला द्वापरे प्रोक्ता कलौ बदरिकाश्रमः ।। ५७ ।। स्थूलसूक्ष्मशरीरं तु जीवस्य वसतिस्थलम् ।। तद्विनाशयति ज्ञानाद्विशाला तेन कथ्यते ।। ५८ ।। अमृतं स्रवते या हि बदरीतरुयोगतः ।। बदरी कथ्यते प्राज्ञैर्ऋषीणां यत्र संचयः ।। ५९ ।। त्यजेत्सर्वाणि तीर्थानि कालेकाले युगेयुगे ।। बदरीं भगवान्विष्णुर्न मुञ्चति कदाचन ।। 2.3.1.६० ।। सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन तपोयोगसमाधितः ।। तत्फलं प्राप्यते सम्यग्बदरीदर्शनाद्गुह ।। ६१ ।। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि योगाभ्यासेन यत्फलम् ।। वाराणस्यां दिनैकेन तत्फलं बदरीं गतौ ।। ६२ ।। तीर्थानां वसतिर्यत्र देवानां वसतिस्तथा ।। ऋषीणां वसतिर्यत्र विशाला तेनकथ्यते ।। ६३ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे बदरिकाश्रममाहात्म्ये शिवकार्त्तिकेयसंवादे बदरिकाश्रमस्य सर्वतीर्थाधिकत्ववर्णनंनाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ।। १ ।।
|| śaunaka uvāca || || sūtasūta mahābhāga sarvadharmavidāṃ vara || sarvaśāstrārthatattvajña purāṇe pariniṣṭhita || 1 || vyāsaḥ satyavatīputro bhagavānviṣṇuravyayaḥ || tasya yatpriyaśiṣyastvaṃ tvatto vettā na kaścana || 2 || prāpte kaliyuge ghore sarvadharmabahiṣkṛte || janā vai duṣṭakarmāṇaḥ sarvadharmavivarjitāḥ ||3|| kṣudrāyuṣaḥ kṣudraprāṇabalavīryatapaḥkriyāḥ || adharmaniratāḥ sarve vedaśāstravivarjitāḥ || 4 || tīrthāṭanatapodānaharibhaktivivarjitāḥ || kathameṣāmalpakānāmuddhāro'lpaprayatnataḥ || 5 || tīrthānāmuttamaṃ tīrthaṃ kṣetrāṇāmuttamaṃ tathā || mumukṣūṇāṃ kutaḥ siddhiḥ kutra vā ṛṣisaṃcayaḥ ||6 || kutra vālpaprayatnena tapo mantrāśca siddhidāḥ || kutra vā vasati śrīmāñjagatāmīśvareśvaraḥ|| bhaktānāmanuraktānāmanugrahakṛpālayaḥ|| 7 || etadanyacca sarvaṃ me parārthaikaprayojanam || brūhi bhadrāya lokānāmanugrahavicakṣaṇa || 8 || || sūta uvāca || || sādhu sādhu mahābhāga bhavānparahite rataḥ || haribhaktikṛtāsaktiprakṣālitamanomalaḥ || 9 || atha me devakīputro hṛtpadmamadhirohati || prasaṃgāttava viprarṣe durllabhaḥ sādhusaṃgamaḥ || 2.3.1.10 || harati duṣkṛtasaṃcayamuttamāṃ gatimalaṃ tanute tanumāninām || adhikapuṇyavaśādavaśātmanāṃ jagati durlabhaḥ sādhusamāgamaḥ || 11 || harati hṛdayabandhaṃ karmapāśārditānāṃ vitarati padamuccairalpajalpaikabhājāma || jananamaraṇakarmaśrāṃtaviśrāṃtihetustrijagati manujānāṃ durllabhaḥ satprasaṃgaḥ || 12 || || sūta uvāca || || ayaṃ praśnaḥ purā sādho skandenākāri sarvataḥ || kailāsaśikhare ramya ṛṣīṇāṃ pariśṛṇvatām || purato girijābhartuḥ kartuṃ niḥśreyasaṃ satām||13|| || skaṃda uvāca|| || bhagavansarvalokānāṃ karttā harttā pitā guruḥ || kṣemāya sarvajaṃtūnāṃ tapase kṛtaniścayaḥ || 14 || kalikāle hyanuprāpte vedaśāstravivarjite || kutra vā vasati śrīmānbhagavānsātvatāṃ patiḥ || 15 || kṣetrāṇi kāni puṇyāni tīrthāni saritastathā || kena vā prāpyate sākṣādbhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ || śraddadhānāya bhagavankṛpayā vada me pitaḥ || 16 || || śrīmahādeva uvāca || || bahūni saṃti tīrthāni kṣetrāṇi ca ṣaḍānana || harivāsanivāsaikaparāṇi paramārthinām || 17 || kāmyāni kānicitsaṃti kānicinmuktidānyapi || ihāmutrārthadānyeva