Kuruksetra, Pariplava, Salvikinl, Kotitirtha etc.

Narada said:

1-6. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to Kuruksetra praised (by all). All creatures who have gone there have been freed from their sins. He, who always says " I shall go to Kuruksetra, I shall stay at Kuruksetra". is absolved of all sins. O king, a wise man should live there for a month, to which very meritorious (Brahmaksetra) gods like Brahma, brahmanic sages, caranas, gandharvas, celestial nymphs, yaksas and pannagas go, O descendant of Bharata. O Yudhisthira, the sins of him who even mentally longs for Kuruksetra, perish, and he goes to Brahma's heaven. O you, who are perpetuating the Kuru family, a man going to Kuruksetra with faith, obtains the fruit of Vajapeya and Asvamedha sacrifices.

7. Then he (should go) to the very powerful doorkeeper Mattakarna, O king. Having just saluted him, he would get the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows (to a brahmana).

8-9. Thence, O pious one, he should go the excellent place of Vishnu, where, O lord of kings, Vishnu is always present. Having bathed there and having seen Vishnu, the origin of the three worlds, he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to Vishnu's heaven.

10-13a. Thence a man should go to the holy place (called) Pariplava which is well-known in the three worlds. (By going there) he obtains (the fruit of) Agnistoma and Atiratra sacrifices. A man would obtain the fruit (of the gift) of a thousand cows by reaching (this) holy place on the earth. Thence O king, a man visiting holy places, should go to (the holy place) called Salvikini. Having bathed at Dasasvamedhika he obtains the same fruit. Having reached Sarpanivi, the best holy place of nagas, he obtains (the fruit of) an Agnistoma sacrifice, and goes to the world of nagas.

13b-15. Then O pious one, he should go to the doorkeeper Atarnaka. Having stayed there for a night, he would obtain the fruit (of donation) of a thousand cows. Then, being controlled and having his diet restrained, he, having gone to Pancanada and having bathed at Kotitirtha, would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice. Having visited the Asvini-tlrtha, he is born handsome.

16-19. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the best sacred place Varaha where formerly Vishnu dwelt in the form of a boar. O best of men, having stayed there he would obtain the fruit of Agnistoma. Then O lord of kings, he should go to the Somatirtha at Ujjayinl. Having bathed (there), a man obtains the fruit of a Rajasuya (sacrifice). A man, having bathed at Ekaharhsa, would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows. Having reached Krtasauca, the pilgrim would obtain (the fruit of) Pundarika, and would become one who has purified himself.

20-24a. Then he (should go) to the holy place called Munjavata of the wise Mahadeva. Having lived there for a night he would obtain the position of the head of Shiva's attendants. Then, O great king, having bathed and gone to Jaya well-known in the world, he would obtain all desired objects. O best among Bharatas, that is a well-known gate to Kuruksetra. The pilgrim turning to the right, and having returned, having bathed at Sarhsmrta of the Puskaras, should worship the deities in the form of manes. (Parasu-) Rama, the noble son of Jamadagni, invoked them (here) only. O king, the man would have accomplished his object, and would obtain (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice.

24b-38a. O king, thence the pilgrim should go to Ramahrada where, O lord of kings, Rama (i.e. Parasurama), of a blazing lustre having powerfully and speedily expelled the ksatriyas, resorted to the five deep lakes after filling them with blood. This is what we have heard, O best among men. He offered oblations to his forefathers, and also his great grandsires. Then, O king, the forefathers, being pleased, said to Rama (i.e. Parasurama): " O Rama, Bhargava, we are highly pleased with you by your devotion to your forefathers and your valour. Wellbeing to you. Ask for a boon. O you highly intelligent one, what do you desire? " O lord of kings, that Rama, best among speakers, who was thus addressed (by his forefathers), said, with the palms of his hands joined, (these) words to the forefathers who remained in the sky: " If you are pleased with me, if you favour me, then I desire the increase in my penance; and by your lustre I may be freed from the sin that I, overcome by anger, (committed by having) destroyed the ksatriyas, and the lakes which have become sacred to me should be well-known on the earth." Hearing these good words of Rama (i.e. Parasurama), his forefathers, extremely pleased and full of great joy said to him: " Due especially to your devotion to your forefathers, may your penance increase again. You are freed from the sin that you, overcome by anger, killed the ksatriyas. They were killed due to their own (mis-) deeds. The lakes will undoubtedly be the holy places (named) after you. The manes of him who, after bathing in these lakes, will offer oblations to his manes, will be pleased with him, and will grant him his desired object and eternal (residence) in heaven." O king, the manes of Parasurama, being pleased and having granted him such a boon and taking leave of Bhargava, vanished there only. Thus the lakes are sacred to the noble Bhargava i.e. Parasurama. A man of self-control and good vows, after bathing in the lakes of (i.e. sacred to) Parasurama, and worshipping him, would obtain much gold.

