The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes The Glory of Daru Tirtha which is chapter 30 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the thirtieth chapter of the Reva-khanda of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 30 - The Glory of Dāru Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-5. On the northern bank of Narmadā, there is the excellent Dārutīrtha where an excellent Brāhmaṇa performed penance, O highly esteemed one, and became a Siddha.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

Who is this most excellent Brāhmaṇa Dāruka who became a Siddha there, O great sage? Whose son was he? It behoves you to recount this to me.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

In the great Bhārgava family was born a highly fortunate Brāhmaṇa named Dāru as the son of the intelligent Devaśarman. He was a master of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. He became a celibate student, a householder and a forest-dwelling hermit consecutively. (Ultimately) as a world-renouncing ascetic he performed severe austerities in accordance with the injunctions in regard to the sacred rites of Sannyāsa. O Yudhiṣṭhira, he meditated on Mahādeva, abstaining from food intake. He stayed at that Tīrtha till the end of his life.

6-10. That Tīrtha became well-known in all the three worlds after his name. One should take the holy bath there, in accordance with the injunctions and adore the Pitṛs and deities. He should be truthful in speech and subdue anger. He should be engaged in what is beneficial to all living beings. O king, here itself he will obtain all desires in every respect. If one is engrossed in truth and purity and performs the rite of Upavāsa (fast), he shall undoubtedly attain the benefit of the Sautrāmaṇi sacrifice. A follower of Ṛgveda should recite Ṛk passages; a master of Sāmaveda Sāman hymns; and a follower of Yajurveda should perform the Japa of Yajur Mantras. They will obtain excellent benefit. Śaṅkara said that if a person abandons his life in that Tīrtha in accordance with the injunctions, he will attain the ultimate state from which there is no return.

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