bahupuṇyapradāni vai || 16 || gaṃgā godāvarī revā tapatī yamunā sarit || kṣiprā sarasvatī puṇyā gautamī kauśikī tathā || 19 || kāverī tāmraparṇī ca caṃdrabhāgā maheṃdrajā || citrotpalā vetravatī sarayūḥ puṇyavāhinī || 2.3.1.20 || carmaṇvatī śatadrūśca payasvinyatrisaṃbhavā || gaṃḍikā bāhudā sarvāḥ puṇyāḥ siṃdhuḥ sarasvatī || 21 || bhuktimuktipradāścaitāḥ sevyamānā muhurmuhuḥ || ayodhyā dvārakā kāśī madhurāvaṃtikā tathā || ||22|| kurukṣetraṃ rāmatīrthaṃ kāṃcī ca puruṣottamam || puṣkaraṃ darduraṃ kṣetraṃ vārāhaṃ vidhinirmitam || badaryyākhyaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ kṣetraṃ sarvārthasādhanam || 23 || ayodhyāṃ vidhivaddṛṣṭvā purīṃ muktyekasādhanīm || sarvapāpavinirmuktāḥ prayāṃti harimaṃdiram || 24 || vividhaviṣṇuniṣevaṇapūrvakācaritapūjananartanakīrtanāḥ || gṛhamapāsya hareranuciṃtanājjitagṛhārjitamṛtyuparākramāḥ || 25 || svargadvāre naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā rāmālayaṃ śuciḥ || na tasya kṛtyaṃ paśyāmi kṛtakṛtyo bhavedyataḥ || 26 || dvārikāyāṃ hariḥ sākṣātsvālayaṃ naiva muṃcati || adyāpi bhavanaṃ kaiścitpuṇyavadbhiḥ pradṛśyate || 27 || gomatyāṃ tu naraḥ snātvā dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇamukhāṃbujam || muktiḥ prajāyate śeṣo vinā sāṃkhyaṃ ṣaḍānana || 28 || asīvaruṇayormadhye paṃcakrośyāṃ mahāphalam || amarā mṛtyumicchaṃti kā kathā itare janāḥ || 29 || maṇikarṇyāṃ jñānavāpyāṃ viṣṇupādodake tathā || hrade paṃcanade snātvā na mātuḥ stanapo bhavet || 2.3.1.30 || prasaṃgenāpi viśveśaṃ dṛṣṭvā kāśyāṃ ṣaḍānana || muktiḥ prajāyate puṃsāṃ janmamṛtyuvivarjitā || 31 || bahunā kimihoktena naitatkṣetrasamaṃ kvacit || tapopavāsanirato mathurāyāṃ ṣaḍānana || janmasthānaṃ samāsādya sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 32 || viśrāṃtitīrthe vidhivatsnātvā kṛtvā tilodakam || pitṝnuddhṛtya narakādviṣṇulokaṃ pragacchati || 33 || yadi kuryātpramādena pātakaṃ tatra mānavaḥ || viśrāṃte snānamāsādya bhasmībhavati tatkṣaṇāt || 34 || avaṃtyāṃ vidhivatsnātvā śiprāyāṃ mādhave narāḥ || piśācatvaṃ na paśyaṃti janmāṃtaraśatairapi || 35 || koṭitīrthe naraḥ snātvā bhojayitvā dvijottamān|| mahākālaṃ haraṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 36 || muktikṣetramidaṃ sākṣānmama lokaikasādhanam || dānāddaridratāhāniriha loke paratra ca || 37 || kurukṣetre rāmatīrthe svarṇaṃ dattvā svaśaktitaḥ || sūryoparāge vidhivatsa naro muktibhāgbhavet || 38 || ye tatra pratigṛhṇaṃti narā lobhavaśaṃgatāḥ || puruṣatvaṃ na teṣāṃ vai kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 39 || harikṣetre hariṃ dṛṣṭvā snātvā pādodake janaḥ || sarvapāpavinirmukto hariṇā saha modate || 2.3.1.40 || khagagaṇā vividhā nivasaṃtyaho ṛṣigaṇāḥ phalamūladalāśanāḥ || pavanasaṃyamanakramanirjiteṃdriyaparākramaṇā munayastviha || 41 || viṣṇukāṃcyāṃ hariḥ sākṣācchivakāṃcyāṃ śivaḥ svayam || abhedādubhayorbhaktyā muktiḥ karatale sthitā || vibhedajananātpuṃsāṃ jāyate kutsitā gatiḥ || 42 || sakṛddṛṣṭvā jagannāthaṃ mārkaṃḍeyahrade plutaḥ || vinā jñānena yogena na mātuḥ stanapo