The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Tirtha-yatra Parva), SECTION LXXXVI

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having ascertained the opinion of his brothers,

and of the intelligent Narada, king Yudhishthira, addressing Dhaumya, who

was like unto the Grandsire himself, said, 'I have for the acquisition of

arms, sent away that tiger among men, Jishnu, whose prowess is incapable

of being baffled, and who is possessed of long arms and immeasurable

intelligence. O thou of ascetic wealth, that hero is devoted to me,

endued with ability, and well-skilled in weapons, and like unto the

exalted Vasudeva himself. I know them both, Krishna and Arjuna, those

destroyers of enemies, O Brahmana, endued with prowess, even as the

puissant Vyasa knoweth them. I know Vasudeva and Dhananjaya to be none

else than Vishnu himself, possessed of the six attributes. And this is

also what Narada knoweth, for he hath always spoken so unto me. I also

know them to be Rishis, Nara and Narayana. Knowing him to possess the

ability, I have sent him (on the mission). Not inferior unto Indra and

fully competent (for the task), I have sent that son of a god to see the

lord of the celestials and obtain weapons from him. Bhishma and Drona are

Atirathas. Kripa and the son of Drona are invincible; these mighty

warriors have been installed by Dhritarashtra's son in the command of his

army. All these are versed in the Vedas, are heroic, and possessed of the

knowledge of every weapon. Endued with great strength, these always

desire to encounter Arjuna in fight. And Karna also of the Suta caste is

a mighty warrior versed in celestial weapons. In respect of the impetus

of his weapons, he is endued with the strength of the Wind-god. Himself

like a flame of fire, the arrows (proceeding from him) constitute its

tongues. The slaps of his left hand cased in leathern fence constitute

the crackling of that flame. The dust of the battle-field is its smoke.

Urged by the sons of Dhritarashtra even as the wind urgeth the fire,

Karna like unto the all-consuming fire at the end of the Yuga that is

sent by Death himself, will, without doubt, consume my troops like unto a

heap of straw. Only that mighty mass of clouds called Arjuna, aided by

Krishna like unto a powerful wind, with celestial weapon representing its

fierce lightning, the white steeds, the rows of white cranes coursing

underneath and the unbearable Gandiva, the rainbow ahead, is capable of

extinguishing the blazing flame represented by Karna by means of its

arrowy showers let off with unflagging steadiness. That conqueror of

hostile cities, Vibhatsu, will, without doubt, succeed in obtaining from

Indra himself all the celestial weapons with their fullness and life.

Alone he is equal, I think, unto them all. Otherwise it is impossible

(for us) to vanquish in fight all those foes, who have attained to

eminent success in all their purposes. We shall behold Arjuna, that

repressor of foes, fully equipped with celestial weapons, for Vibhatsu

having once undertaken a task, never, droopeth under its weight. Without

that hero, however, that best of men, ourselves, with Krishna, cannot be

at rest in Kamyaka. Therefore, do thou mention some other wood that is

sacred and delightful, and abounds in food and fruits, and that is

inhabited by men of pious practices:--where we may pass some time,

expecting the warlike Arjuna of unbaffled prowess, like the Chataka in

expectation of gathering clouds. Do thou tell us of some asylums open to

the regenerate ones, and lakes and streams and beautiful mountains. O

Brahmana, deprived of Arjuna, I do not like to stay in this wood of

Kamyaka. We wish to go somewhere else.'"

SECTION LXXXVII

Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the Pandavas afflicted with anxiety and

depressed in spirits, Dhaumya, who resembled Vrihaspati, spake thus,

comforting them, 'O bull of the Bharata race, O sinless one, listen to me

as I mention certain sacred asylums and regions and tirthas and mountains

that are approved of by Brahmanas. O king, listen to me as I speak,

thyself with the daughter of Drupada and thy brothers, wilt, O lord of

men, be relieved from grief. And, O son of Pandu, by hearing only of

these places, thou wilt acquire merit. And by visiting them thou wilt

obtain merit a hundred times greater, O best of men! First, O king, I

will, so far as I recollect, speak of the beautiful eastern country, much

regarded, O Yudhishthira, by royal Rishis. In that direction, O Bharata

is a place called Naimisha which is regarded by the celestials. There in

that region are several sacred tirthas belonging to the gods. There also

is the sacred and beautiful Gomati which is adored by celestial Rishis

and there also in [possibly 'is'?--JBH] the sacrificial region of the

gods and the sacrificial stake of Surya. In that quarter also is that

best of hills called Gaya, which is sacred and much regarded by royal

ascetics. There on that hill, is the auspicious lake called Brahmasara

which is adored by celestial Rishis. It is for this that the ancients say

that one should wish for many sons, so that even one among them may visit

Gaya, celebrate the horse-sacrifice or give away a nila bull, and thereby

deliver ten generations of his race up and down. There, O monarch, is a

great river, and spot called Gayasira. In Gayasira is a banian, which is

called by the Brahmanas the Eternal banian, for the food that is offered

there to the Pitris becometh eternal, O exalted one! The great river that

floweth by the place is known by the name of Phalgu, and its waters are

all sacred. And, O bull among the Bharatas, there also, in that place, is

the Kausiki, whose basin abounds in various fruit and roots, and where

Viswamitra endued with wealth of asceticism acquired Brahmanahood.

