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Library: Significance of the holy place Badarapachana, renowned for its perfected ascetic practices and maidens steadfast in their vows. Story of Priyamvada and Arundhati.
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
Then Rama proceeded to the sacred site of Badarapachana, renowned for its perfected ascetic practices and maidens steadfast in their vows.
Srucavati, the daughter of Bharadvaja, was renowned on earth for her unparalleled beauty and was known as a celibate maiden, O lord.
The beautiful lady, determined that her husband should become the lord of the gods, practiced very intense penance with many disciplines, O king.
O scion of the Kuru dynasty, many years have passed as she practiced those severe and very difficult vows undertaken by women.
O lord of men, by her conduct, penance, and supreme devotion, the Lord Indra was greatly pleased.
The lord of the thirty gods, assuming the form of the great sage Vasiṣṭha, went to his hermitage.
She saw the great ascetic Vasiṣṭha, revered among ascetics, and honored him with the traditional customs observed by sages, O Bharata.
Priyamvada, who was knowledgeable of the rules and auspicious, said: "O revered sage, what do you wish to command, O lord?"
Today, I will offer you everything I can, O virtuous one. However, due to my devotion to Indra, I cannot give you my hand in marriage.
"O sage rich in penance, I must please Indra, the lord of the three worlds, through vows, disciplines, and penance."
The Lord, having been addressed, looked at her with a smile and spoke to her gently, as if consoling her, O Bhārata.
You are indeed performing intense austerities, and you are known to me, O virtuous lady. The purpose for which you have begun this endeavor is dear to your heart, O auspicious one.
O beautiful-faced one, everything that has been will be as it is. All things are obtained through penance, and everything resides in penance.
O auspicious-faced one, the divine places of the wise are attained through penance, and great happiness is rooted in it.
Here, by performing severe penance and renouncing their bodies, humans attain divinity. O auspicious one, listen to my words.
The Lord, known as the destroyer of Bala, instructed, "Cook these berries, O fortunate and virtuous one," and then departed.
Having addressed the auspicious lady, he then chanted the mantra at the excellent sacred place near the hermitage, known as Indra's sacred place, which is famous in the three worlds, O great king.
To satisfy her curiosity, the divine Indra, the lord of the wise, cooked the jujube fruits.
Then, O king, he, having prepared himself, stood speechless and free from fatigue. Devoted and pure, she entered the fire, and O tiger among kings, she who had taken a great vow cooked the berries.
While she was cooking, a long time passed, O best of men. Yet, those were not cooked, and the day came to an end.
Her collection of wood was burned by fire, and seeing the fire without wood, she then burned her own body.
The beautiful-looking woman, having first placed her feet in the fire, withdrew them again after they were burnt, remaining sinless.
The blameless lady, despite her burning feet, did not think of her own sorrow, as she was intent on pleasing the lotus-eyed sage.
Then, the lord of the three worlds, pleased by her actions, revealed his true form to the maiden.
The best of the gods spoke to the maiden, who was steadfast in her vows, expressing his pleasure with her due to her devotion, penance, and discipline, saying, "I am pleased with you, O auspicious one."
Therefore, O auspicious one, your desired wish will be fulfilled. After leaving your body, O fortunate one, you will reside with me in heaven.
This sacred site, known as Badarapachana, will remain steadfast in the world. It is renowned for removing all sins and is celebrated across the three worlds, revered by the Brahmarshis.
In this auspicious and great pilgrimage site, O fortunate one, the seven sages, having left, once went to the Himalayas to meet Arundhati.
Then those great souls, well-determined, went there to gather fruits and roots for their livelihood.
For those seeking livelihood and living in the forest of the Himalayas, a drought lasting twelve years occurred at that time.
They established a hermitage there and lived as ascetics. Arundhati, too, became auspicious and was always engaged in penance at that time.
Upon seeing Arundhati engaged in intense discipline, the pleased three-eyed deity, the boon-giver, arrived.
The illustrious Mahadeva, having taken on a divine form, approached her and expressed his wish for alms, addressing her as "O auspicious one."
The beautiful lady replied to the Brahmin, "O wise one, our food supply is running low, please eat these berries here." Then Lord Shiva instructed, "Cook these, O virtuous lady."
The glorious one, having spoken thus, cooked the berries in the kindled fire with the desire to please the Brahmins.
She then heard the divine, charming, and auspicious stories. However, the terrible twelve-year drought had already passed.
The auspicious stories of one who does not eat, cooks, and listens. May her time, which is equal to a day, be past and very terrible.
Then the sages collected fruits from the mountain, and the revered one, pleased, spoke to Arundhati.
"Approach these sages as you did before, O knower of dharma. I am pleased with your penance and discipline, O knower of dharma."
Then Lord Shiva revealed his true form and narrated her great story to them.
The penance accumulated by you on the Himalayas and the penance of her are not equal, O sages; that is my opinion.
This ascetic woman indeed performed a very difficult penance; she completed twelve years without eating and while cooking.
Then the revered one spoke again to Arundhati, "O blessed one, choose the boon that your heart desires."
In the assembly of the seven sages, she, with her broad copper-red eyes, addressed the god: "O Lord, if you are pleased with me, let this place be known as the excellent holy site, cherished by the perfected divine sages, and called Badarapachana."
Thus, O lord of lords, by staying pure for three nights and fasting, one can achieve the merit equivalent to twelve years. Having said "So be it," Shiva ascended to heaven.
The sages were amazed when they saw Arundhati, who remained untiring, unfaded, and capable of enduring hunger and thirst.
In this way, Arundhati achieved supreme perfection through her purity, just as you have, O greatly fortunate one, for my sake, being resolute in your vows.
"O auspicious one, you have indeed made a special dedication in this vow. Therefore, being well-pleased, I give this today with discipline."
"O auspicious one, I grant you a special boon. The boon given to her by Arundhati, indeed, by the great soul."
By his grace and your brilliance, O auspicious one, I shall once again speak of another boon here as per the rule.
"Whoever stays for one night in a sacred place with full concentration, after bathing, will attain worlds that are difficult to obtain even by leaving the body."
Having spoken thus, the mighty thousand-eyed god returned to the sacred Srucāvatī and then ascended once more to heaven.
When Vajradhara departed, O king, there was a shower of divine flowers with a heavenly fragrance, O best of the Bharatas.
The drums resounded loudly in all directions, and the wind blew gently carrying a sweet fragrance, O lord of the people.
After leaving her auspicious body, she became the wife of Indra. Through her intense penance, she gained that status and enjoyed life with Acyuta (Vishnu).
Janamejaya said:
I am eager to know, O Brahman, who her divine mother is and where the beautiful one was raised, for my curiosity is indeed immense.
Vaishampayana said:
Upon seeing the large-eyed apsara Ghritachi approaching, the great sage Bharadvaja's semen was discharged.
He, the best among the chanters, took the semen with his hand and dropped it into a leaf cup, where an auspicious being was born.
The great sage Bharadvaja performed all the birth ceremonies and other rituals for her and gave her a name.
In the assembly of sages, the virtuous one named Srucavati was present. He then left that in the hermitage and proceeded to the forest of the Himalayas.
There, the great soul, after performing the rituals and giving wealth to the great Brahmins, went to the holy place with a focused mind. At that time, he was the best among the Vrishnis, favored by Indra.
