Savidya Sandhya, Lauhitya, Karatoya, etc.

Narada said:

1-2. Then having reached Savidya Sandhya, the excellent holy place and having bathed there a man becomes learned. There is no doubt about this. Having reached the holy place Lauhitya, made the chief holy place by Rama in olden days, he would obtain much gold.

3. Having reached Karatoya a man who fasts (there) for three nights obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice, and goes to Indra's world.

4. O lord of kings, the wise say that a man obtains ten times (the fruit of an Asvamedha by fasting) at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean.

5. O descendant of Bharata, he who, after having reached the yonder island in Ganga, bathes there and fasts for three nights would obtain all desired objects.

6-7. Then having gone to the river Vaitarani which frees (a person) from sins and reaching Viraja tlrtha, he shines like the moon. (By bathing) at Prabhava he purifies his family and destroys all sin. Obtaining the fruit of (the gift of) a thousand cows he purifies his family.

8-9. A pure man living at the confluence of Sona and Jyotirathi after offering oblations to manes and deities, would get the fruit of an Agnistoma sacrifice. Having bathed at Vamshagulma at the source of Sona and Narmada he would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice, O best among the Kurus.

10-11. A man having reached Rsabhatirtha in Kosala and having fasted there for three nights obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice. Reaching Kalatirtha in Kosala a man should bathe (there). There is no doubt that he obtains the fruit eleven times greater than that of (giving away) a bull.

12-15. Having bathed at Puspavati, a man who has fasted for three nights, would obtain the fruit (of giving away) a thousand cows and would liberate his family. Then, having with a restrained mind bathed at the Badarikatirtha a man obtains long life and goes to heaven. Then reaching Mahendra resorted to by (Parashurama) the son of Jamadagni a man who bathes at Ramatirtha, obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice. The field (i.e. place) of Matanga is just there, O best of Bharatas. O king, having bathed there a man would obtain the fruit of (giving away) a thousand cows.

16-18. Having reached Shriparvata he should bathe at the bank of the river. Thereby he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to the great welfare. On Shriparvata Mahadevaof great lustre and highly delighted lived. So also Brahma surrounded by gods (lived there). A pure man with his mind controlled obtains after bathing at the Devahrada (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and obtains great welfare.

19-20. Having gone to the Rsabha mountain in the Bhanda (region) which is adored by gods he obtains (the fruit of) a Vajapeya and rejoices in heaven. Thence a man should go to Kaveri thronged by hosts of celestial nymphs. O king, having bathed there a man would obtain the fruit of (giving away) a thousand cows.

21-30a. He should, at that holy place of the ocean, bathe at Kanyatirtha. O lord of kings, having bathed there, he is freed from all sins. Then, O lord of kings, having reached Gokarna in the sea, revered by people, where gods like Brahma, and others, all sages with penance as their wealth, goblins, yaksas, ghosts, kinnaras with great serpents, siddhas, caranas, gandharvas, human beings, snakes, rivers, oceans and mountains wait upon the lord of Uma, a man having fasted for three nights and having worshipped the lord (Shiva) obtains (the fruit of) ten horse sacrifices and the status of the chief of Shiva's attendants. Having fasted for twelve nights, a man is blessed. There only is the place of Gayatri well-known in three worlds. Having stayed there for three nights a man would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows. This is confirmed by direct evidence of brahmanas, O king. A twice-born, born of the mixture of castes by unlawful inter-marriage, who recites the Gayatri (-hymn) there, is furnished with a religious verse or a song(? ), O king. Savitri, however, goes away from a nonbrahmana reciting (Gayatrf-hymn). O brahmana-sage, having reached the tank at Samvarta, difficult to be reached, a man partakes of handsomeness (i.e. becomes handsome) and becomes fortunate.

30b-31a. Thence having reached Vena he should offer oblations to the manes and deities. A man (thereby) obtains an aeroplane to which peacocks and swans are yoked.