bhavet || 43 || rohiṇyāmudadhau snātvā iṃdradyumnahrade tathā || bhuktvā nieveditaṃ viṣṇorvaikuṃṭhe vasatiṃ labhet|| 44|| daśayojanavistīrṇaṃ kṣetraṃ śaṃkhopari sthitam|| caturbhujatvamāyāṃti kīṭā api na saṃśayaḥ|| 45|| kārttikyāṃ puṣkare snātvā śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā sadakṣiṇam|| bhojayitvā dvijānbhaktyā brahmaloke mahīyate||46|| sakṛtsnātvā hrade tasminyūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā samāhitaḥ || sarvapāpavinirmukto jāyate dvijasattamaḥ || 47 || ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi yogābhyāsena yatphalam || saukare vidhivatsnātvā pūjayitvā hariṃ śuciḥ ||48 || saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati || tīrtharājaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ sarvatīrthaniṣevitam || 49 || kāmināṃ sarvajaṃtūnāmīpsitaṃ karmabhirbhavet || veṇyāṃ snātvā śucirbhūtvā kṛtvā mādhavadarśanam || bhuktvā puṇyavatāṃ bhogānante mādhavatāṃ vrajet || || 2.3.1.50 || māghe māsi naraḥ snātvā triveṇyāṃ bhaktibhāvitaḥ || badarīkīrtanātpuṇyaṃ tatsamāpnoti mānavaḥ || 51 || daśāśvamedhikaṃ tīrthaṃ daśayajñaphalapradam || saṃkṣepātkathitaṃ putra kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi || 52 || || skaṃda uvāca || || badaryyākhyaṃ hareḥ kṣetraṃ triṣu lokeṣu durlabham || kṣetrasya smaraṇādeva mahāpātakino narāḥ || vimuktakilviṣāḥ sadyo maraṇānmuktibhāginaḥ || 53 || anyatīrthe kṛtaṃ yena tapaḥ paramadāruṇam || tatsamā badarīyātrā manasāpi prajāyate || 54 || bahūni saṃti tīrthāni divi bhūmau rasātale || badarīsadṛśaṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati || 55 || aśvamedha sahasrāṇi vāyubhojye ca yatphalam || kṣetrāṃtare viśālāyāṃ tatphalaṃ kṣaṇamātrataḥ || 56 || kṛte muktipradā proktā tretāyāṃ yogasiddhidā || viśālā dvāpare proktā kalau badarikāśramaḥ || 57 || sthūlasūkṣmaśarīraṃ tu jīvasya vasatisthalam || tadvināśayati jñānādviśālā tena kathyate || 58 || amṛtaṃ sravate yā hi badarītaruyogataḥ || badarī kathyate prājñairṛṣīṇāṃ yatra saṃcayaḥ || 59 || tyajetsarvāṇi tīrthāni kālekāle yugeyuge || badarīṃ bhagavānviṣṇurna muñcati kadācana || 2.3.1.60 || sarvatīrthāvagāhena tapoyogasamādhitaḥ || tatphalaṃ prāpyate samyagbadarīdarśanādguha || 61 || ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi yogābhyāsena yatphalam || vārāṇasyāṃ dinaikena tatphalaṃ badarīṃ gatau || 62 || tīrthānāṃ vasatiryatra devānāṃ vasatistathā || ṛṣīṇāṃ vasatiryatra viśālā tenakathyate || 63 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe badarikāśramamāhātmye śivakārttikeyasaṃvāde badarikāśramasya sarvatīrthādhikatvavarṇanaṃnāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ || 1 ||
English translation
Salutation to Śrī Gaṇeśa
Obeisance to the Lord of Śrī Badarī
Śaunaka said :
1. Sūta ! O Sūta! O illustrious one! The most excellent one among persons conversant with all holy rites and pious activities! O sage equipped with the knowledge of the essence of all the scriptures and fully accomplished in the Purāṇa Lore!