38b-40. Then, O you who perpetuate the Kuru family, a pilgrim, having reached Varhsamula, would liberate his family by bathing at Vamshamulaka. Obest among Bharatas, having reached Kayasodhana, a man who has bathed there, obtains the purity of his body; there is no doubt about it. And with his body purified he goes to pious, excellent worlds.

41-44. O lord of kings, thence a man should go to the holy place rare in the three worlds, where formerly the mighty Vishnu liberated people. O king, having reached (that) holy place (called) Lokoddhara, well-known in the three worlds, and having bathed there, he liberates his own people. Having reached Shritirtha, he obtains excellent wealth. A man being restrained and calm, having reached Kapilatirtha, and having bathed there and worshipped deities and manes, obtains the fruit of (having donated) a thousand tawny cows (to a brahmana).

45-46a. Going to Suryatirtha and with his mind controlled he should bathe there, and devoutly observing a fast he should worship (his) manes and deities. (By doing so) he obtains the fruit of an Agnistoma sacrifice and goes to the Sun's world.

46b-47a. A pilgrim who, after reaching Gavamtirtha according to the (proper) order, bathes there, would obtain the fruit of (having presented) a thousand cows.

47b-49. O king, a pilgrim (then), after reaching Gangatirtha and bathing at the Kanyatirtha, obtains excellent power. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to the doorkeeper (called) Lavarnaka. O king, having bathed there at the holy place (in the stream of) Sarasvati as in that of the noble Indra, a man would obtain the fruit of an Agnistoma sacrifice.

50-55a. Then, O pious king, he should go to (the holy place called) Brahmavarta. He having bathed at Brahmavarta would obtain (i.e. go to) Brahma's heaven. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the excellent (holy place called) Sutlrthaka where gods are always present with the manes. Engaged in worshipping manes and deities he should bathe there. (By doing so) he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to the world of manes. Then, O best of Bharatas, going to another holy place in order and having bathed in the sacred places of Kasisvara, he, being free from all diseases, is honoured in Brahma's world. O king, Matrtirtha is just there, having bathed where his progeny increases (in number), and, O king, he would obtain a position in heaven.

55b-61a. Then being controlled and with his diet restrained, he should go to Sitavana. O great king, there is a great holy place which is difficult to be found elsewhere. By merely seeing it and by restraint, O king, he is purified. O descendant of Bharata, having offered his hair at that (holy place), he is purified. Then there is another holy place known as Snatalokartiha. O you best among men, O you best of the Bharatas, learned brahmanas, highly devoted to it, having bathed there, obtain the best position (i.e. salvation). O best of Bharatas, at the holy place (called) Svarnalomapanayana, best brahmanas cast off their hair after controlling their breath. Then, with their souls purified, O lord of kings, they go to the highest position (i.e. get salvation). O king, having bathed at Dasasvamedhika (situated) at that holy place only, O tiger (i.e. best) among men, men with their souls purified go to the highest position (i.e. obtain salvation).

61b-67a. O lord of kings, he should go to (the holy place called) Manusa, well known in the world. O king, there a black deer tormented by a hunter with arrows, plunged into that lake and obtained manhood. A man, being restrained and calm, having bathed at the holy place, has his soul purified from all sins, and is honoured in heaven. O king, to the east of (the holy place called) Manusa, at a distance of a krosa (i.e. two miles) there is a well-known river called Apaga, which is resorted to by siddhas. Oae who gives there the meal of Syamaka rice dedicating it to the deities and manes, obtains a great fruit of his piety. If (only) one brahmana is fed, a crore brahmanas are fed. Having bathed there and worshipped the deities and also the manes, and having stayed there for a night, one would obtain the fruit of an Agnistoma sacrifice.

67b-71a. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the best place of Brahma, known in the world as Brahmanusvara, O descendant of Bharata. O you best among the Bharatas, he who being pure and with his mind controlled, bathes there at the holy pools of the seven sages, and O lord of kings, at Kedara and at the holy place of the noble Kapila, goes to Brahma, and with his soul purified of all sins, goes to Brahma's heaven. Having reached Kapisthala's (place called) Kedara, difficult to reach, he, with his sins burnt by penance, acquires (the art of) becoming invisible.