Towards that direction also is the sacred Ganga, on whose banks

Bhagiratha celebrated many sacrifices with profuse gifts (to Brahmanas).

They say that in the country of Panchala, there is a wood called Utpala,

where Viswamitra of Kusika's race had performed sacrifices with his son,

and where beholding the relics of Viswamitra's superhuman power, Rama,

the son of Jamadagni, recited the praises of his ancestry. At Kamyaka,

Kusika's son had quaffed the Soma juice with Indra. Then abandoning the

Kshatriya order, he began to say, I am a Brahmana.' In that quarter, O

hero is the sacred confluence of Ganga and Yamuna which is celebrated

over the world. Holy and sin-destroying, that tirtha is much regarded by

the Rishis. It is there that the soul of all things, the Grandsire, had,

in olden days, performed his sacrifice, and it is for this, O chief of

the Bharata race, that the place hath come to be called Prayaga. In this

direction, O foremost of kings, lieth the excellent asylum of Agastya, O

monarch, and the forest called Tapasa, decked by many ascetics. And there

also is the great tirtha called Hiranyavinda on the Kalanjara hills, and

that best of mountains called Agastya, which is beautiful, sacred and

auspicious. In that quarter, O descendant of the Kuru race, is the

mountain called Mahendra, sacred to the illustrious Rama of the Bhrigu

race. There, O son of Kunti, the Grandsire performed sacrifices of yore.

There, O Yudhishthira, the sacred Bhagiratha entereth a lake and there

also, O king, is that sacred river known by the name of the

merit-bestowing Brahmasara, whose banks are inhabited by persons whose

sins have been washed away, and whose sight alone produceth merit. In

that direction also lieth the high-souled Matanga's excellent asylum,

called Kedara which is sacred and auspicious and celebrated over the

world. And there also is the mountain called Kundoda, which is so

delightful and abounding in fruits and roots and waters, and where the

king of the Nishadhas (Nala) had slaked his thirst and rested for a

while. In that quarter also is the delightful Deva-vana which is graced

by ascetics. There also are the rivers Vahuda and Nanda on the mountain's

crest. O mighty king, I have described unto thee all the tirthas and

sacred spots in the Eastern quarter. Do thou now hear of the sacred

tirthas, and rivers and mountains and holy spots in the other three

quarters!'"

SECTION LXXXVIII

"Dhaumya continued, 'Listen, O Bharata, I shall now narrate to thee in

detail according to my knowledge, the sacred tirthas of the south. In

that quarter lieth the sacred and auspicious river Godavari, full of

water abounding in groves and frequented by ascetics. In that direction

also are the rivers Venna and Bhimarathi, both capable of destroying sin

and fear, and abounding in birds and deer, and graced with abodes of

ascetics. In that region also, O bull of the Bharata race, is the tirtha

of the royal ascetic, Nriga viz., the river Payoshni, which is delightful

and full of waters and visited by Brahmanas. There the illustrious

Markandeya, of high ascetic merit sang the praises in verse of king

Nriga's line! We have heard respecting the sacrificing king Nriga that

which really took place while he was performing a sacrifice in the

excellent tirtha called Varaha on the Payoshni. In that sacrifice Indra

became intoxicated with quaffing the Soma, and the Brahmanas, with the

gifts they received. The water of the Payoshni, taken up (in vessel), or

flowing along the ground, or conveyed by the wind, can cleanse a person

from whatever sins he may commit till the day of his death. Higher than

heaven itself, and pure, and created and bestowed by the trident-bearing

god, there in that tirtha is an image of Mahadeva beholding which a

mortal goeth to the region of Siva. Placing on one scale Ganga and the

other rivers with their waters, and on the other, the Payoshni, the

latter, in my opinion would be superior to all the tirthas, together, in

point of merit! Then, O foremost of the Bharata race, on the mountain

called Varunasrotasa is the sacred and auspicious wood of Mathara

abounding in fruits and roots, and containing a sacrificial stake. Then,

O king, it is said that in the region on the north of the Praveni, and

about the sacred asylum of Kanwa, are many woody retreats of ascetics.