31b-33a. Thence having reached Godavan always resorted to by siddhas, he obtains (the fruit of) a Gavamaya and goes to the world of Vayu. Having bathed at the confluence of Vena he would obtain the fruit of a Vajapeya. Having bathed at Varadasangama, he would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows.

33b-39. A man having reached Brahmasthuna, and having fasted (there) for three nights, would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows, and he goes to heaven. Being restrained and calm, he, having reached Kubjavana, and having fasted for three nights and bathed there, would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. Then having bathed (i.e. he should bathe) in Devahrada formed in the water of Krishnavena, and also in Jyotirmatra tank, and in Kanyashrama, where, having performed a hundred sacrifices, (Indra) the lord I486 Padma Purana of gods, went to heaven. By merely going there, a man would obtain (the fruit of) a hundied Agnistoma sacrifices. Having bathed in the Sarvadevahrada, he would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. A man having bathed in the Jatimatrahrada has (the faculty of) recollecting his former births. Then he should go to the tank (in) the very auspicious Payosnl, the best of rivers. A man engaged in worshipping his manes and deities (there), would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. O great king, having reached Dandaka-forest he should bathe there.

40-42. (He should also bathe) after going to the hermitage of Sarabhanga, and also of the magnanimous S\ika. He does not meet with a disaster, and purifies his own family. Thence he should go to Suryaraka, resorted to by Jamadagni. A man having bathed at Ramatirtha would obtain much gold. Being controlled and having restrained his diet, he, after having bathed at Saptagodavari, obtains great religious merit, and goes to heaven.

43-52. Thence, being restrained and having controlled his diet, a man should go to (the holy place called) Devapatha. He obtains that merit which is obtained by performing (the sacrifice named) Devasatra. Being a religious student and with his senses controlled, he should reach Tuhgakaranya where formerly the eloquent one taught the sages the Vedas that were lost. The son of the sage Angiras formerly sat on the upper garments of the great sages, O descendant of Bharata. Due to Orhkara that was properly and correctly pronounced, that which was repeated (-ly thought) by a sage stood before him. There, the sages, the gods, Varuna, Agni, Prajapati, god Hari Narayana (i.e. Vishnu), Shiva, also the revered and very lustrous Brahma, along with the gods appointed the very lustrous Bhrigu to officiate as a priest at the sacrifice. Then the revered one settled all the sages according to the rite as observed by the gods and in the proper manner (in their proper positions). Gods and sages properly pleased by (their) portion of ghee went happily to the three worlds. O best king, the sin of a person — a woman or a man — who enters that forest, suddenly perishes. A wise man being controlled and with his diet restrained, should stay there for a month. (Thereby) he would go to Brahma's world and again purifies his family (also).

53-57a. Having reached Medhavana, a man should offer oblations to manes and deities. (By doing so) he gets (the fruit of) an Agnistoma (sacrifice), and also memory and intelligence. Having gone to Kalanjara there, he would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. O king, he should practice self-control on the Kalanjara mountain. The man is honoured in heaven. There is no doubt about it. Thence, O lord of people, having reached the river Mandakini, that frees (people) from sins, on Chitrakflta, the best of the mountains (he should bathe there). A man who bathes here and is engaged in worshipping manes and deities obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice, and goes to the best position (i.e. salvation).

57b-62a. O lord of kings, thence he should go to the excellent Guhasthana, where god Mahasena (i.e. Kartikeya) is always present, O king. O best of men, a man attains perfection merely by going there. A man having bathed at Kotitirtha obtains the fruit of (presenting) a thousand cows. Turning right, a man should go to Yasahsthana. Having gone to Mahadeva, he shines like the moon. O best of the -Bharatas, there is a well-known tank where, O Yudhisthira, the four oceans dwell. O lord of kings, a man having bathed and circumambulated there, and being restrained and purified would go to the best state (i.e. salvation).

