13.026
Praise of sacred places.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O bull among the Bharatas, seeing sacred fords is better than bathing; and O greatly wise one, I wish to hear in reality about hearing. (13-26-1)
O best of the Bharatas, O lord, you are worthy to tell me of those meritorious holy places on earth; I am ready to listen with discipline. (13-26-2)
Bhishma said.
O greatly radiant one, you are worthy to hear this lineage of sacred places spoken by Aṅgiras; auspiciousness to you, you will attain the highest dharma. (13-26-3)
Gautama, the heroic sage firm in his vows, went to the forest of austerities, approached the brāhmaṇa, the great sage, and asked the descendant of Aṅgiras. (13-26-4)
O revered one, I have some doubt regarding dharma and the sacred places. I wish to hear all about that; please tell me everything, O great sage. (13-26-5)
O sage, having touched (the water), what result is obtained in those holy places? O greatly wise one, in the afterlife, tell me exactly as it is. (13-26-6)
Angiras said.
For seven days, one should enter the Candrabhāgā and Vitastā rivers, adorned with waves, and, without food and without possessiveness, become like a sage. (13-26-7)
In the region of Kashmir, the rivers that flow into the great river and then reach the Sindhu, a virtuous person who bathes in them may attain heaven. (13-26-8)
He, having entered Puṣkara, Prabhāsa, Naimiṣa, the ocean-water, Devikā, Indra's path, and Swarna-bindu, is awakened in an aerial car and praised by the Apsarases. (13-26-9)
After agitating the golden drop (water), the purified person, having saluted him and the Kuśa seat, attains divinity, and his sin is purified. (13-26-10)
If a man, self-controlled and pure, having fasted for three nights, enters the Indratoyā near Gandhamādana or the Karatoyā among the Kuranga, he attains the merit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. (13-26-11)
One who bathes at the gate of the Gaṅgā, Kuśāvarta, Bilvaka, Nemi mountain, and likewise at Kanakhala, with sins washed away, attains heaven. (13-26-12)
After touching the lake of waters, one may attain the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice; a celibate student who has conquered anger, is truthful, and non-violent. (13-26-13)
Where the Bhagirathi Ganga turns northward, in the seat of Maheśvara, the man who is anointed there and remains without food for one month, himself sees the deities. (13-26-14)
Whoever, being born again, offers oblations in the seven Gaṅgās, the three Gaṅgās, and the path of Indra, indeed obtains to enjoy nectar. (13-26-15)
He who, after performing great austerity and purifying himself, is devoted to Agnihotra and is pure, if he remains without food for one month, should attain perfection within a month. (13-26-16)
One who bathes in the great lake at Bhṛgutunga, who is not greedy for sensual pleasures, and who has fasted for three nights, is freed from the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. (13-26-17)
After touching the sacred well of Kanyākūpa and performing the water oblation at Balākā, one attains fame among the gods and shines with glory. (13-26-18)
When a man bathes at the proper place and time in the Sundarikā lake, he is granted beauty and radiance by the two Aśvins, and indeed attains these after death. (13-26-19)
One who, after touching the great Ganga, likewise during Kṛttikā and Aṅgāraka, fasts for one fortnight, attains pure heaven. (13-26-20)
The one associated with aerial beings, having touched the hermitage of Kiṅkiṇikā and likewise in the divine abode of the apsarases, who moves at will, is honored. (13-26-21)
When a celibate student who has conquered anger reaches the Kālikā hermitage and performs ablutions in the Vipāśā river, he is freed from worldly existence for three nights. (13-26-22)
Whoever, having bathed at the hermitage of the Kṛttikās, satisfies the ancestors and pleases Mahādeva, being pure, may attain heaven. (13-26-23)
After touching the great river and fasting for three nights, a man should give up fear of all moving creatures, stationary beings, and bipeds. (13-26-24)
One who, after bathing in the deodar forest, has washed away his sins, offered water, and remained pure for seven nights, attains the world of the gods. (13-26-25)
He who bathes at Kauśanta, Kuśastamba, Droṇaśarma's place, and at the water-fall is served by groups of apsarases. (13-26-26)
Dwelling in Citrakūṭa, Janasthāna, and also in the waters of the Mandākinī, having entered them indeed and remaining without food, he attains royal fortune. (13-26-27)
But after going to Śyāmā's hermitage, staying there and performing the anointing, and after completing three periods of three nights, he should reside in the city of the Gandharvas. (13-26-28)
O Gandhatarika, by touching in a beautiful place in this way, if one remains without food for one month, one attains the fruit of disappearance. (13-26-29)
If a man reaches the gate of the Kauśikī river, subsists on air and is free from greed, he ascends to heaven in twenty-one nights. (13-26-30)
Whoever bathes in the Matanga tank for one night attains success; indeed, he truly enters the supportless, eternal darkness. (13-26-31)
In Naimisha, at the holy place leading to heaven, one who has conquered the senses and has performed the water-rite, after touching water, may obtain for a month the fruit of the Puruṣamedha sacrifice. (13-26-32)
