03.083
Pulastya said.
Then, at the time of twilight, after approaching and experiencing the supreme sacred place and having performed the ritual touch, a man becomes learned; there is no doubt about this. (03-83-1)
O king, by the favor of Rāma in former times, the holy place was established. Whoever reaches that Lohitya should find much gold. (03-83-2)
If a man comes to the river Karatoya and observes a fast for three nights, he attains the merit of performing an Aśvamedha sacrifice when performing the ancestral rite. (03-83-3)
O king, the wise declare that at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the ocean, the result is ten times greater than an aśvamedha sacrifice. (03-83-4)
O Bhārata, he who, after reaching another island of Gaṅgā, bathes there and has fasted for three nights, O king, may attain all desires. (03-83-5)
Then, after crossing the Vaitaraṇī—the river that frees one from sin—upon reaching the spotless sacred ford, one shines like the moon. (03-83-6)
In a virtuous family, a man removes all sin; having obtained merit equal to a thousand cows, he also purifies the family. (03-83-7)
Whoever dwells in purity at the confluence of the Śoṇa, Jyoti, and Arthyā rivers, and having satisfied the ancestors and gods, attains the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice. (03-83-8)
O descendant of the Kurus, one who touches the bamboo thicket at the source of the Śoṇa and Narmadā rivers attains the result of a horse-sacrifice. (03-83-9)
O king, having approached the holy place of Ṛṣabha in Kośalā, a man who has fasted for three nights obtains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice. (03-83-10)
Having reached Kāla-tīrtha in Kośalā, one who bathes (touches the water) obtains the merit equal to giving eleven bulls; there is no doubt about this. (03-83-11)
If a man, having fasted for three nights, bathes in the Puṣpavatī river, he gains the merit of a thousand cows and uplifts his family as well. (03-83-12)
After bathing with a purified mind at the sacred place of Badarikā, one obtains long life and also attains the heavenly world. (03-83-13)
From there, having reached Mahendra, which was honored by the son of Jamadagni, at Rāma-tīrtha, a man who bathes may obtain the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. (03-83-14)
O king, the field of Mataṅga is just there, O Kurunandana. Bathing there, a man attains the merit equal to that of donating a thousand cows. (03-83-15)
Approaching the sacred mountain and touching the river bank, one attains the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and goes to heaven. (03-83-16)
Upon the auspicious mountain, the great lord Mahadeva, of immense radiance, resided with the goddess in supreme delight. Brahma also remained there, attended by the gods. (03-83-17)
There, having bathed in the sacred lake of the gods, one becomes pure and focused in mind; one obtains the fruit of the horse sacrifice and attains supreme success. (03-83-18)
By going to the Ṛṣabha mountain, venerated by the gods and located in the land of the Pāṇḍyas, one attains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice and delights in heaven. (03-83-19)
Then one should go to the Kāverī, which is surrounded by groups of celestial nymphs. There, O King, after bathing, a man attains the merit equal to donating a thousand cows. (03-83-20)
Then, on the shore of the ocean at Kanyā-tīrtha, one should bathe. There, having done so, O king, one is freed from all sins. (03-83-21)
Then, O king, having reached Gokarna, which is famous in the three worlds, situated in the midst of the ocean and respected by all beings, (03-83-22)
Where Brahmā and other gods, sages, ascetics, spirits, yakṣas, piśācas, kinnaras, and great serpents all reside together. (03-83-23)
Siddhas, cāraṇas, gandharvas, humans, serpents likewise, as well as rivers, oceans, and mountains were worshipping Umāpati (the husband of Umā). (03-83-24)
