SECTION –LXXXV
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
"Pulastya said, 'Arriving next at the
excellent tirtha called Samvedya in the evening, and touching its waters, one
surely obtaineth knowledge. Created a tirtha in days of yore by Rama's energy,
he that proceedeth to Lauhitya obtaineth the merit of giving away gold in
abundance. Proceeding next to the river Karatoya, and fasting there for three
nights, a man acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Even this is the
injunction of the Creator himself. It hath been said by the wise, O king, that
if a person goeth to the spot where the Ganga mingleth with the sea, he reapeth
merit which is ten times that of the horse-sacrifice. Crossing over to the
opposite bank of the Ganga, he that batheth there having resided for three nights
is, O king, cleansed from all his sins. One should next proceed to the
Vaitarani capable of destroying every sin. Arriving next at the tirtha named
Viraja one shineth like the moon, and sanctifying his race rescueth it and is
himself cleansed of all his sins. He that bathes in Viraja further reapeth the
merit of giving away a thousand kine besides sanctifying his line. Residing
with purity at the confluence of the Sona and the Jyotirathi, and offering
oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris, a man reapeth the merit of the
Agnishtoma sacrifice. Touching next the waters of the Vansagulma constituting
the sources of both the Sona and the Narmada, one obtaineth the merit of the
horse-sacrifice. Sojourning next to the tirtha called Rishabha in Kosala, O
lord of men, and fasting there for three nights one earneth the merit of the
Vajapeya sacrifice, and of the gift of a thousand kine, and also delivereth his
race. Arriving at Kosala, a man should bathe in the tirtha named Kala. By this
one surely obtaineth the merit of giving away one and ten bulls. By bathing in
Pushpavati and fasting there, O king, for three nights one sanctifieth his own
race, besides earning the merit of the gift of a thousand kine. Then, O
foremost of the Bharata race, by bathing in the tirtha called Vadarika, one
obtaineth long life, and also goeth to heaven. Arriving next at Champa, and
bathing in the Bhagirathi, and seeing Danda one earneth the merit of giving
away a thousand kine. Then should one go to the sacred Lapetika, graced by the
presence of the pious. By so doing one reapeth the merit of the Vajapeya
sacrifice and also becometh regarded by the gods. Proceeding next to the
mountain called Mahendra, inhabited (of yore) by Jamadagnya, and bathing in
Rama's tirtha, a person acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. Here is
Matanga's tirtha called Kedara, O son of the Kuru race! Bathing in it, O
foremost of the Kurus, a man obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand
kine. Going to the mountain Sree, one who toucheth the waters of the stream
that is there by worshipping there the god having the bull for his mark
obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice. On the mountain Sree dwelleth
happily, the effulgent Mahadeva with the goddess, as also Brahma with the other
gods. By bathing in the lake of Deva, with purity and restrained mind, one
obtaineth the merit of the-horse-sacrifice, and also attaineth to the highest
success."'
Proceeding next to the mountain Rishabha in
Pandya, worshipped by the gods, one obtains the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice
and rejoices in heaven. One should next proceed to the river Kaveri, frequented
by Apsaras. Bathing there, O monarch, one obtaineth, the merit of giving away a
thousand kine. Touching next the waters of the tirtha called Kanya on the
shores of the sea one is cleansed from every sin. Proceeding next to Gokarna
celebrated over the three worlds, and which is situate, O best of kings, in the
midst of the deep, and is reverenced by all the worlds, and where the gods
headed by Brahma, and Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, and spirits and
Yakshas and Pisachas, and Kinnaras and the great Nagas, and Siddhas and
Charanas and Gandharvas, and men and Pannagas, and rivers, Seas and Mountains,
worship the lord of Uma, one should worship Isana, fasting there for three
nights. By this, one acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and the status
of Ganapatya. By staying there for twelve nights, one's soul is cleansed of all
sins. One should next proceed to the tirtha known as Gayatri celebrated over the
three worlds. Staying there for three nights, one acquireth the merit of giving
away a thousand kine. A strange phenomenon is seen to occur there in respect to
Brahmanas, O Lord of men! If a Brahmana, whether born of a Brahmani or any
other woman, reciteth the Gayatri there, the recitation becomes rhythmic and
musical, while, O king, a person who is not a Brahmana cannot adequately hymn
it at all. Proceeding next to the inaccessible tank of the Brahmana Rishi
Samvarta, one acquireth personal beauty and prosperity. Repairing next to Vena,
he that offers oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris, obtains a car
drawn by peacocks and cranes. Going next to the Godavari, ever frequented by
the Siddhas, one earneth the merit of the cow-sacrifice, and goeth to the
excellent region of Vasuki. Bathing next at the confluence of the Venna, one
obtains the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. By a dip next at the confluence of
Varada, one acquireth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Arriving next
at Brahmasthuna, one that stayeth there for three nights acquireth the merit of
giving away a thousand kine, and also ascendeth to heaven. Coming next to
Kusaplavana, with subdued soul and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, and
staying there for three nights he that bathes in it obtains the merit of the
horse-sacrifice. Bathing next at the romantic Deva-hrada that is supplied by
the waters of the Krishna-Venna, and also in the Jatismara-hrada, one acquireth
the memory of one's former life. It was there that the chief of the celestials
celebrated a hundred sacrifices and ascended to heaven. By a visit only to that
spot, one acquireth the merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. Bathing next in the
Sarvadeva-hrada, a person obtaineth the merit of giving away a thousand kine.