62b-64a. O best of Kurus, thence he should go to the great Srngaverapura where formerly the very wise Rama, the son of Dasaratha, crossed (the river). A man observing chastity and with his senses controlled, has his sins shaken off and obtains (the fruit of) a Vajapeya after bathing in Ganga.

64b-100. Thence he should go to the place of the intelligent god. Having approached Mahadeva, and having worshipped him, and having circumambulated, O king, a man would become the chief of the attendants of Shiva. O lord of kings, a man should thence go to Prayaga which is extolled by the sages, where gods like Brahma and others, the quarters with the lords of quarters, the regents of the quarters, siddhas, the devoted manes, sages led by Sanatkumara, also nagas, suparnas, siddhas, celibates, rivers, oceans, gandharvas, celestial nymphs (stay), and also the revered Vishnu led by Brahma stays. There are three tanks. Among them (flows) Ganga, honoured by the Holy Places and going beyond Prayaga. At that place, Yamuna, Sun's daughter, purifying the world, and well-known in the three worlds, has joined Ganga. The buttocks of earth are said to be between Ganga and Yamuna. The sages know Prayaga to be the end of the buttocks, i.e. the lap. Prayaga has Pratisthana (so also) both Kambala and Asvatara. Similarly the holy place Bhogavati is the altar of Prajapati. O Yudhisthira, there Vedas and sacrifices, being embodied, wait upon Prajapati; and the highly innocent sages and sovereigns offer sacrifices to gods, O king. O descendant of Bharata, there is nothing holier than that in the three worlds. O lord, Prayaga is superior to all holy places due to its glory. By hearing about that holy place, by mentioning its name, or by bowing (his) head (before it), a man is freed from all sins. He, of a severe vow, who bathes there at the confluence, obtains great religious merit of the Rajasuya and horse sacrifice. This is the place of sacrifices of the gods. The story about it (is): O descendant of Bharata, whatever little is given there, becomes great. Even by the words of gods or of people, you should not disregard your thought of dying at Prayaga. There are ten thousand holy places, and others sixty crores in number, the presence of (all of) which is said to be here only, O descendant of Kuru. A man, who bathes at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, gets the same religious merit as accrues to one who has studied the four Vedas, or to those who speak the truth. Then there is the excellent holy place Bhogavati of (i.e. sacred to) Vasuki. He, who bathes there, would obtain (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice. There is the holy place (called) Harhsaprapatana, well-known in the three worlds. There is also (the holy place called) Dasasvamedhika on (the bank of) Ganga, O descendant of Kuru. Here Ganga has come down as at Kuruksetra. A speciality is — at Kanakhala Prayaga becomes (a) great (holy place). If after doing a hundred bad deeds a man resorts to Ganga, the water of Ganga burns (i.e. removes) all those (sins) as fire burns fuel. The water of Ganga burns (i.e. removes) all that as fire burns a heap of cotton. Every (holy place) is auspicious in Krtayuga; Puskara is said to be so in Tretayuga. Kuruksetra is said to be so in Dvaparayuga, and Ganga in Kaliyuga. One should practice penance at Puskara and he should give a gift at Mahalaya. One should get onto (i.e. enter) fire at Malaya and anasana(? )at Bhrigutuhga, and the water of Ganga at Puskara, Kuruksetra and the places in between (madhyagesu? ). A creature (thus) instantly liberates seven preceding and seven succeeding (members of his family). Ganga, by her (mere) mention purifies sins; by being seen gives merit; by bathing (in the stream) and drinking her water she purifies the family up to the seventh member. O king, as long as the bone of a man touches the water of Ganga, the man is honoured in heaven. As (already) mentioned, having resorted to the auspicious places and holy places, a man, obtaining religious merit, becomes a resident of the other world. " There is no holy place like Ganga, there is no god greater than Vishnu, there is none superior to brahmanas." Thus spoke the Grandsire. That region, up to the limit of a yojana, where (i.e. through which) Ganga flows, should be known as the region of siddhas (as) it has resorted to the bank of Ganga. This is the truth in the minds of the twiceborn and the good. A man should mutter (about) liberation into the ear of a viruous man or a follower. This is meritorious, this is pure, this leads to heaven, this gives happiness. This is the most holy, purifying, excellent way of life. This is the secret of the sages, which frees (a person) from all sins. Having studied in the midst of brahmanas, he should secure purity. It is glorious, it leads to heaven, it is very meritorious, it puts an end to (one's) enemies, it is auspicious. The description of the multitude of holy places is the best producer of intelligence. A man having no son gets a son. A poor man would obtain wealth. A king conquers the earth. A vaisya would obtain wealth. A shudra obtains his desired objects, and a brahmana who recites (the Vedas) masters them. He who would daily listen to this meritorious (account of) the holy places, which is always pure, obtains the (faculty of) recollecting his former births and rejoices in heaven.

