The Greatness of Sabhramati

Shri Mahadeva said:

1-9. O goddess, I shall aptly describe the greatness of Sabhramati. The best sage Kasyapa practised severe penance. For many years he practised severe penance on the charming Arbuda mountain full of various trees. Having gone there where the charming, sin-destroying Sarasvati flows, the sage Kasyapa practised penance. O goddess, one day he went to the Naimisa (forest where) all the sages were narrating stories in many ways. Then the sages properly asked that sage Kasyapa: " O Kasyapa, for our pleasure, bring Ganga here, O lord. That best river will pass by your name." Having heard their words, and having saluted those brahmanas, he came to the Arbuda forest, near the bank of Sarasvati. He practised there very severe penance. That brahmana Kasyapa propitiated me. I then appeared in person in front of that excellent brahmana. " Well-being to you; ask for a boon that is in your mind." Kasyapa said:

10-14. O lord of the world, you are capable of granting a boon. Give me specially that Ganga which is on your head and which is pure and destroys sins. O great god, I salute you. Then, O goddess, I said: " O best brahmana, take (her)." Then taking off a hair from my matted hair, I gave him the Ganga. Taking her, the best brahmana gladly went to his place. The holy place named Kesarandhra is the abode of Kasyapa. Surrounded by sages, O chief goddess, he went there. That excellent river Kasyapi was brought by Kasyapa, on merely seeing which, (even) a killer of a brahmana was freed. Pdrvati said:

15-16. Tell me about the religious merit acquired by just a bath, O lord of the world. You are kind. Show compassion to me. What would be the religious merit due to seeing her, and what due to the bath? Tell me (that), O lord of gods. O Brahman, please tell me what kind of greatness (she has).

Mahadeva said:

17-35. I have heard about many holy places and sanctuaries. Due to the grace of lord Vishnu many rivers flowing into the ocean (like) Ganga, Yamuna, Reva, Tapi, so also MahanadI, Godavarl, Tungabhadra, Kausiki, so also Gallika, (and) Kaverl, Vedika, Bhadra, Sarayii, Papaharini (destroyer of sins), so also other various rivers, all instant sin-destroyers (are heard about by me). The king of holy places-Prayaga, Kasi, and Puskara, so also the one called Naimisaranya, so also the holy place Amarakantaka, the excellent holy place of Dvaraka, the excellent Arbudaranya such divine and other various holy places, I have heard about due to Vishnu's grace. Formerly, Bhaglratha, desiring (to go to) Vishnu's heaven, had solicited me. Then, O ParvatI, I gave him this Ganga. On the words of the sages I again gave her to Kasyapa. This Kasyapl Ganga always removes diseases and blemishes. O beautiful lady, I shall tell you. Listen, what she is called in each age. In Krta (age) she was called Krtavati and Girikarnika in Treta. She is named Candana in Dvapara, and she is known as Sabhramati in Kali (age). Those men who everyday (go to her for bathing) are freed from all sins and go to Vishnu's (eternal position). O goddess, that fruit which men get by bathing at the holy place Plaksa, and in Sarasvati, is got by a daily bath in SabhramatI everyday. There is no doubt about it, since Vyasa's statement is to that effect. A man gets that fruit by bathing in SabhramatI which he gets by bathing in the later half of Sravana or everyday, or by properly offering a sraddha on the new-moon day. A man gets that fruit by bathing in SabhramatI which he gets in Kartika when (the Sun) is joined with the Krttika (constellation) at Shristhala in front of (the image of) Madhava. O goddess, this is the greatest (river). It is purifying in all worlds. She is most blessed, is pure, and destroys sins, O goddess. On (the bank of) SabhramatI always live those connected with the east (i.e. the Easterners), the Northerners. The Westerners and the Southerners all go to Khetaka everyday near Brahma, under the pretext of a pilgrimage only. O goddess, there is no doubt that they come there on the full-moon day of Kartika. There they offer a sraddha and feed brahmanas.

36-50. (There) men perform various religious rites daily, so also various sacrifices. They make various gifts everyday in all the four ages. No doubt should be entertained in this matter. Yavakrita, and Raibhya, Kakshivat, so also Usija, Bhrigu, Angiras, so also Kanva, and the intelligent Punarvasu, Bandin, endowed with virtues, (all) have resorted to the Eastern direction. So also the magnanimous ones (living) in the north — like Madhumat, so also the noble Subandhu, and the powerful Dattatreya, similarly Sikhin, DIrghatamas, so also Gautama and Kasyapa, in the same way Svetaketu, Kahoda, Pulaha and Devala, and Visvamitra and Bharadvaja, and powerful Jamadagni, Rcica's son Garga, so also the sage Uddalaka, and Devasharman, Dhaumya, Astika, so also Kasyapa, and Lomasa, Nabhiketu, and Lomaharsana, so also the sage Ugrasravas, Bhargava Chyavana, Valakhilya and others, all go there. Bathing (there), fasting and very highly devoted to Vishnu holding conches, discs and maces, they always stay on the bank. Pitrtirtha, named Gaya, is auspicious and best among all holy places. There the grandsire, the lord of the gods, himself lives. The dead ancestors, desiring a portion (of the offerings) of a sraddha, have sung a verse: Many sons should be desired; even one of them would go to Gaya, or would perform a horse-sacrifice, or would let loose a black bull. In the same way Varanasi is auspicious, and is always dear to the dead ancestors, which due to my proximity, gives enjoyments and salvation. By my order the lord of gods called Bindumadhava, always especially dwells at Varanasi, O chief goddess. Therefore, this my city is always the most blessed and the greatest. Vimalesvara is auspicious, and is a holy place dear to the dead ancestors. Pitrtlrtha — Prayaga — is endowed with all holy places.