Proceeding next to the highly sacred tank called Payoshni, that best of waters,
he that offers oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris acquires the merit
of the gift of a thousand kine. Arriving next at the sacred forest of Dandaka,
a person should bathe (in the waters) there. By this, O king, one at once
obtains, O Bharata, the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Proceeding next
to the asylum of Sarabhanga and that of the illustrious Suka, one acquireth
immunity from misfortune, besides sanctifying his race. Then should one proceed
to Surparaka, where Jamadagni's son had formerly dwelt. Bathing in that tirtha
of Rama, one acquireth the merit of giving away gold in abundance. Bathing next
in the Saptagadavara, with the subdued sense and regulated diet, one earneth
great merit, and goeth also to the region of the celestials. Proceeding next to
Deva-hrada, with subdued sense and regulated diet, a man obtaineth the merit of
the Devasatra sacrifice. One should proceed next to the forest of Tungaka, with
subdued senses and leading a Brahmacharya mode of life It was here that in
olden days Muni Saraswata taught the Vedas to the ascetics. When the Vedas had
been lost (in consequence of the Munis having forgotten them), Angirasa's son,
seated at ease on the upper garments of the Munis (duly spread out), pronounced
distinctly and with emphasis the syllable Om. And at this, the ascetics again
recollected all that they had learnt before. It was there that the Rishis and
the gods Varuna, Agni, Prajapati, Narayana also called Hari, Mahadeva and the
illustrious Grandsire of great splendour, appointed the resplendent Bhrigu to
officiate at a sacrifice. Gratifying Agni by libations of clarified butter
poured according to the ordinance, the illustrious Bhrigu once performed the
Agnyadhana sacrifice for all those Rishis, after which both they and the gods
went away to their respective homes one after another. One who enters the
forest of Tungaka, is, O best of kings, male or female, cleansed of every sin.
There in that tirtha, O hero, one should reside for a month, with subdued
senses and regulated diet. By this, O king, one ascendeth to the region of
Brahma, and delivereth also his race. Arriving next at Medhavika, one should
offer oblations of water to the gods and the Pitris. By this, one acquires the
merit of the Agnishtoma sacrifice, and also memory and intellect. There in that
tirtha is the mountain known over the whole world and called Kalanjara. Bathing
in the celestial lake that is there, one acquires the merit of giving away a
thousand kine. He that, O king, after a bath, offereth oblations (to the gods
and the Pitris) on the Kalanjara mountain, is, without doubt, regarded in
heaven. Proceeding next, O monarch, to the river Mandakini capable of destroying
all sins and which is on that best of mountains called Chitrakuta, he that
bathes there and worships the gods and the Pitris, obtains the merit of the
horse-sacrifice and attains to an exalted state. One should next, O virtuous
one, proceed to the excellent tirtha called Bhartristhana, where, O king, ever
dwells the celestial generalissimo Kartikeya. By a journey only to that spot, a
person, O foremost of kings, attaineth to success. Bathing next at the tirtha
called Koti, one earneth the merit of giving away a thousand kine. Having
walked round Koti, one should proceed next to Jyeshthasthana. Beholding
Mahadeva who is there, one shineth like the moon. There, O mighty monarch, is a
celebrated well. O bull of the Bharata race! There in that well, O foremost of
warriors, are the four seas. He that bathes there, O foremost of kings, and
with subdued soul worships the gods and the Pitris, is cleansed of all his sins
and attaineth to an exalted state. Then, O mighty king, should one proceed to
the great Sringaverapura, where, O foremost of kings, formerly Rama,
Dasharatha's son, had crossed (the Ganga). Bathing in that tirtha, one, O
mighty-armed one, is cleansed of all his sins. Bathing with subdued senses and
leading a Brahmacharya mode of life, in the Ganga, one is cleansed of every
sin, and obtains also the merit of the Vajapeya sacrifice. One should next
proceed to the place called Mayuravata, consecrated to Mahadeva of high
intelligence. Beholding there the god, bowing down to him and walking round the
spot, one acquireth, O Bharata, the Ganapatya status. Bathing in Ganga at that
tirtha, one is cleansed of all his sins. Then, O king, should one proceed to
Prayaga, whose praises have been sung by Rishis and where dwell the gods with