There, by devoutly worshipping Īśāna and fasting for three nights, a man attains the merit of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices and obtains lordship among the Gaṇas. But if he remains for twelve nights, he becomes one with controlled self. (03-83-25)
That very place of Gāyatrī, renowned throughout the three worlds; whoever stays there for three nights obtains the merit of gifting a thousand cows. (03-83-26)
O king, as an example and direct proof among Brāhmaṇas: whoever, though born of mixed caste, recites the Gāyatrī—be it even as a verse or a song—the consequence occurs to him, O king. (03-83-27)
But having reached the pond of the sage Saṁvarta, which is difficult to obtain, one becomes a partaker of beauty and is indeed born fortunate. (03-83-28)
Then, having reached the Veṇṇā river and offering oblations to the ancestral deities, a man obtains a celestial vehicle adorned with peacocks and swans. (03-83-29)
Then, having reached the Godāvarī—which is always attended by siddhas—this person obtains the world of cows and may attain the realm of Vāsuki. (03-83-30)
Bathing at the confluence of the Veṇṇā grants the merit of a Vājapeya sacrifice; at the confluence of the Varadā, one gains the merit of gifting a thousand cows. (03-83-31)
If a man approaches the Brahman-seat and stays there for three nights, he attains the merit equal to gifting a thousand cows and reaches heaven. (03-83-32)
If a brahmacārī, having reached a kuśa-grass thicket, stays there with concentration for three nights and then bathes, he obtains the merit of an aśvamedha sacrifice. (03-83-33)
O king, from there (the pilgrimage continued) in the beautiful sacred lake that arises from the waters of the Kṛṣṇaveṇṇā, and in the special lake for caste purification, and likewise in Kanyāśrama. (03-83-34)
Where the king of the gods reached heaven by performing hundreds of sacrifices, simply going there is itself equivalent to attaining hundreds of Agniṣṭoma sacrifices, O Bhārata. (03-83-35)
Whoever bathes in the pool of all the gods obtains the merit equivalent to giving a thousand cows. If a person bathes in the pool of birth, he becomes one who remembers his previous births. (03-83-36)
After that, having reached the highly sacred river Payoṣṇī, which is the best of rivers, and engaging in the worship of ancestral deities, one attains the merit equivalent to giving a thousand cows. (03-83-37)
O great king, upon reaching the Daṇḍaka forest, one should purify oneself; there, O Bhārata, bathing even once yields the merit equivalent to gifting a thousand cows. (03-83-38)
A man who goes to the hermitage of Śarabhaṅga and the great-souled Śuka does not meet misfortune, and he also purifies his family. (03-83-39)
Then, one should go to Śūrparaka, which was frequented by Jamadagnya (Paraśurāma). At Rāma-tīrtha, a man who bathes there obtains much gold. (03-83-40)
By bathing in the Sapta-Godāvarī, a self-restrained person with regulated food-habits gains great merit and goes to the world of the gods. (03-83-41)
Thereafter, a man who is self-restrained and eats regulated food should tread the path of the gods; he attains the merit belonging to the divine sacrifice. (03-83-42)
Long ago, the sage Sārasvata, a brahmacārī with controlled senses, reached the Tunga forest and there taught the Vedas. (03-83-43)
There, O Bhārata, the son of sage Angiras, seated among the great sages upon their upper garments, restored the lost Vedas. (03-83-44)
By the pronunciation of oṅkāra in the proper way and correctly, whatever someone has practiced before becomes manifest to him. (03-83-45)
There (were present) the seers, and the gods—Varuṇa, Agni, Prajāpati, Hari, Nārāyaṇa, the god Mahādeva, likewise also. (03-83-46)
The Grandfather, the blessed one of great splendor, together with the gods, appointed the illustrious Bhṛgu for the purpose of the sacrifice. (03-83-47)
Then, at that time, the revered one performed the re-consecration for all the ṛṣis according to the prescribed procedure.