51-60. They come into the water of SabhramatI on my words. The noble Vatesvara is endowed with Vishnu. O chief goddess, Dasasvamedha and the auspicious Gangadvara always live in SabhramatI by my order. Nanda, LalitadevI and the holy place with seven streams; so also the (holy place) called Mitrapada and Jshankara's abode Kedara; and Gangasagara as they call it; all this, being full of holy places, is auspicious. Like this there is the holy place called Brahmasaras in the pool of! shatadru. So also the holy place called Naimisa. All these, O goddess, undoubtdely live in the water of Sabhramati. The auspicious river Svetavalkalini, (the river) avetahiranmayl, (the river) Hastimati, or Arthaghni, flowing towards the ocean all these are dear to the dead ancestors, and give the fruit of a crore of sraddhas. Sraddhas should be offered there by sons for the good of their dead ancestors. There is a city named Patala or Vadava, O beautiful lady. All these rivers have always especially reached (i.e. flowed into) Sabhramatl. Those men on the earth who bathe there and offer gifts, enjoy happiness in this world and go to the eternal (place) of Vishnu. Jambudvlpa is very meritorious, where religious merit grows. There is a very meritorious (region), called Arya, fulfilling all desires.

61-81a. (Then) there is a holy place called Nilakantha; (then there is) Nandahrada; so also the holy place Rudrahrada, and the auspicious Rudra-mahalaya. Presenting themselves, the very auspicious Mandakini, so also the great river Acchoda these two flow into Sabhramatl. Due to offering pindas (i.e. oblations to dead ancestors) into Ganga, the wise say that these Dhumra, Mitrapada, similarly Vaijanatha, Drsadvara, river Ksipra, Mahakala, so also the mountain Kalinjara, Gangodbhuta, Harodbheda, Narmadakara — are equal (in religious merit). O chief goddess, these places sacred to Brahma are on the northern bank of Sabhramatl, are protected by gods led by Brahma. O great goddess, they destroy people's sins merely by their being remembered. Then what to say of those men offering sraddhas, O chief goddess? Orhkara, a holy place of the dead ancestors, the water of Kaverl, Kapila, the union of Candavega. — bathing in this would be a hundredfold more meritorious than (at) Kuruksetra. O goddess, formerly (Shiva's) attendants took the holy place Kadamba, along with the chief of the attendants, to the confluence of Vataghnl. This congregation of the holy places is narrated by me by way of illustration. Even the lord of speech cannot correctly (describe) the expanse of the holy places. Truth, pity and control of senses are holy places. One should certainly bathe in her holy place with effort. The morning is of the three muhurtas (i.e. periods) up to sangava1 — a bath at this time is dear to the gods. Mid-day consists of three muhurtas (i.e. period); after that is afternoon. Bathing, offering pindas causes delight to the dead ancestors. Evening has three muhurtas. One should not perform a sraddha etc. at that time. That time is called demonish, and is censured for all (religious) acts. Always the fifteen muhurtas of the day are well-known. Among them the eighth one is said to be kutapa. Since at mid-day the sun becomes dull (in lustre), therefore, it gives infinite fruit by offering pindas to the dead ancestors. Mid-day, a vessel made of buffalo's horns, so also a Nepalablanket, silver, darbhas, so also cows, daughter's son, and Sheshamum-seeds are kutapa. Sin is said to be mean. Since all these eight cause remorse for it, they are known as kutapa. That group of four muhurtas subsequent to kutapa, and the group of five is desired as the time for a sraddha. Darbhas and Sheshamum-seeds are said to have sprung from the body of Vishnu for the protection of sraddha. Thus the residents of heaven say. Those living at the holy places should offer water with Sheshamumseeds to the dead by standing in water and with darbhas in their hands. Thus the sraddha is not harmed.

1. Sangava — Name of a particular part of day, said to be three muhiirtas after Pratastana or early dawn and to form the second of the five divisions of day.