And, O child, in the tirtha called Surparaka are two sacrificial

platforms of the illustrious Jamadagni, called Pashana and Punaschandra,

O Bharata! And, O son of Kunti, in that spot is the tirtha called Asoka

abounding in woody retreats of ascetics. And, O Yudhishthira, in the

country of the Pandyas are the tirthas named Agastya and Varuna! And, O

bull among men, there, amongst the Pandavas, is the tirtha called the

Kumaris. Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that

asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of

obtaining salvation. In that region also is the lake of Gokarna which is

celebrated over the three worlds, hath an abundance of cool waters, and

is sacred, auspicious, and capable, O child, of producing great merit.

That lake is extremely difficult of access to men of unpurified souls.

Near to that tirtha is the sacred asylum of Agastya's disciple, the

mountain Devasabha, which abounds in trees and grass, and fruits and

roots. And there also is the Vaiduryya mountain, which is delightful

abounding in gems and capable of bestowing great merit. There on that

mountain is the asylum of Agastya abounding in fruits and roots and

water.'"

"I shall now, O lord of men, describe the sacred spots, and asylums, and

rivers and lakes belonging to the Surashtra country! O Yudhishthira, the

Brahmanas say that on the sea-coast is the Chamasodbheda, and also

Prabhasa, that tirtha which is much regarded by the gods. There also is

the tirtha called Pindaraka, frequented by ascetics and capable of

producing great merit. In that region is a mighty hill named Ujjayanta

which conduceth to speedy success. Regarding it the celestial Rishi

Narada of great intelligence hath recited an ancient sloka. Do thou

listen to it, O Yudhishthira! By performing austerities on the sacred

hill of Ujjayanta in Surashtra, that abounds in birds and animals, a

person becometh regarded in heaven. There also is Dwaravati, producing

great merit, where dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, who is the Ancient one

in embodied form, and eternal virtue. Brahmanas versed in the Vedas, and

persons acquainted with the philosophy of the soul say that the

illustrious Krishna is eternal Virtue. Govinda is said to be the purest

of all pure things, the righteous of the righteous and the auspicious of

the auspicious. In all the three worlds, He of eyes like lotus-leaves is

the God of gods, and is eternal. He is the pure soul and the active

principle of life, is the Supreme Brahma and is the lord of all. That

slayer of Madhu, Hari of inconceivable soul, dwelleth there!"

SECTION LXXXIX

"Dhaumya continued, 'I shall describe to thee those sacred spots capable

of producing merit that lie on the west, in the country of the Anarttas,

O Bharata, there, flows in a westward course the sacred river Narmada,

graced by Priyangu and mango trees, and engarlanded with thickest of

canes. All the tirthas and sacred spots, and rivers and woods and

foremost of mountains that are in the three worlds, all the gods with the

Grandsire, along with the Siddhas, the Rishis and the Charanas, O best of

the Kurus, always come, O Bharata, to bathe in the sacred waters of the

Narmada. And it hath been heard by us that the sacred asylum of the Muni

Visravas, had stood there, and that there was born the lord of treasures,

Kuvera, having men for his vehicles. There also is that foremost of

hills, the sacred and auspicious Vaidurya peak abounding with trees that

are green and which are always graced with fruit and flowers. O lord of

the earth, on the top of that mountain is a sacred tank decked with

full-blown lotus and resorted to by the gods and the Gandharvas. Many are

the wonders, O mighty monarch, that may be seen on that sacred mountain

which is like unto heaven itself and which is visited by celestial

Rishis. There, O subjugator of hostile cities, is the sacred river called

Viswamitra belonging to the royal sage of that name and which abounds, O

king, in many sacred tirthas. It was on the banks of this river, that

Yayati, the son of Nahusha, (fell from heaven) among the virtuous, and

obtained once more the eternal regions of the righteous. Here also are

the well-known lake called Punya, the mountain called Mainaka, and that

other mountain called Asita abounding in fruits and roots. And here also

is the sacred asylum of Kakshasena, and O Yudhishthira, the asylum of

Chyavana also, which is famed over every country, O son of Pandu! In that

spot, O exalted one, men attain to (ascetic) success without severe

austerities. Here also, O mighty king, is the region called Jamvumarga,

inhabited by birds and deer, and which constitutes the retreat of

ascetics with souls under control, O thou foremost of those that have

subdued their senses! Next lie the exceedingly sacred Ketumala, and

Medhya ever graced with ascetics, and, O lord of earth, Gangadwara, and

the well-known woods of Saindhava which are sacred and inhabited by the

regenerate ones. There also is the celebrated tank of the Grandsire,

called Pushkara, the favourite abode of the Vaikanasas, and Siddhas and

Rishis. Moved by the desire of obtaining its protection, the Creator sang

this verse at Pushkara, O chief of the Kurus and foremost of virtuous

men! If a person of pure soul purposes a pilgrimage to the Pushkaras in

imagination even, he becometh purged from all his sins and rejoiceth in

heaven!'"

