CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTYTWO

Kapotatlrtha

Mahadeva said:

1-7a. Thence, O goddess, one should go to Kapotikatirtha where the water of Sabhramati flows to the east. That man who always offers a pinda there, after dedicating it to his dead ancestors, and along with wild fruits and flowers on every parvan day, and who offers portions of food to the crows, dogs, etc., would very happily cross over Yama's path. A man having bathed at that sacred place with white mustard seeds on the full-moon day of Vaishakha, should worship the excellent deity Pracinesvara. He would emancipate himself, his dead ancestors and grandsires. Here a pigeon, having gladly offered himself to a guest, was praised by hosts of gods who had gone to heaven in aeroplanes. Since then the holy place is known as Kapota. Having bathed and drunk (water) there, a man removes (the sin of) the murder of a brahmana. Parvati said:

7bc. O lord, tell me, how the pigeon offered his body. What was the cause? O lord of gods, I do not know (all this). Mahadeva said:

8-18. O chief goddess, at this holy place there is a great fig tree. Its innumerable large branches are seen on the ground. Many beings lived there, so also birds. O chief goddess, a pigeon had built his house (i.e. nest) there. The lord of birds, always greatly devoted to Vishnu, verily lived along with his family on its branch. O goddess, once on the DvadasI day, the day of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu, a hawk came there as a guest, O beautiful lady. O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, he said: " O pigeon, give me the flesh of your body. Otherwise I shall curse you. Today on the day of (i.e. sacred to) Vishnu, I, oppressed with hunger, have come (here). Therefore, O lord give the flesh to me who am afflicted with hunger." O goddess, the pigeon, a great devotee of Vishnu, having heard the words of the falcon, offered his body without hesitation. O best goddess, due to the power of the gift this place became a holy place called Kapotaka, which is a great holy place and is the (most) purifying among the purifying places. O best goddess, a man who, having bathed here and worshipped Shiva, offers desired food to guests, enjoys happiness in this world and goes to the eternal (place) of Vishnu. The pigeon, having offered his body to the noble one went to the heaven of Vishnu (and will live there) as long as the Moon and the Sun (are there in the sky). Therefore, O goddess, having gone there, a man should always worship a guest. Having worshipped a guest there, he certainly obtains everything.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTYTHREE

Gotirtha

Mahadeva said:

1-5. The best holy place among the holy places is the wellknown Gotirtha, destroying great sins and situated near Kasyapapool. There is no doubt that whatever sins, like the murder of a brahmana, are there, they perish on bathing at Gotirtha. Cows that had become dark due to some former sin, again became white on having bathed at that sacred place. Having bathed there, a man on offering grass etc. to cows, is free from the debt of Matrs by the grace of the cow-mothers. A man who, having gone to and bathed at Gotirtha, gives a milch cow to chief brahmanas, goes to the position of Brahma.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTYFOUR

Kasyapatirtha

Mahadeva said:

1-9. O chief goddess, here there was another holy place called Kasyapa, where there was a great pool made by Nagadeva. The god named Kusesvara shines there; so also there is a charming pool fashioned by Kasyapa. O goddess, a man having bathed there would not go to hell. O great goddess, brahmanas maintaining the holy fire and devoted to the daily recital of the Veda and very learned, live on (the bank of) Kasyapa. As is Kasi, so is this city built by sages. Kasyapa practised severe penance here, and brought Ganga springing from the matted hair of the lord. O goddess, that Ganga is (called) Kasyapi, destroying great sins, merely seeing which men are freed from a wicked sin. They recommend (here) the gift of a cow, so also the gift of a chariot. Having performed a sraddha a man should, with effort, give a gift there. A holy place destroying a great sin like Kasyapa was never there, nor will be there, in the fearful Kali age. O chief goddess, all deities and sages with their sins vanished, always remain (here) by the grace of the chief of holy places.

 

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