81 b-94. Giving the holy places these names and putting them into SabhramatI, O goddess, I gave (the river) to Kasyapa. This Kasyapa is my devotee, and he is always dear to me. Therefore, I gave (him) this pure Ganga destroying sins. O noble one, having placed myself — I am having

Shankara as my name there — at the holy place, viz. Brahmacarika, I, called Isa, remain there for the good of the world, and am named Brahmacarisa. When in the vicinity of SabhramatI, one devoutly worships especially Brahmacarisa in the Kali-age, one enjoys pleasure in this world and goes to the great position of Shiva. Even if a man suffering from severe diseases goes there, his disease quickly vanishes on merely seeing the deity, O great goddess. When the man with his senses controlled, and fasting, and being very steady, devoutly worships (the lord), then I appear before him in the form of a meditating sage. I give him the desired objects. O you beautiful lady, I am telling the truth and the truth only. I quickly remove the disease of those persons who especially come to my place. I have described diseases to be of eightyfour names. Each one of the diseases would perish merely on seeing (the image). O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, my phallus would not be there. My place is only there. There is no doubt about it. On one occasion the powerful king Brahmadatta of the solar race, of a severe penance, once practised penance there for a long time, O chief goddess. There he practised in many ways the (vow called) Paficagnisadhana.1 He practised many austerities like fasting for a month etc.

95-113. In this way the king practised a severe penance for a long time. Then I appeared before him in person for (granting him) a boon, O beautiful lady. " O Brahmadatta, listen to (these) great (i.e. important) words. I shall undoubtedly grant you everyday whatever you desire." He said: " O lord of gods, if whatever I desire is (to be) given, then always grant me one boon. May the lord be born by my name on the earth, O lord of gods." O sinless one, being pleased with those words, I granted him the boon. (Since) then, O chief goddess, I stay with him. (To him) who remaining here, fasts and is fully devoted, I grant the desired objects as long as the fourteen Indras rule. Listen to what I give to the brahmanas who, having come here, especially mutter the Rudra hymn etc. A man obtains quickly all that is desired in the Kali-age, like pleasure from his wife, pleasure from his son; it increases wealth. It gives glory and affluence, and destroys diseases etc. O ParvatI, my devotees on the earth come here and perform rites like bathing, giving gifts in this terrible Kali-age. O chief goddess, I give the desired objects. This is the truth and the truth only. The king, having posted there another celibate named Gangadhara, and having lived there for five days, then went to his own kingdom. The very great Brahmadatta, famous in the world, who knew piety, ruled for five myriad years. Then the king, having enjoyed the kingdom for some time, went to Shiva's world, (and) to the excellent position called Brahma. The two gods having my name stay there — one is Brahmacarisa, and the other one is said to be Gangadhara. To those men who worship especially at my place, I certainly give everything wanted by them in the world. The place itself is always the Phallus. Men should always go there. That wise man who offers there flowers, incense, eatables of various kinds, certainly obtains everything. I give all to them who worship at my place with bilva-leaves, flowers and sandal etc. He who everyday listens to the account of Brahmacarin, obtains happiness in this world, and goes to the vicinity of Shiva, where god Gangadhara, Bhutida (i.e. giver of happiness) always dwells.

1. Paficagnisadhana — A kind of penance in which one has to bear five fires: one in front, one at the back, one on the left, and one on the right, and the fifth fire is the sun.

114-135i The other one called Brahmacarisa always lives (there). From them one certainly obtains the position of Shiva by means of meditation. A disease perishes on seeing him. By worshipping (him) a man would obtain (long) life. O chief goddess, there is no doubt that by bathing there a man would enjoy salvation. O beautiful lady, listen. I shall describe a very wonderful holy place, known as Rajakhadga, especially on the Sabhramati. King Vaikartana, born in the solar race, was of a bad conduct, sinful, and censured brahmanas. He bore malice against his preceptors; was always angry; censured all (religious) acts; he was always interested in others' wives; and he always harmed Vishnu. He always harassed his subjects in many ways. Such a wicked one, as he was, lived on the earth always. O beautiful lady, listen properly. When some time passed, leprosy was produced in (i.e. overcame) him due to his sin (and) his (ill) luck. Observing his body, and thinking repeatedly as to what to do, he was full of anxiety. Once, by chance, he went into a forest for sport. Having reached the bank of Sabhramati there, he remained there. He bathed there, and drank excellent water. Due to the bath there, his body instantly was seen to be divine. His figure was seen to be of good gold, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain. Just then the king certainly became (like that). Having got the divine form, the king enjoyed the kingdom there for some time, and then went to the highest position of Shiva, O chief goddess. Then this holy place, called Rajakhadga, came up. He who bathes here and gives gifts, enjoys happiness in this world, and goes to the eternal (place) of Vishnu. They have no disease and never have grief. A man who everyday bathes in this (holy place) called Rajakhadga, would obtain heaven, and is honoured by Brahma and others. O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, he was called Satyesvara in the Krta age, Bhuvanesvara in the Tretaage, and Rajesvara in the Dvapara age. In this Kali age, the lord of the universe has vanished. Therefore this holy place, called Rajakhadga, has come up. Those men who devoutly offer oblations to their dead ancestors here, are declared to be of religious acts on the earth. The killers of brahmanas or of children, who bathe here, get free from blemishes, and go to the vicinty of Shiva. The dead ancestors of them who offer a dark (cow) on (the bank of) Sabhramati, are pleased till the deluge. O goddess, there is no fear for those men who listen to this divine account called Rajakhadga. In the same way diseases and blemishes vanish by listening to and reciting it.

 

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