Brahma at their head, the Directions with their presiding deities, the
Lokapalas, the Siddhas, the Pitris adored by the worlds, the great
Rishis-Sanatkumara and others, stainless Brahmarshis--Angiras and others,--the
Nagas, the Suparnas, the Siddhas, the Snakes, the Rivers, the Seas, the
Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and the Lord Hari with Prajapati. There in that tirtha
are three fiery caverns between which the Ganga, that foremost of tirthas,
rolleth rapidly. There in that region also the world-purifying daughter of the
sun, Yamuna, celebrated over the three worlds, uniteth with the Ganga. The
country between the Ganga and the Yamuna is regarded as the mons veneris of the
world, and Prayaga as the foremost point of that region. The tirthas Prayaga,
Pratisthana, Kamvala, Aswatara and Bhogavati are the sacrificial platforms of
the Creator. There in those places, O foremost of warriors, the Vedas and the
Sacrifices, in embodied forms, and the Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism,
adore Brahma, and there the gods and rulers of territories also celebrate their
sacrifices. The learned, however, say that of all these tirthas, O exalted one,
Prayaga is the most sacred, in fact, the foremost of all tirthas in the three
worlds. By going to that tirtha, by singing its praises, or by taking a little
earth from it, one is cleansed from every sin. He that bathes in that
confluence celebrated over the world, acquires all the merits of the Rajasuya
and the horse-sacrifices. This sacrificial place is worshipped by the gods
themselves. If a man giveth there ever so little, it increaseth, O Bharata, a
thousandfold. O child, let not the texts of the Veda, nor the opinions of men
dissuade thy mind from the desire of dying at Prayaga. O son of the Kuru race,
the wise say that six hundred million and ten thousand tirthas exist at
Prayaga. Bathing in the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, one obtains the merit
that attaches to the four kinds of knowledge and the merits also of those that
are truthful. There at Prayaga is the excellent tirtha of Vasuki called
Bhogavati. He that batheth in it, obtaineth the merit of the horse-sacrifice.
There also in the Ganga is the tirtha famed over the three worlds, called
Ramaprapatana, which conferreth the merit of ten horse-sacrifices. O son of the
Kuru race! Wherever may a person bathe in the Ganga, he earneth merit equal to
that of a trip to Kurukshetra. An exception, however, is made in favour of
Kanakhala, while the merit attaching to Prayaga is the greatest. Having
committed a hundred sins, he that bathes in the Ganga, hath all his sins washed
off by the waters thereof, even as fuel is consumed by fire. It hath been said
that in the Satyayuga all the tirthas were sacred; in the Treta, Pushkara alone
was such; in Dwapara, Kurukshetra; and in the Kali-yuga, the Ganga alone is
sacred. In Pushkara, one should practise austerities; in Mahalaya, one should
give away; in the Malaya mountains, one should ascend the funeral pyre; and in
Bhrigutunga, one should renounce one's body by forgoing food. Bathing in
Pushkara, in Kurukshetra, in the Ganga and in the confluence (of the Ganga and
the Yamuna), one sanctifieth seven generations of one's race up and down. He
that reciteth the name of the Ganga is purified; while he that beholdeth her,
receiveth prosperity; while he that bathes in her and drinks of her waters
sanctifieth seven generations of his race up and down. As long, O king, as
one's bones lie in contact with the waters of the Ganga, so long doth he live
regarded in heaven, even as one liveth in heaven in consequence of the merit he
earneth by pious pilgrimages to sacred tirthas and holy spots. There is no
tirtha that is like unto the Ganga, there is no god like unto Kesava, and there
is none superior to Brahmanas,--this hath been said even by the Grandsire. O
great king, the region through which the Ganga flows should be regarded as a
sacred asylum, and a spot of land that is on the Ganga's banks, should be
regarded as one favourable to the attainment of ascetic success.
This truthful description (of the tirthas) one
should recite only unto the regenerate ones, unto those that are pious, unto
one's son and friends and disciples and dependents. This narrative, without a
rival, is blessed and holy and leadeth to heaven. Holy and entertaining and
sanctifying, it is productive of merit and high worth. Destructive of every
sin, it is a mystery that the great Rishis cherish with care. By reciting it in
the midst of Brahmanas, one is cleansed of every sin, and ascends to heaven.