Indeed, there, with their prescribed shares of clarified butter properly offered, the gods, being satisfied, went to their respective realms across the three worlds, and the sages departed as they pleased. (03-83-49)
O best of kings, all the sins of a woman or a man who enters that Tuṅgaka forest are destroyed. (03-83-50)
There, a steady-minded, self-controlled man of regulated food should dwell for a month. O King, such a man attains the world of Brahman and also purifies his family. (03-83-51)
By performing the medhāvika offering and thereby satisfying the ancestors and the gods, one attains the merit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and acquires both memory and intelligence. (03-83-52)
Then, having gone to Kālañjara, the mountain renowned throughout the world, and having bathed there in the divine pond, one obtains the merit equivalent to gifting a thousand cows. (03-83-53)
O king, there on Kalanjara mountain, a man who perfects himself will surely be honored in heaven; there is no doubt about this. (03-83-54)
Then, O lord of men, upon the best among the excellent mountains at Citrakūṭa, having approached the Mandakini, the river that removes sins. (03-83-55)
There, one who performs consecration and is devoted to the worship of ancestors and gods attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice and also reaches the highest state. (03-83-56)
O king of kings, from there you should go to the unsurpassed seat of the Lord, where Lord Mahasena (Kartikeya) is always present, O king. (03-83-57)
O best among men, merely by going there, a man succeeds; and by bathing at Koṭitīrtha, a man may obtain the merit equal to that of giving a thousand cows. (03-83-58)
Having completed the circumambulation, a man should proceed to the chief seat; having approached Mahadeva, he shines like the moon. (03-83-59)
O great king, O bull among the Bharatas, there is a famous well. Four oceans reside there, O Yudhishthira. (03-83-60)
There, after performing ritual touching (purification) and circumambulation, the self-controlled man, made pure, attains the highest goal, O king. (03-83-61)
Then, O best of the Kurus, you should go to the great city Śṛṅgaverapura, where, in former times, the great king Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, crossed. (03-83-62)
But when a man, a disciplined celibate, bathes in the Gaṅgā, he becomes free from sin and obtains the merit of a Vājapeya sacrifice. (03-83-63)
O king, having approached and worshipped Mahādeva, and having circumambulated him, one attains the lordship of the Gaṇas. (03-83-64)
After that, O king, one should proceed to Prayāga, which is praised by sages, where Brahmā, the other gods, and the directions together with their presiding deities are present. (03-83-65)
The guardians of the worlds, the Sādhyas, the spirits of destruction, and the ancestors; likewise, Sanatkumāra and the chief among the supreme sages (were present). (03-83-66)
Aṅgiras and others as chiefs, along with the Brahmarṣis; similarly the Nāgas, the Suparṇas, the Siddhas, and those who wander in chariots, were also present. (03-83-67)
Rivers, oceans, Gandharvas, Apsarases, and further, the blessed Hari (Viṣṇu), accompanied by Prajāpati, dwell there. (03-83-68)
There, there are three fire-pits, with Gaṅgā in their midst, who has emerged from Prayāga, led by all the holy places. (3-83-69)
There, Yamunā, the daughter of the Sun and famed in the three worlds, united with Gaṅgā, is the purifier of worlds. (03-83-70)
The region between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rivers is regarded as the hip of the earth. The sages know Prayāga, at the end of the hip, as the genital region. (03-83-71)
Prayāga, together with Pratiṣṭhāna, as well as Kambala and Aśvatara, the tirtha of Bhogavatī, and Vedi — these are declared by Prajāpati as sacred places. (03-83-72)
There, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the Vedas and sacrifices, embodied, worship Prajāpati; the great sages do likewise. The gods perform sacrifices with sacred rites, and so also do the heavenly bodies, O king. (03-83-73)
Therefore, there is nothing more holy in the three worlds, O Bhārata. Prayāga surpasses all other sacred places, O mighty one. (03-83-74)
A man is freed from sin simply by hearing about that sacred place, by reciting its name, or even by taking its earth. (03-83-75)
Whoever, firm in vow, performs an ablution at that confluence, obtains the merit resulting from both the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices. (03-83-76)
O Bhārata, this place of sacrifice, even honored by the gods, makes even the smallest offering given here become great. (03-83-77)
O dear father, neither the statements of the Veda nor those of the world should cause your mind to turn away from dying at Prayāga. (03-83-78)
O descendant of Kuru, here are mentioned ten thousand sacred fords, sixty crores, and other such places whose presence is found right here. (03-83-79)
Whatever merit is obtained from studying the four Vedas and from speaking the truth, one attains just that by bathing at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. (03-83-80)
