by Dr. Ved Kumari
Salutation to the venerable Vasudeva Om.
1199-1207. By seeing (the images of) the god erected by Sakra, Varuna, Brahma, Dhanesa, Yama, Hara, Divakara, Soma, Vahni, Pavana, Kasyapa, Bhrgu, Pulastya and Atri, and by seeing anyone of these, namely, Bhurjasvami, Mahasvami Satasrnga, Gadadhara Janardana-Bhrgusvami near the abode of Meru, the god Taittiriyesvara, the god Dandakasvami, Janardana-Ramasvami near Bhava, the boon- giver god Narayanasthana towards west, the god Gajendramoksana near Varaha, Varaha, Nrsimha, the boon-giver Bahurupa, the images of seven sages near Sumukha, the boon-giver Turigavasa, the boon-giver Svayambhu, Guhavasa, Yogisa, Ananta, the sage Kapila, Asvasirsa, Matsya, Hamsa, Kurma, Uttankasvami, the god erected by Valakhilyas, Garuda, Jalavasa and the god possessed of hoods, one gets the merit of ( the gift of) ten cows. 1208. Seeing the image erected formerly in Magadha by Prthu - the son of Vena - a man obtains the merit of (performing) Pundarika. Verses 1199-1300
1209-10. And by seeing the auspicious image called Asramasvami, erected by Bhrgu on Grdhrakuta and brought down from the hill to the vicinity of his place, by the high- minded Rama - the son of Bhrgu - one is freed from all sins. There is no doubt herein.
1211. Gonanda(asked): "Why was the image constructed by Bhrgu, brought down from Grdhrakuta - the best of the mountains - to the vicinity of his own hermitage ?"
1212. On account of the murder of his father (committed by Haihaya Ksatriyas), Rama - the oppressor of the Ksatriyas - made the earth devoid of Ksatriyas for twenty- one times.
1213. O best of the kings, at the time of the 21st massacre, some Ksatriyas reached the hilly fort in Kasmira.
1214-16. O lord of the earth, being excessively angry, Rama pursued and killed them. From amongst them also, a few Ksatriyas escaped death and leaving Kasmira due to his fear, reached where there is the river Madhumati and the other Rajanirmala. Even then Rama overtook them and angrily pulled them down.
1217-18. Having killed all the Ksatriyas, he,with his hands drenched in blood, erected an image of the high-souled Kesava. (That image) called Rajavasa is famous in all the worlds. By sceing that, a king quickly obtains success in his undertakings.
1219. As Rama had erected that image in a mood of violence so Hari is always present there in a fierce mood.
1220. Human beings also worship Him with a feeling of violence and as a result of this feeling (they worship Him) daily with such actions as the killing of animals.
1221. O lord of the earth, having excavated, at first, pits (filled) with the blood of Ksatriyas, the pious Rama also went to Kuruksetra.
1222-24. That destroyer of the royal enemies obtained pleasure after worshipping the forefathers in those (pits). The pleased forefathers addressed him thus: "O long- armed Rama, deviate yourself from this act and go on a holy pilgrimage. As you have killed the kings who were frightend and had taken flight, your body has become sinful with that sin. Hence, O son, go to the holy places for purifying yourself.
1225-26. Till you become possessed of a purified body, O son, the fast sticking blood would not disappear from your hands. When both your hands become free from blood, then having become purified, you should practise penance as may please you.
1227. O king, addressed thus and honoured by the forefathers, Rama went then, as a pilgrim, to all the holy places.
1228. Then, he went to Kasmira and baving bathed in all the holy places, he reached near Grdhrakuta.
1229. After a bath at the place where the Suddha and the Sarasvati meet, the hands of Rama became purified.
1230-31. Rama also gave to that place, a boon, viz. "After taking bath at this holy spot, a man will give up all his sins. With his body purified, he shall attain the world as is accessible to the Bhrgus." Thus the tormentor of the armies of the enemies purged of sin.
1232. He practised hard penance after arrirving at Pathesvara and thereafter anived as the river Punyoda which had originated from the Brahmasara.
1233. When the high-minded Rama performed austerities there, the river became famous on the earth, by the name Ramahrada.
1234. Having performed austerities there, for a year, Rama went for penance to the foot of Grhrakuta.
1235-36, Not far from the place where his hands had attained purity and not far from the Punyoda, there is the abode of the high-souled Naga king Ananta. (Rama) performed hard penance there and erected the image of the god Sarngi.
1237-38. While Rama of unwearied activity was staying there, a good Brahmana went to see Asramasvami. He took a cow along with him to offer to that god. She breathed her last there on tbe hard way on that mountain.