71b-79a. Thence, O lord of kings, a man should go to (the holy place called) Sarvaka, well-known in the world. Having gone to the bull-bannered one (i.e. Shiva) on the fourteenth day of the dark half, he gets all his desired objects and goes to heaven. O descendant of Kuru, there are three crores of holy places. At the pond there is Rudrakoti; in the lakes there is Samantaka. O best of Bharatas, there only is the holy place Ilaspada. Having bathed and worshipped deities and manes there, one does not meet with calamities and obtains the (fruit of) Vajapeya sacrifice. O king, having bathed at Kirhdana and also at Kirhjapa, a man obtains immeasurable (fruit of) gifts and sacrifice. One having faith and his senses under control having bathed at Kalasi, obtains the fruit of an Agnistoma sacrifice. To the east of Saraka there is an auspicious place known as Ramajanma, O greatest among Kurus, which is sacred to Narada. O descendant of Bharata, one who having bathed there casts his life, being permitted by Narada, obtains worlds difficult to obtain. One should enter (i.e. go to) Pundarika on the tenth of the bright half (of a month). Having bathed there, O king, he would obtain the fruit of Pundarika.

79b-85. Thence he should go to Trivistapa, well-known in the three worlds. There is the auspicious river Vaitarani which frees (a man) from sins. Having bathed there and worshipped (Shiva) holding the trident in his hand and having the bull as his banner, and (thus) with his soul purified from all sins, he would go to the highest position (i.e. salvation). Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to the excellent Phalakivana. Gods have always resorted to that Phalikivana, and practised penance for many thousand years. One having bathed at Drsatpana and having offered oblations to the deities, obtains the fruit of Agnistoma and Atiratra sacrifices. O lord of kings, having bathed at the place sacred to all gods, one obtains the fruit of (giving away) a thousand cows. A man having bathed at (the holy place called) Panikhyata, and having offered oblations to the deities, obtains (the fruit of) Rajasuya, and also goes to the world of sages.

86-87. Thence, O pious one, one should go to (the holy place called) Misraka which is well-known in the world. O lord of kings, we have heard that the noble Vyasa has brought together the holy places at that place for brahmanas. One who bathes at Misraka has well bathed at all holy places.

88-95. Thence being controlled and having his food controlled he should go to Vyasavana (the grove sacred to Vyasa). Having bathed at Manojava one would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. Having gone to Madhuvanl, the place of the goddess, one with purity (of mind) and self-control should worship the deities and the manes. Being allowed by the goddess he would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. O descendant of Bharata, he who has bathed at the confluence of Kausiki and Drsadvati and has his diet restrained, is absolved of all sins. Then there is the holy place called Vyasasthali where Vyasa tormented by the grief due to (the death of) his son, had decided to end his life, and was again roused to action by gods, O lord of kings. Having gone (i.e. if a man goes) to that place, he would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. O lord of men, having reached (the holy) lake of Rnanta and having offered there Sheshamum of the measure of a prastha (to the manes) he would, after being freed from debts, get a great success. Having bathed at the Veditfrtha, a man would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. O king, the two holy places Aha and Sudina are difficult to reach. A man having bathed at them would obtain (i.e., go to) the Sun's heaven.

96-106. Thence he should go to (the holy place called) Mrgadhuma, well-known in the three worlds. Having bathed there at Rudrapada and having worshipped the noble tridentholder (i.e., Shiva), a man would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice. A man having bathed at Kotitirtha would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. Then having gone to (the holy place called) Vamanaka which is well-known in the three worlds, and there bathing and having properly worshipped Vamana, one with his soul purified of all sins, would obtain Vishnu's heaven. A man having bathed at Kulampuna purifies his own family. Having gone to the pool of Pavana, the excellent holy place of the Maruts and having bathed there, a man is honoured in the world of Vayu, O best of men. A man, having bathed at the pool of the immortal ones (i.e., gods), and having worshipped the lord of gods, is honoured in heaven due to the prowess of the gods. O lord of kings, having duly bathed at Salisuryaof Salihotra, he would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows, O best among men. Obest among theBharatas, there is a holy place on (the bank of) the Sarasvati (called) Shrikunja. O king, a man having bathed there, would obtain the fruit of Agnistoma. Then having reached

1434 Padma Purana (i.e., he should goto) Naimisakunja, very difficult to reach. O lord of kings, it is said that sages of the Naimisa (forest) with penance as their wealth formerly set upon a pilgrimage and went to Kuruksetra. Then an arbour was made on (the bank of) the Sarasvati. It is a great place of the sages, which gives great joy. Having bathed in the arbour, a man would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows.

 

CHAPTER TWENTYSEVEN

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