This description of tirthas is auspicious and heaven-giving and sacred; ever
blessed as it is, it destroys one's enemies; foremost of all accounts, it
sharpens the intellect. By reading this narrative the sonless obtains sons, the
destitute obtains riches, a person of the royal order conquereth the whole
earth, the Vaisya cometh by wealth, the Sudra obtaineth all his desires, and
the Brahmana crosseth the ocean (of the world). Purifying himself, he that
listens daily to the merits of the different tirthas, recollects the incidents
of many previous births and rejoices in heaven. Of the tirthas that have been
recited here, some are easily accessible, while others are difficult of access.
But he that is inspired with the desire of beholding all tirthas, should visit
them even in imagination. Desirous of obtaining merit, the Vasus, and the
Sadhyas, the Adityas, the Maruts, the Aswins, and the Rishis equal unto
celestials, all bathed in these tirthas. Do thou also, O thou of the Kuru race,
observing the ordinance as explained by me, visit, with subdued senses, these
tirthas, increasing thy merit, O thou of excellent vows. Men of piety and
learning are able to visit these tirthas, by reason of their purified senses,
their belief in Godhead, and their acquaintance with the Vedas. He that doth
not observe vows, he that hath not his soul under control, he that is impure,
he that is a thief, and he that is of crooked mind, doth not, O Kauravya, bathe
in tirthas. Thou art ever observant of virtue, and art of pure character. By
thy virtue, O virtuous one, thou hast always gratified thy father and thy
grand-father, and great-grand-fathers, and the gods with Brahma at their head,
and the Rishis also, O thou versed in virtue! Thou who resemblest Vasava, thou
wilt, O Bhishma, attain to the region of the Vasus, and also eternal fame on
earth!'
"Narada continued, 'Having cheerfully spoken
thus, the illustrious Rishi Pulastya, well-pleased, bidding Bhishma farewell,
disappeared there and then. And Bhishma also, O tiger among men, well
understanding the true import of the Shastras, wandered over the world at the
command of Pulastya. Thus, O thou blessed one, did Bhishma end at Prayaga his
highly meritorious journey to the tirthas capable of destroying all sins. The
man that ranges the earth in accordance with these injunctions, obtains the
highest fruit of a hundred horse-sacrifices and earns salvation hereafter. Thou
wilt, O son of Pritha, obtain merit consisting of the eight attributes, even
like that which Bhishma, the foremost of the Kurus, had obtained of yore. And
as thou wilt lead these ascetics to those tirthas, thy merit will be much
greater. Those tirthas are infested by Rakshasas, and no one, save thyself, O
son of Kuru race, can go there. Rising early he that reciteth this narrative by
the celestial Rishis on the subject of the tirthas, becometh free from all
sins. Those foremost of Rishis, Valmiki, and Kasyapa, and Atreya, and
Kundajathara, and Viswamitra, and Gautama, and Asita, and Devala, and
Markandeya, and Galava, and Bharadwaja, and Vasishtha, and the Muni Uddalaka,
and Saunaka with his son, and Vyasa, that best of ascetics, and Durvasas, that
foremost of Munis, and Javali of great austerities--all these illustrious
Rishis endued with wealth of asceticism, are staying in expectation of thee.
With these, O mighty king, do thou meet by visiting these tirthas. And, O
illustrious monarch, a great Rishi of immeasurable energy, Lomasa by name, will
come to thee. Do thou follow him, and me, and by turns visit these tirthas, O
thou virtuous one! By this, thou wilt acquire great fame, like king Mahabhisha!
O tiger among kings, even as the virtuous Yayati and king Pururavas, dost thou
blaze forth with thy own virtue. Like king Bhagiratha and the illustrious Rama,
dost thou shine among kings even as the Sun himself. And thou art, O great
king, celebrated (in the world) even as Muni or Ikshwaku, or the highly famous
Puru or Vainya! And as in days of yore the slayer of Vritra, after burning all
his foes, ruled the three worlds, his mind freed from anxiety, so wilt thou
rule thy subjects, after slaying all thy enemies. And, O thou of eyes like
lotus leaves, having conquered the earth according to the customs of thy order,
thou wilt obtain renown by thy virtue, even like Kartaviryaryuna.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "O great king,
having comforted the monarch thus, the illustrious Rishi Narada, bidding
farewell to the king, disappeared there and then. And the virtuous
Yudhishthira, reflecting upon the subject, began to recite unto the ascetics the
merit attaching to tirthas!"
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