1239. O lord of the earth, the Brahmana also - immersed in repentance - came back with a mind full of grief and sorrow, after leaving the cow.
1240-41. Persistent in piety, that Vasistha (Brahmana) went to the hermitage of Rama and related all that bad happened, to the high-souled Rama. Then Rama, seeing with his celestial sight, said to him.
1242. "O best among the twice-borns, this charming celestial woman born in heaven deceived, in the guise of a cow, Narada - the heavenly sage. 1243-44. Having come to know this, he cursed her and she became your cow. Further, he pronounced the end of the curse thus: "While being carried by the cow-owner, to the mountain Grdhrakuta, you shall give up the body and again turn into a nice fairy.
1145. O twice-born, she has been freed from the curse by you, so no sin accrues to you. By my favour you shall be endowed with the merit of the gift of a cow.
1146. Go and see your own lord of the gods living in Asrama. By his sight you shall be freed from all the sins.
1247. I, too, with a desire to do good to the world, shall bring that image here, by propitiating Madhusudana - the best among the gods.
1248. O Brahmana, people often worship that Hari with the gift of cow and the cows suffer a lot while climbing up the hill.
1249. O chief among the twice-borns, there would not be (any suffering), when the image is brought here." Then, that descendant of Bhrgu practised penance at that very place.
1250-1252. Then, O king, at the end of the year, he saw with his celestial sight, pleased Madhusudana, standing in front, resembling a heap of snow (due to being) adorned with white clothes, decorated with a crown of the hue of the sun and with earrings, four-faced, four-armed, accompanied by the abode of the four Vedas, and with cries of victory pronounced by weapons endowed with human bodies. Seeing Madhusudana, O king, he praised him thus.
1253. Salutation to you, O lord of the gods of the gods, destroyer of the sufferings of those who prostrate (before you).
1254. Salutation to you who are possessed of four forms, endowed with a bulky body, abode of four Vedas, long-armed, finder of the cow, (earth), lotus-eyed and having Varaha and other incarnations.
1255. Bearing the earth on the front part of the jaws, crushing the mountains into pieces, you are Varaha by whom this world is held constantly.
1256. Salutation to you, O Man-lion - surrounded by garlands of flames - who broke forth the chest of Hiranyakasipu with the tips of nails.
1257. Salutation to you - the god who took three steps - desirous of victory. Salutation to you, O lord, possessed of the head of a horse and with face embellished with Soma.
1258-60. O god, you are the final resort of all the gods when they are in suffering. The senses, the objects of of senses, the gross physical elements, the mind, the intellect, the soul, avyakta born of Purusa, sattva, rajas, tamas, Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara, the three worlds including movables and immovables, all this is pervaded by you. I do not see anything else than yourself in the three worlds.
1261. O god, it was through your strength that I killed, on the earth, the Ksatriyas and one crore highly strong Saimhikeyas.
1262. Obeisance to you, O lord of the gods, O minutest among the rninute and the greatest among the great, O lover of the daughter of the ocean, O assumer of forms at your own will !
1263-64. O giver of desired wishes, O destroyer of sins, honoured by the enemy of Kama, praised continually by the btus-born (Brahma) by means of four mouths, cause of the causes of the world, how should I praise you? O praisod one, O lord of the three worlds, O master, salutation to you by all means !
1265-66. 0 god, salutation to you on sides; O lord, salutation to you all around i.e. on the mountains, in the seas, in the worlds and in the sky. Salutation to you, salutation to you, salutation to you everywhere."
1267. Eulogized thus by Rama, Janardana said to him: "O long-armed Rama - possessed of good vow - ask for a boon.
1268. O child possessed of a good vow, with your valour, penance and this hymn of praise, I am pleased as much as of none else."
1269. Rama (spoke): "O lord, I want to bring here, the image erected by Bhrgu, firom the peak of Grdhrakuta Your honour may permit me for that."
1270. The god spoke: O best arnong the Bhrgus, I have bestowed a favour upon you. Do as you like, so that the people may be freed from sin without any suffering.
1271. Brhadasva (said): Having spoken thus, the lord Visnu disappeared. Rama also brought down that image from Grdhrakuta.
1272. He erected with devotion that image which belonged to him, midway between Ananta and Kuta. By seeing that, a man obtains the merit of (performing) Pundarika.
1273. Shining with austerities, Rama also went to Mahendra Mountain, after giving the earth to Kasyapa, in the great sacrifice (called) Vajimedha.
1274. O well-versed in piety, thus was the auspicious image brought by Rama, from Grdhrakuta - the best of the mountains - to the vicinity of his hermitage.
1275. Gonanda (said): "O best among the narrators and possessed of unlimited intelligence, tell me ( about ) the sacred places situated near this country and also the merit which accrues from each."