2. Vyāsa , the son of Satyavatī , is the immutable Lord Viṣṇu himself. Since you are his favourite disciple, there is no one else who is a better knower than you.
3. At the advent of the terrible Kali Yuga which is destitute of all the Dharmas , people become perpetrators of vicious actions. They are bereft of all piety.
4. Their span of life is short. They are of little vitality, strength and vigour, penance, holy rites etc. All of them are engaged in sinful activities. They have eschewed the Vedas and scriptures.
5. They are devoid of performance of pilgrimages, penances, charitable rites and devotion to Hari . How can the redemption of these small creatures be effected with small effort?
6. Which is the most excellent Tīrtha ? Which is the most excellent holy place? Wherefrom can those who are desirous of salvation achieve the final emancipation? Where is the assembly of sages?
7. Which is that place where austerities and mantras yield fulfilment with a very little effort? Where does the glorious Lord of lords of the worlds dwell, who is the source of blessings and mercy unto the passionately devoted ones?
8. O holy sage highly efficient in blessing the people for the sake of the welfare of all the worlds, tell me this and all other things which are beneficial to others as their highest objective.
Sūta replied :
9. Very well! Very well! O illustrious one, you are devoted to the welfare of others. You have washed off all your mental impurities by means of your loving devotion to Hari.
10. It is as if the son of Devakī ( Kṛṣṇa ) has occupied my lotuslike heart by association with you, O Brahmanical sage. Rare indeed is contact with saintly people.
11. Association with good men is very difficult to get in this world. It dispels the accumulated mass of sins. It helps the (spiritual) progress of those who have undue attachment to their bodies and of those who have no control over their own self, with the superior merit (of such association).
12. Association with good men is very difficult to have for men in all the three worlds . It removes the bondage of the heart of those people who are afflicted by the bonds of Karmas . It accords lofty regions to those people who take to petty prattles. It affords rest to those who are weary on account of repeated births, deaths and other activities.
Sūta said :
13. O good Sir, this question was put formerly by Skanda to the Lord of the Daughter of the Mountain ( Śiva ). The place was the beautiful peak of Kailāsa . The sages were listening to it from all around. The purpose of the question was bringing about the salvation of good people.
Skanda asked :
14-15. O Lord, the glorious lord of the men of Yādava clan is the maker, annihilator, protector and preceptor of all the worlds. For the sake of the welfare of all creatures he has resolved to perform penance. Where does that Lord reside now at the advent of the Kali Age which is bereft of (i.e. has no regard for) the Vedas and Scriptures?
16. Which are the meritorious sacred places, Tīrthas and sacred rivers? By whom is the Lord, the Slayer of Madhu , attained directly? O Lord, O father, kindly tell this to me who am full of faith.
Śrī Mahādeva replied :
17-18. There are many Tīrthas and holy places, O Six-faced One, where Hari is desirous of staying. Some of them are capable of yielding the desired objects to seekers of the ultimate truth. Some of them are bestowers of salvation. Some Tīrthas which bestow both the benefits of here and hereafter, yield much merit.
19-22a. (The following are the holy rivers [1] :) Gaṅgā , Godāvarī , Revā ( Narmadā ), Tapatī , Yamunā , Kṣiprā , Sarasvatī , the holy Gautamī , Kauśikī , Kāverī , Tāmraparṇī , Candrabhāgā , Mahendrajā (‘rising from the mountain Mahendra ’), Citrotpalā , Vetravatī , Sarayū —a meritorious river, Carmaṇvatī , Śatadru , Payasvinī , Atrisaṃbhavā (‘born of Atri ’), Gaṇḍikā , Bāhudā , Sindhu and Sarasvatī—all these are sacred and meritorious. When repeatedly served these yield worldly pleasures and salvation.
22b-23. (The holy places [2] are:) Ayodhyā , Dvārikā, Kāśī , Mathurā , Avantikā , Kurukṣetra , Rāmatīrtha , Kāñcī , Puruṣottama ( Jagannātha Purī ), Puṣkara , Dardura , the holy spot Vārāha created by Brahmā and the highly meritorious holy place named Badarī which is the means for the achievement of all objectives in life.
24. By duly visiting Ayodhyā, the city which is the sole means of achieving salvation, (devotees) are rid of all their sins. They go to the region of Hari.
25. (Devotees of Hari) (go to Ayodhyā) after leaving their houses. There they engage themselves in worshipping, dancing and singing songs of praise in diverse ways, in the places which Viṣṇu (i.e. Rāma ) had previously resorted to and where he had moved about. By meditating on Hari they go to heaven and they frustrate the endeavour of the god of Death.