By bathing in the Gaṅgā lake and similarly in the lotus-pond, one who offers water there for a month attains the merit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. (13-26-33)
No other gift surpasses one given after bathing at the sacred ford of Gaṅgā and Yamunā, or on Kālañjara mountain, or at the sixty lakes. (13-26-34)
O best of the Bharatas, at Prayāga during the month of Māgha, ten thousand holy places and three crore others likewise all assemble together. (13-26-35)
O best of the Bharatas, one who is pure, self-controlled, and firm in vow, having bathed at Prayāga in the month of Māgha, may attain heaven. (13-26-36)
After touching the Maruts-group and being pure in the hermitage of the ancestors, and also at the holy place of Vaivasvata, a man becomes holy. (13-26-37)
Thus, by going to Brahmaśiras and performing water-rites in the Bhāgīrathī, if one fasts for a month, he may attain the realm of Soma. (13-26-38)
If a man bathes at Kapotaka, offers water at Aṣṭāvakra, and remains without food for twelve days, he may obtain the fruit of a human sacrifice. (13-26-39)
By visiting Muñjapṛṣṭha, Gayā, Nirṛti, Devaparvata, and the third, Krauñcapādī, one is purified of the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. (13-26-40)
After purifying himself with water from the water-pot or repeatedly on the altar, and bathing in the city of Agni, a man who has offered water in Viśālā and touched the sacred pond shines forth, having attained the state of Brahman. (13-26-41)
In ancient times, the rivers Nandā and Mahānandā were to be resorted to for purification. In the Nandana garden, the self-controlled and non-violent person is served by apsarases. (13-26-42)
Whoever, at the conjunction of Urvaśī and Kṛttikā, goes with full concentration and bathes in the Lauhitya river according to the prescribed procedure, attains the merit known as the fruit of Puṇḍarīka. (13-26-43)
By touching the Rama-lake and performing water-rites in Viśālā, one who fasts for twelve days is completely freed from sin. (13-26-44)
If a man bathes in the great lake with a pure mind and remains without food for one month, he attains the state of Jamadagni. (13-26-45)
By tormenting himself in the Vindhya mountains, remaining truthful and non-violent, and staying at that place for six months, one becomes purified in a single month. (13-26-46)
After purifying himself in the Narmadā river and likewise in the waters of Sūrpāraka, the prince is prescribed to fast without food for a fortnight. (13-26-47)
One who is restrained and well-concentrated on the Jambu path attains perfection in three months, or in just one day and night. (13-26-48)
One who enters water at the mouth of a well, goes to the hermitage of a caṇḍālikā, eats only vegetables, and wears bark garments, obtains ten maidens. (13-26-49)
One should never go to the abode of Vaivasvata; whoever resides in the maiden's lake attains the world of the gods. (13-26-50)
O mighty-armed one, here in Prabhāsa, whoever is born again and remains concentrated for one night on the new moon, his purpose is accomplished. (13-26-51)
By bathing at Ujjānaka, at the hermitage of Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, and at the hermitage of Piṅgā, one is freed from all sins. (13-26-52)
Having thoroughly touched the water in the channel and recited the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn, a pure person who has fasted for three nights attains the merit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. (13-26-53)
If a man, after ritually touching Piṇḍāraka and spending one night there, remains pure until the dawn, he attains the merit of performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice. (13-26-54)
Thus, after reaching the Brahma-lake beautified by the Dharma-forest, the pure person attains the lotus and experiences the night turning into dawn. (13-26-55)
By bathing on Mainaka mountain, worshipping at twilight, and conquering desire for a month, one attains the fruit of the Sarvamedha sacrifice. (13-26-56)
The well-known holy mountain Himavat, Śaṅkara's father-in-law, is a mine of all jewels and is attended by Siddhas and Cāraṇas. (13-26-57)
The twice-born who is a knower of Vedānta, knowing that life is unstable, should abandon the body there according to prescribed rites when it is incurable. (13-26-58)
After worshipping the deities there and bowing to the sages as well, the perfected person then ascends to heaven, to the eternal world of Brahma. (13-26-59)
He who, having conquered desire, anger, and greed, dwells at a sacred place—there is nothing that he does not attain by going to a sacred place. (13-26-60)
All those sacred places, fortresses, and difficult spots that are inaccessible can be reached by the mind, as a summary of all sacred places. (13-26-61)
This is pure, this is blessed, this leads to heaven, this is happiness. This is the secret of the gods, of the purified, and it is purifying. (13-26-62)
This should be given to the twice-born, the virtuous, one's own son, or to friends; and should be recited in the ear of a disciple or follower. (13-26-63)
Aṅgirā, the great ascetic, having been permitted by the wise teachers and by Kāśyapa, indeed gave this to Gautama. (13-26-64)
This is the recitation of the great seers, the highest among the purifiers. Whoever, having arisen, always recites this with purity, may attain heaven. (13-26-65)
Whoever also hears this secret, your opinion, may obtain birth in the best family and may remember their caste. (13-26-66)
