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Library: Significance of the auspicious pilgrimage site known as Rāmatīrtha.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
इन्द्रतीर्थं ततो गत्वा यदूनां प्रवरो बली। विप्रेभ्यो धनरत्नानि ददौ स्नात्वा यथाविधि ॥९-४८-१॥
Bali, the chief of the Yadus, went to the sacred place of Indra and, after bathing according to the prescribed rules, gave wealth and jewels to the Brahmins.
तत्र ह्यमरराजोऽसावीजे क्रतुशतेन ह। बृहस्पतेश्च देवेशः प्रददौ विपुलं धनम् ॥९-४८-२॥
There, indeed, the king of the gods performed a hundred sacrifices. And the lord of the gods, Bṛhaspati, bestowed abundant wealth.
निरर्गलान्सजारूथ्यान्सर्वान्विविधदक्षिणान्। आजहार क्रतूंस्तत्र यथोक्तान्वेदपारगैः ॥९-४८-३॥
He conducted all the rituals there smoothly, with chariots, horses, and various offerings, following the prescriptions of the Vedic scholars.
तान्क्रतून्भरतश्रेष्ठ शतकृत्वो महाद्युतिः। पूरयामास विधिवत्ततः ख्यातः शतक्रतुः ॥९-४८-४॥
O best of the Bharatas, the greatly effulgent one fulfilled those sacrifices a hundred times properly; hence, he is known as Śatakratu.
तस्य नाम्ना च तत्तीर्थं शिवं पुण्यं सनातनम्। इन्द्रतीर्थमिति ख्यातं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् ॥९-४८-५॥
By his name, that holy place is auspicious, sacred, and eternal. It is known as Indra's holy place, which is famous for removing all sins.
उपस्पृश्य च तत्रापि विधिवन्मुसलायुधः। ब्राह्मणान्पूजयित्वा च पानाच्छादनभोजनैः ॥ शुभं तीर्थवरं तस्माद्रामतीर्थं जगाम ह ॥९-४८-६॥
Musalāyudha, after performing the rituals properly and honoring the Brahmins with offerings of drinks, clothes, and food, proceeded to the auspicious pilgrimage site known as Rāmatīrtha.
यत्र रामो महाभागो भार्गवः सुमहातपाः। असकृत्पृथिवीं सर्वां हतक्षत्रियपुङ्गवाम् ॥९-४८-७॥
In the place where Rama, the illustrious descendant of Bhrigu, known for his great penance, repeatedly annihilated all the warrior leaders on earth.
उपाध्यायं पुरस्कृत्य कश्यपं मुनिसत्तमम्। अयजद्वाजपेयेन सोऽश्वमेधशतेन च ॥ प्रददौ दक्षिणार्थं च पृथिवीं वै ससागराम् ॥९-४८-८॥
After honoring his teacher Kaśyapa, the eminent sage, he conducted a Vājapeya and a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices. He then gifted the entire earth, including its oceans.
रामो दत्त्वा धनं तत्र द्विजेभ्यो जनमेजय। उपस्पृश्य यथान्यायं पूजयित्वा तथा द्विजान् ॥९-४८-९॥
Rama, after giving wealth to the Brahmins there, O Janamejaya, purified himself according to the rules and worshipped the Brahmins accordingly.
पुण्ये तीर्थे शुभे देशे वसु दत्त्वा शुभाननः। मुनींश्चैवाभिवाद्याथ यमुनातीर्थमागमत् ॥९-४८-१०॥
In the sacred and auspicious land, after offering wealth and paying respects to the sages, the one with the auspicious face arrived at the Yamuna pilgrimage site.
यत्रानयामास तदा राजसूयं महीपते। पुत्रोऽदितेर्महाभागो वरुणो वै सितप्रभः ॥९-४८-११॥
At the place where the Rājasūya sacrifice was brought, O king, there was Varuṇa, the son of Aditi, who was greatly fortunate and shone with a bright light.
तत्र निर्जित्य सङ्ग्रामे मानुषान्दैवतांस्तथा। वरं क्रतुं समाजह्रे वरुणः परवीरहा ॥९-४८-१२॥
There, after defeating both humans and gods in battle, Varuna, the destroyer of enemy heroes, received the boon of performing a sacrifice.
तस्मिन्क्रतुवरे वृत्ते सङ्ग्रामः समजायत। देवानां दानवानां च त्रैलोक्यस्य क्षयावहः ॥९-४८-१३॥
After the completion of the great sacrifice, a battle ensued that was destructive to both the gods and demons, threatening the three worlds.
राजसूये क्रतुश्रेष्ठे निवृत्ते जनमेजय। जायते सुमहाघोरः सङ्ग्रामः क्षत्रियान्प्रति ॥९-४८-१४॥
After the completion of the Rājasūya, the greatest of sacrifices, a very dreadful battle arose against the Kshatriyas, O Janamejaya.
सीरायुधस्तदा रामस्तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे तदा। तत्र स्नात्वा च दत्त्वा च द्विजेभ्यो वसु माधवः ॥९-४८-१५॥
Then Sīrāyudha and Rama were in that great pilgrimage place. There, Madhava bathed and gave wealth to the Brahmins.
वनमाली ततो हृष्टः स्तूयमानो द्विजातिभिः। तस्मादादित्यतीर्थं च जगाम कमलेक्षणः ॥९-४८-१६॥
The forest-dweller, pleased and praised by the twice-born, then went to the sacred place of the sun, the lotus-eyed one.
यत्रेष्ट्वा भगवाञ्ज्योतिर्भास्करो राजसत्तम। ज्योतिषामाधिपत्यं च प्रभावं चाभ्यपद्यत ॥९-४८-१७॥
Where, O best of kings, having worshipped the blessed sun, he attained the sovereignty and influence over the luminaries.
तस्या नद्यास्तु तीरे वै सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः। विश्वेदेवाः समरुतो गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्च ह ॥९-४८-१८॥
On the bank of her river, all the gods including Indra, the universal gods with the Maruts, along with the Gandharvas and Apsaras, were indeed present.
द्वैपायनः शुकश्चैव कृष्णश्च मधुसूदनः। यक्षाश्च राक्षसाश्चैव पिशाचाश्च विशां पते ॥९-४८-१९॥
Vyasa, Shuka, Krishna, and Madhusudana, along with the Yakshas, Rakshasas, and Pisachas, O lord of men.
एते चान्ये च बहवो योगसिद्धाः सहस्रशः। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे सरस्वत्याः शिवे पुण्ये परन्तप ॥९-४८-२०॥
In that sacred and auspicious place of Sarasvati, thousands of others, perfected in yoga, also reside, O conqueror of enemies.
तत्र हत्वा पुरा विष्णुरसुरौ मधुकैटभौ। आप्लुतो भरतश्रेष्ठ तीर्थप्रवर उत्तमे ॥९-४८-२१॥
In that place, Viṣṇu, after having slain the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha, was once immersed in the most excellent of holy places, O best of the Bharatas.
द्वैपायनश्च धर्मात्मा तत्रैवाप्लुत्य भारत। सम्प्राप्तः परमं योगं सिद्धिं च परमां गतः ॥९-४८-२२॥
Vyasa, the righteous soul, after bathing there, O Bharata, achieved the supreme state of union and reached the highest perfection.
असितो देवलश्चैव तस्मिन्नेव महातपाः। परमं योगमास्थाय ऋषिर्योगमवाप्तवान् ॥९-४८-२३॥
Asita and Devala, the great ascetics, practiced supreme yoga in that very place, and the sage attained the ultimate state of yoga.