26 If a person takes his bath at Svargadvāra (i.e. Ayodhyā) and sees the abode of Rāma with purity (of mind and body), he becomes one who has fulfilled his task. Hence I do not see (any need of) further activity for him (for salvation).
27. At Dvārikā Hari never leaves his abode. Even now his mansion is clearly seen by some meritorious persons.
28. If a man takes his holy bath in Gomatī and views the lotuslike face of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes liberated, O Six-faced One, even without Sāṃkhya (i.e. perfect knowledge).
29. Even the immortal Devas wish for death that brings in great benefit in ( Vārāṇasī ) which extends to five Krośas (i.e. 5x3 = 15 Kms) and lies between (rivers) Varuṇā and Asī. What to say of ordinary human beings?
30. If a man takes his bath in Maṇikarṇī, Jñānavāpī, Viṣṇupādodaka (i.e. Gaṅgā) and the lake Pañcanada ( Pañcagaṅgā ), he will never drink the breast-milk of a mother.
31. Even if a man casually visits Viśveśa (i.e. Śiva) at Kāśī, O Six-faced One, he becomes liberated without any further birth or death.
32a. Why should I say much? Nowhere is there a holy place like this.
32b. One who performs penance and observes holy fasts in Mathurā and goes to the place of birth (of Kṛṣṇa) becomes rid of all sins.
33. By taking bath in Viśrāntitīrtha in accordance with the injunctions and offering libations to the Pitṛs with gingelly seeds and water, one redeems them from hell and goes to the world of Viṣṇu.
34. If unwittingly a man commits a sin there, it becomes reduced to ash instantaneously, if he has his holy ablution in Viśrānta (Tīrtha).
35. Men who duly take their holy bath in the month of Vaiśākha at Avantī in river Śiprā , will never undergo the state of a ghost even in the course of hundreds of births.
36. By taking holy bath in Koṭitīrtha , visiting god Śiva called Mahākāla and feeding excellent Brāhmaṇas , one is liberated from all sins.
37. This is a holy spot yielding salvation. It is the direct means of attaining my world. By making charitable gifts poverty is eradicated (and there is happiness) here and hereafter.
38. By gifting gold (to Brāhmaṇas) in accordance with one’s capacity at Kurukṣetra in Rāmatīrtha during solar eclipse a man becomes liberated.
39. Men who accept those gifts out of covetousness will never attain manhood even in the course of hundreds and crores of Kalpas .
40. In the holy spot of Hari people should take their bath in the water of his holy feet (i.e. Gaṅgā) and see Hari. By doing so they will be rid of all their sins and will rejoice with Hari.
41. Many groups of Sky-walkers (gods etc.) stay here. Groups of sages eat fruits, roots and leaves. The sages here restrain their breaths and thereby they have gradually subdued the power of sense-organs.
42. In Viṣṇukāñcī Hari is directly present. In Śivakāñcī Śiva himself is present. Since there is no difference between these two, salvation is within the reach of everyone through devotion (to either). If they differentiate between Śiva and Viṣṇu, men will meet with evil results.
43. If a man takes his holy bath in Mārkaṇḍeya Hrada and sees Jagannātha (at Purī) at least once, he shall stop sucking the breasts of a mother even without recourse to Jñānayoga (redeeming knowledge or practice of yoga ).
44. On a day in conjunction with the constellation Rohiṇī , one should take holy bath in the ocean or Indradyumna Hrada and then consume the Naivedya of Viṣṇu. Thereby one obtains residence in Vaikuṇṭha .
45. The holy spot (Puruṣottama Kṣetra ) extending to ten Yojanas (i.e. 10x12 = 120 Kms) is situated on the conchshell (i.e. a place with the shape of a conchshell). Even worms there will have a form having four arms. There is no doubt about this.
46. On the Kārttikī day one should take bath at Puṣkara, perform Śrāddha with monetary gifts and feed Brāhmaṇas devoutly. Thereby one is honoured in the world of Brahmā.
47. If a man takes his holy bath in the lake at least once, and sees the sacrificial post with great concentration and mental purity, he shall be rid of all sins and will be born as an excellent Brāhmaṇa .
48-49a. The benefit that one obtains by practising Yoga for sixty thousand years, can be obtained by duly taking a bath in Saukara Tīrtha and worshipping Han with purity. The sins committed in the course of seven births perish instantaneously.