101-106. I have described the holy places that are accessible and that are inaccessible. With a desire to visit all the holy places a man should even go to them mentally. (Visits to) these were undertaken by Vasus, Sadhyas, Adityas, Maruts, Asvins, sages like gods, desiring merit. O you descendant of Kuru, O you of a good vow, you too visit the holy places in this manner. Merit enhances by merit. The holy places are reached through piety and through the knowledge of the scriptures by the good people, whose senses are purified, and who follow the wise. A man who is not one who has not done (good) deeds, who is not foolish, who is not impure, who is not a thief, whose mind is not crooked (alone) bathes at the holy places, O descendant of Kuru. O dear one, you of a proper conduct, and always observing piety, have always gratified your manes and all paternal great-grandfathers, and all gods led by Brahma and along with groups of sages. Vasishtha said:

107. You, O pious one, have always pleased (these) by means of your righteousness. On the earth you will obtain great, eternal fame like Dilipa. Narada said:

108. Speaking thus and advising (Yudhisthira), the revered sage Vasishtha, being pleased, disappeared there only with a pleased mind.

109-123. O best of the Kurus, by perceiving the truth of the sacred treatises and by the words of Vasishtha, Dilipa crossed the earth. O glorious one, the very meritorious pilgrimage, freeing one from all sins, is effective in (i.e. by visiting) Pratisthana. He who wanders over the earth in this manner, enjoys after death the entire fruit of a hundred horse sacrifices. O king, you will obtain eight times the excellent merit which formerly king Dilipa had secured, O son of Kunti. Since you will lead the sages, you will have eightfold fruit. O descendant of Bharata, these sacred places are crowded with the hosts of demons. O descendant of Kuru, nobody except you can have an access (to these places). He who, getting up at daybreak, would recite this account of the divine sages, depending on all the holy places, is freed from all sins. The principal sages like Valmiki and Kasyapa, Atreya and Kaundinya, Visvamitra and Gautama, Asita and Devala, Markandeya and Galava, also Bharadvaja's disciple, sage Uddalaka, Shaunaka with his son, Vyasa the best among the ascetics, the best sage Durvasas, Jabali of great penance — all these best sages, with penance as their wealth, deserve to be respected by you. O glorious one, with them go to these sacred places. You will obtain great fame like king Mahabhisa. O best among the Kurus, with your righteousness you shine like the pious Yayati or like king Pururavas, like king Bhagiratha or like Rama, who was wellknown. As formerly (Indra), the killer of Vritra, and the king of gods, burnt (i.e. destroyed) all his enemies, and being free from distress, protected the three worlds, so you will protect your subjects after destroying your enemies. O lotus-eyed one, having obtained the earth secured by your good works, you will obtain fame like Kartavirya Arjuna. Suta said:

124-127. Having spoken like this, and having advised holy great king, the revered sage Narada disappeared there only. The lord of the earth, Yudhisthira, of a good vow, respectfully visited along with the sages all the sacred places. O all sages, he who would recite or listen to the account about the pilgrimage told by me, becomes free from all sins. I have told you the entire fact. What more do you want to hear? There is nothing that cannot be told by me about the sages of pious fame.

 

CHAPTER FORTY

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