SECTION XC

"Dhaumya continued, 'O tiger among kings, I shall now describe those

tirthas and sacred spots that lie to the north. Do thou, O exalted one,

listen to me attentively. By hearing this narration, O hero, one

acquireth a reverential frame of mind, which conduceth to much good. In

that region is the highly sacred Saraswati abounding in tirthas and with

banks easy of descent. There also, O son of Pandu, is the ocean-going and

impetuous Yamuna, and the tirtha called Plakshavatarana, productive of

high merit and prosperity. It was there that the regenerate ones having

performed the Saraswata sacrifice, bathed on the completion there of. O

sinless one, is the well-known celestial tirtha called Agnisiras, which

is productive of great merit. There king Sahadeva had celebrated a

sacrifice measuring out the ground by a throw of the Samya. It is for

this reason, O Yudhishthira, that Indra sang the praises of Sahadeva in

verse. Those verses are still current in this world, being recited by the

regenerate ones, e. g., on the Yamuna Sahadeva worshipped the sacrificial

fire, with gifts in a hundred thousands to Brahmanas. There the

illustrious king, the imperial Bharata, performed five and thirty

horse-sacrifices. O child, we have heard that Sarabhanga of yore used to

fully gratify the desires of the regenerate ones. There in this region is

his celebrated asylum productive of great merit. In that region also, O

son of Pritha, is the river Saraswati, which is ever worshipped by the

god, where, in days of yore, the Valikhilyas, O great king, performed

sacrifices. In that region also, O Yudhishthira, is the well-known river

Drisadwati, which is productive of great merit. Then, O chief of men, are

Nyagrodhakhya, and Panchalya, and Punyaka and Dalbhyaghosha, and Dalbhya,

which are, O son of Kunti, the sacred asylum in the world of illustrious

Anandayasas of excellent vows and great energy, and which are celebrated

over the three worlds. Here also, O lord of men, the illustrious Etavarna

and Avavarana versed in the Vedas, learned in Vedic lore, and proficient

in the knowledge of Vedic rites, performed meritorious sacrifices, O

chief of the Bharata race! There also is Visakhayupa to which, in days of

yore, came the gods with Varuna and Indra, and practised ascetic

austerities. And therefore is that spot so eminently sacred. Here also is

Palasaka, where the great and illustrious and highly blessed Rishi

Jamadagni performed sacrifices. There all the principal rivers in their

embodied forms taking their respective waters stood surrounding that best

of sages. And there also, O monarch, Vibhavasu (fire) himself, beholding

that high-souled one's initiation, sang the following sloka: 'The river

coming to the illustrious Jamadagni while sacrificing unto the gods

gratified the Brahmanas with offerings of honey.' O Yudhishthira, the

spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which

is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and

inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara. O king,

Sanatkumara regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshis, as also the

tirtha Kanakhala (that is near to it), as sacred. There also is the

mountain named Puru which is resorted to by great Rishis and where

Pururavas was born, and Bhrigu practised ascetic austerities. For this it

is, O king, that asylum hath become known as the great peak of

Bhrigutunga. Near that peak is the sacred and extensive Vadari, that

highly meritorious asylum, famed over the three worlds, of him, O bull of

the Bharata race, who is the Present, the Past and the Future, who is

called Narayana and the lord Vishnu, who is eternal and the best of male

beings, and who is pre-eminently illustrious. Near Vadari, the cool

current of Ganga was formerly warm, and the banks there were overspread

with golden sands. There the gods and Rishis of high fortune and

exceeding effulgence, approaching the divine lord Narayana, always

worship him. The entire universe with all its tirthas and holy spots is

there where dwelleth the divine and eternal Narayana, the Supreme soul,

for he is Merit, he is the Supreme Brahma, he is tirtha, he is the

ascetic retreat, he is the First, he is the foremost of gods, and he is

the great Lord of all creatures. He is eternal, he is the great Creator,

and he is the highest state of blessedness. Learned persons versed in the

scriptures attain to great happiness by knowing him. In that spot are the

celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and, indeed, all the Rishis,--where

dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, that primeval Deity and mighty Yogin! Let

no doubt enter thy heart that that spot is the foremost of all holy

spots. These, O lord of earth, are the tirthas and sacred spots on earth,

that I have recited, O best of men! These all are visited by the Vasus,

the Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Marutas, the Aswins and the illustrious

Rishis resembling the celestials themselves. By journeying, O son of

Kunti, to those places, with the Brahmanas and ascetics that are with

thee and with thy blessed brothers, thou wilt be freed from anxiety!"