There is a renowned holy place of Vāsuki called Bhogavatī. Whoever performs an ablution there attains the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. (03-83-81)
There is Haṃsaprapatana, the holy place renowned in the three worlds, and also Daśāśvamedhika in the Gaṅgā, O joy of the Kurus. (03-83-82)
O great king, wherever the Gaṅgā flows, that region is a forest of austerities. That is to be recognized as a special holy place, located near the bank of the Gaṅgā. (03-83-83)
This truth should be recited in the ear of the twice-born, the virtuous, one's own son, and obedient friends or disciples. (03-83-84)
This is righteous, meritorious, pure, and pleasant; this leads to heaven, is delightful, purifying, and excellent. (03-83-85)
This secret of the great seers, which grants liberation from all sins—he who studies it among the twice-born attains purity. (03-83-86)
Whoever always hears this account of the merit of holy places while remaining ever pure, he remembers many births and rejoices on the summit of heaven. (03-83-87)
One should, by the mind, visit those praised holy places, whether accessible or not, considering all holy sites. (03-83-88)
These places have been sought after by the Vasus, the Sādhyas, the Ādityas, the Maruts and Aśvins, the Ṛṣis who are like the gods, and by the virtuous seekers. (03-83-89)
Therefore, O Kauravya, you too should, with discipline and by this method, O suvrata, visit the holy places; merit increases through merit. (03-83-90)
Previously, through established causes—namely faith and the perception of the Veda—those holy places are attained by the virtuous, by those of good conduct who follow the example of others. (03-83-91)
O Kaurava, a man who is without vows, without self-discipline, impure, a thief, or has a crooked mind does not truly bathe at sacred waters. (03-83-92)
But by you, O dear one, ever of right conduct and with insight into righteousness and purpose, all the fathers and forefathers have been helped across. (03-83-93)
O king, the gods headed by the grandsire and accompanied by groups of sages are always indeed highly pleased with your righteousness, O knower of dharma. (03-83-94)
You will surely attain the worlds of the Vasus like Indra; and Bhīṣma, you will obtain great and eternal fame on earth. (03-83-95)
Nārada said.
Thus having spoken and given permission, Pulastya, the exalted sage, pleased at heart, disappeared right there. (03-83-96)
And Bhīṣma, O best of the Kurus, who understood the true meaning of the scriptures, traversed the earth as spoken by Pulastya. (03-83-97)
Whoever travels the earth by this method will enjoy, after death, the excellent fruit equal to a hundred Ashvamedha sacrifices. (03-83-98)
From this, O Pārtha, you will attain eightfold supreme dharma; and you will become the leader of sages from this, thus for you there will be an eightfold result. (03-83-99)
O Bhārata, these holy places are covered by groups of rākṣasas; O joy of the Kurus, there is no way for anyone except you.
Whoever reads this narrative of the divine sage, which contains the essence of all holy places, in the morning after rising, is freed from all sins. (03-83-101)
Where the chief sages always were—Vālmīki, Kāśyapa, Ātreya, Kauṇḍinya, Viśvāmitra, and Gautama. (03-83-102)
Asita, Devala, Markandeya, Galava, Bharadvaja, Vasishtha, and also the sage Uddalaka. (03-83-103)
Śaunaka along with his son, Vyāsa, the foremost among those who mutter sacred words, Durvāsās the chief of sages, and Gālava, the great ascetic, (were there). (03-83-104)
All these excellent sages, endowed with ascetic wealth, are waiting for you. O great king, go along with them to these sacred places. (03-83-105)
This is the divine sage named Lomaśa, of infinite brightness. He will come to you; follow him together.
O knower of dharma, follow these sacred places together with me; you will attain great fame, just as King Mahābhiṣa did. (03-83-107)
Just as Yayati, who was by nature righteous, and just as King Pururavas, in the same way, O best of the Kurus, you also shine by your own righteousness. (03-83-108)
Just as King Bhagīratha and Rāma were famous, so too, you shine among all kings like the radiant sun. (03-83-109)
Just as Manu, Ikṣvāku, Pūru the greatly renowned, and Vainya the one of great energy—so too are you renowned. (03-83-110)
Just as Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, formerly burned up all his rivals, so, having destroyed your enemies, you will protect your subjects. (03-83-111)
O lotus-eyed one, having gained the earth by conquering through your own dharma, you will achieve fame through righteousness, just as Kārtavīrya Arjuna did. (3-83-112)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, after reassuring the king, the venerable sage Nārada, having taken leave of the great-souled king, disappeared on the spot. (03-83-113)
Yudhishthira, who was also righteous at heart, reflecting on that very matter, informed (his brothers) about the holy pilgrimage place of the sages. (03-83-114)
