CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY

Hiranyasangama Tirtha Shri

Mahadeva said:

1-16. O goddess, I shall tell you about the great confluence of Hiranya (with Sabhramati). When that Sabhramati Ganga formerly had seven streams, then she — the daughter of Brahma — was known as Saptasrota. The seventh stream is known as Hiranya. A sinful man having bathed at that holy place would obtain heaven. The mountain Satyavan is between Rksu and Manjuma. To its east is the auspicious confluence of Hiranya (with Sabhramati). Having bathed there and drunk (water) one would obtain an auspicious course. Having seen Narayana Hari at Vanasthali, one should then go to Hiranyasangamesvara, a holy place, auspicious for celestial nymphs, where Urvasi, (the most) beautiful among the celestial nymphs, was formerly born. There Nara and Narayana practised excellent penance. At the charming and auspicious confluence of Hiranya (with Sabhramati), which removes great sins, all sages, with their sins gone, bathe. O goddess, the brahmanas like Vasishtha and like Valakhilya, bathe there at the confluence of Hiranya (with Sabhramati). By bathing there one's form certainly becomes golden. A mortal always obtains that fruit (by bathing) at the confluence of Hiranya (with Sabhramati) which is equal to the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows. And at Hiranyasangama the fruit is said to be infinite times more than the one obtained at the time of lunar or solar eclipse at Dasasvamedha. Hiranyaksa was a great demon. He practised severe penance (here). His body formerly became like gold there. When king Janamejaya bathed at that place, his (sin due to the) murder of a brahmana vanished. The royal sage Visvamitra came here for a bath. Having especially bathed here he went to my city. O chief goddess, brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and shudras, who bathe here, go to Shiva's abode.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTYONE

Madhuraditya

Mahadeva said:

1-11. O goddess, then I shall, after the description of Hiranyasangama, describe the holy place where the river Dharmavatl joins (Sabhramati). There is no doubt that a fortunate man bathing there goes to heaven. He who sees there the holy place fashioned by Yama is meritorious. Those who perform a sraddha there are free from the debt of their dead ancestors. Then there is the Madhura-tlrtha, which destroys all sins. One should bathe at Madhura-tlrtha, and see Vishnu, the killer of Madhu. Here, Krishna, full of the fear of Jarasandha, had rested. After the murder of Karhsa demon had taken place, he, desirous of going to Kushasthali, lived for seven nights on the bank of Candana, surrounded by Bhoja, Vrsni, Andhaka and Yadava heroes. He reached Madhuratirtha and bathed as per rules. There Vishnu established (the image) by name Madhuraditya. He settled (there) eighteen thousand brahmanas performing sacrifices, and left after giving them various vehicles. O chief goddess, there are thousands of holy places. One desiring the good of the dead ancestors, should perform a sraddha there. " You who are staying in my holy place, should never be afraid of Jarasandha." Having thus told those brahmaijas Krishna went to Dvaraka. A man having bathed in that holy place, should worship Madhurarka. Due to the gift of a tawny cow on the seventh of the bright fortnight of Magha, a man after enjoying pleasures here for a long time, would go to the position of the Sun.

12-23. O beautiful lady, listen, I shall tell you an ancient account, hearing which people are free from such sins as the murder of a brahmana. O goddess, on one occasion, the best sage Mandavyapractised very auspicious and severe penance at Gangadvara. He ate leaves and fruits and always ate (i.e. subsisted on) air. O goddess, day and night he was always greatly devoted to meditating on Vishnu. He was engaged in the practice of abstract meditation, and was always given to religious practices. O goddess, king Visvamohana lived in that country. He had abundant wealth (consisting) of elephants, horses, chariots and footsoldiers on the earth. His son, of auspicious marks, was Somacandra by name. O goddess, once he went for hunting in the forest. Having gone there, and having had the sports of hunting, he, surrended by his own people, amused himself. When he was engaged in sports, it was night, O goddess. During the night the king stayed in the forest for hunting. When the night passed, and when it was the period (of the day) called Brahma, his horse was stolen by a wicked thief. Then there was a cry, 'Ha, ha' 'Where has the horse gone? ' Then all of them desirous of going away and eager, through the fear of the king, said to one another: " The horse is specially stolen by a thief." Looking for (it), they all came to Haridvara. There the sage Mandavya always practised penance. At that time the soldiers saw him lost in meditation: 'This thief, always a sinner, remains in meditation'.

24-32. Suspecting that he had come (there) after having tied the horse, the king's soldiers thought like that and seized the great sage They reported to the king about the thief, viz. the best sage. " O king, this snatcher of the horse is brought. O king, he is always a thief." Then he gave an order to transfix him on a stake. Then all the soldiers came together, and tied him. Then in a moment he was transfixed on a stake. He did not notice that act of being transfixed on a stake. Since he was engaged in abstract meditation and highly devoted to meditation on Vishnu, he noticed being transfixed on a stake after sometime. " I am Mandavya, the best of sages. Who has done this act? " The revered, omniscient one, who knew (the events of) the three times, thought: 'This must be the act of Dharma, and of none else'. Engaged in abstract meditation, the pious one went to Dharma. Having gone there, he spoke these (words): " O Dharma, listen now. You are always known as Dharma in the world and the Veda. How did you do the act of transfixing (me) on the stake? O sir, I certainly desire to know all that from you." Dharma said:

33-39a. O best brahmana, listen to the cause of your fall in the previous existence. I shall tell (you) that. Please favour me. In your childhood you did this act — the sin — in your previous existence. O very wise one, listen to the cause of your fall in this existence. O brahmana, once you had gone to a solitary forest. O brahmana, having gone there, you put a living moth on a stake. Due to that act it was pained. O you of a good vow, due to that act, you were transfixed on a stake by the king. By all means (the effect of) an auspicious or inauspicious act done by one has to be undergone. You have undoubtedly suffered (the fruit of that) very small act. O best brahmana, be happy. Go at your will." Having heard these words, that best brahmana, Mandavya, with his eyes reddish due to anger then spoke (these words): Mandavya said:

39b-45. O most sinful one, O you of a bad conduct, what great sin had I committed, having done which, I was (thus) transfixed on a stake? Due to the wrath (contained) in my words, be a shudra by all means. After some time, he was born in the family called Candra, was known as Vidura, and was highly devoted to Vishnu. O chief goddess, for a pilgrimage he went to the river Sabhramati, where there is (her) confluence with Dharmavati. Vidura, of the form of Dharma, bathed there only. He certainly cast his shudrahood in Dharmavati. Therefore, O goddess, those meritorious men who bathe here, go to the highest position. Those men who offer a sraddha and gifts here on the earth, get great prosperity in this world, and rejoice in heaven.

 

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