49b-50. Tīrtharāja ( Prayāga ) is of great merit. It is resorted to by all the other Tīrthas. By performing holy rites the desires of all creatures who wish for anything shall be realized. By taking holy bath in Veṇī ( Triveṇī , i.e. confluence of Gaṅgā, Yamunā and Sarasvatī) one shall become purified. Thereafter, one should visit Mādhava . Thereby one enjoys the pleasures of meritorious persons and in the end attain the state of Mādhava (himself).
51-52. Merely by reciting the name of Badarī one attains the benefit which a man full of devotion gets by bathing in Triveṇī in the month of Māgha .
The Tīrtha called Daśāśvamedhika yields the benefit of ten sacrifices.
O son, it (i.e. the glory of Tīrthas) has been succinctly spoken. What more do you wish to hear?
Śrī Mahādeva said :
53. The holy spot of Hari named Badarī is difficult of access in all the three worlds. Merely by remembering the holy place men who have committed great sins are immediately absolved of sins. Those who die there attain salvation.
54. Even a mental pilgrimage to Badarī becomes equal to a severe penance performed in other Tīrthas.
55. There are many Tīrthas in heaven, earth and nether worlds, but there never was a Tīrtha like Badarī nor will there ever be (one).
56. Within a moment one gets in Viśālā (i.e. Badarī) that benefit which one derives after performing thousands of sacrifices or a penance with only air as subsistence.
57. This holy spot is called Muktipradā (‘bestower of salvation’) in Kṛtayuga , Yogasiddhidā (‘bestower of yogic powers’) in Tretāyuga , and Viśālā in Dvāpara ; and in Kali Age it is called Badarikāśrama .
58. The gross and the subtle body are the dwelling places of the Jīva . Since the holy spot destroys it through perfect knowledge, it is called Viśālā.
59. This holy spot exudes nectar because of the contact of a Badarī tree (jujube tree); so it is called Badarī by wise men, where lives a group of sages.
60. Lord Viṣṇu may abandon all the Tīrthas in the course of different Yugas on different occasions, but he never leaves Badarī.
61. O Guha , by visiting Badarī one obtains that benefit which people derive by taking a plunge in all the Tīrthas or by performing penance, yogic practice and Samādhi (meditation).
62. The benefit obtained by yogic practice in sixty thousand years is obtained in a day by staying at Vārāṇasī and the same benefit by (simply) going to Badarī.
63. It is called Viśālā as it is the abode of all the Tīrthas, all the Devas and all the sages.
Notes regarding Badarikāśrama (Badrīnāth):
Note: Badarikāśrama ( mod. Badrīnāth ): Also known as Badarī and Viśālā Badarī. This sacred place of Viṣṇu in Garhwal (U.P.) lies on a peak of the main Himalayan range, also known as Gandhamādana . The temple of Nara-Nārāyaṇa is built on the west bank of Alakanandā (Bishengaṅgā) over the site of a hot spring called Agni Kuṇḍa . It is equidistant from the two mountains known as Nara and Nārāyaṇa (De 15). Sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa, sons of Mūrti and Dharma , performed penance here (Mbh, Vana 40.1). Pāṇḍavas performed a pilgrimage here (Mbh, Vana 145). BdP III. 25.67 and VP V. 37.34 repeat the association of Nara and Nārāyaṇa with Badarī. NP II. 67 describes Badarī at length and specifies the sub-Tīrthas. Parāśara , father of Vyāsa, resided here ( Parāśara Smṛti 1.5). Everything hereof: the river, rocks in the rivers, Kuṇḍas of water, streams, is sacred—each justified with a mythical legend.
[1]: [1] : Modern names of the rivers mentioned: Tapatī ( Tāpī or Tāptī); Gautamī (Godāvarī) (the name is repeated), Kauśikī (Kosī); Candrabhāgā (Chenab); Citrotpalā ( Mahānadī or rather Chittutolā), Vetravatī (Betwa in M.P.) (De 50); Carmaṇvatī (Chambal in Malwa , M.P.); Śatadru (Sutlej); Payasvinī (Paisunī or Pisani, a tributary of Yamunā—De 156); Gaṇḍikā (Gaṇḍak), Bāhudā (Dhumela or Burhā-Raptī a feeder of Rapti in Oudh—De 10).
[2]: [2] : Modern names of the ancient places: Dardura (Nilgiri Hills)—De 53. Varāha-Kṣetra — Baramula in Kashmir . It is on the right bank of Vitastā , at the head of western entrance in Kashmir valley. (HD IV, p. 818)
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22979, revision 71218 (2016-06-14T01:29:49Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371633.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.