1276-77. Brhadasva (spoke): "By climbing up the Grdhrakuta one gets the merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows and goes to heaven (by bathing) in the confluence of the Vitasta and the Madhumati.
By climbing up the Indrakila, one obtains the merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows. Having reached the river Kumunari, one is freed from all sins by taking bath therein.
1278-79. One gets the merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows (by bathing in) the confluence of the Krsna and the Vitasta and gets the merit of performing Vahnistoma by seeing Cakresa erected by Sandilya on the bank of the Madhumati.
One gets the fulfilment of one's cherished desire by seeing Durga.
1280. There flows also the river named Sandili - the destroyer of sins. By taking bath in that, one becomes free from sins and goes to heaven.
1281. The man who takes bath in the confluence of the Sandili and the Madhumati, is freed from all sins and goes to heaven.
1282. Through a sight of Hari (called) Rajavasa, one obtains one's desired object and after reaching Rajovinirmala, one is freed from sins by taking bath (therein).
1283. Uma, in her monthly course for the 1st time, took bath therein. Through a sight of Gaurisikhara one obtains the world of the Moon.
1284. O king, at first her hue was like that of a blue lotus but by performing penance there, she obtained heart- enchanting fair complexion.
1285. O giver of honour, it is highly strange indeed that even in the dark half (of the month), the human beings continually see that hill endowed as it were with moonlight.
1286. By plunging separately in the Telala and in the holy Bhurjala, one gets the merit equal to that of (the gift of) hundred cows.
1287-88a. By taking bath in the confluence of these two, one obtains the merit of (performing) Vajapeya. O king, it is stated by the sages that for him who bathes in the confluence of these two and the Madhumati, there accrues the holy merit of the gift of an elephant.
1288b-89. Having reached the charming source of the Madhumati, one is freed from all the sins and is honoured in the world of Rudra.
By bathing in Uttaramanasa, one gets the merit of (the gift of) thousand cows.
1290. The forefathers who are satiated at that place have fulfilment of cherished desires. By bathing in the (lake of) Haramunda, one gets the merit of (the gift of) ten cows.
1291-92. By climbing up Haramunda, a man obtains the merit of (performing) Rajasuya sacrifice.
Fallen from the moon, Ganga - the best of the rivers - is situated there, by taking bath in which, all sins are certainly washed away.
At the confluence of Ganga and Manasa, one acquires the merit of (performing) Rajasuya.
1293. By taking bath in Devatirtha, a man reaches Uttaramanasa.
In the Agastya (lake) constructed by the Valakhilyas, one becomes equal to the sages, in lustre.
1294-95. Having reached Kalodaka, Nandikunda, Sankha, Cakra, Gada, Padma, Kapilatirtha, the holy places of Vatika and Sandika, the holy places of the nymphs and the highest Brahma and Krpanitirtha, one gets at each, the merit of (the gift of) hundred cows.
1296. All the sins are completely washed away by bathing at the place where the river originated from Manasa meets Kalodaka.
1297. Holy are the wives of the gods. Suryasara is remembered tobe holy; Tarasara, Candrasara and the great Kalusaka are holy.
1298-99. O lord of the earth, there is the holy place of the sacrifice of Brahma. By seeing every one of these, namely, Sakratirtha, Devatirtha and Brahmanakundi katirtha, one obtains the merit of (the gift of) a hundred cows. Having reached Hamsadvara, one certainly attains heaven.
1300. Having arrived at the source of the Sindhu, one gets the merit of (performing) Rajasuya, and by bathing in Bindusara one gets that of (performing) Pundarika.
by Dr. Ved Kumari
Om auspiciousness. Salutation to the auspicious Ganes'a.
Salutation to the venerable Vasudeva Om.1301. By taking bath in the Madava, one gets the merit of (the gift of) thousand cows and by seeing the river named Sandhya, one is freed from all sins. 1302. Not going to the unfaithful, she approaches nicely one who is possessed of unfailing vow. By merely seeing there the holy place of Agni, one is honoured in the world of Agni. Verses 1301-1403
1303-4. Holy is the river Citrapatha and so also Mrgananda and Mrga. One gets the merit of (the gift of) a a hundred cows thtough every one of these, namely, Godavari, Vaitarani, auspicious Mandakini, Candrabhaga and Gomati, the remover of all sins and fears.
1305-6. The sins of a person who bathes at the place where the boly Citrapatha and the great river Madava meet, are destroyed. Moreover, he attains heaven and purifies his family. O king, these great rivers have been described to you.
1307. Their confluences are sacred and give heaven as award. Sacred is the mountain Citrakuta where Uma was married.
1308. There is the celestial ointment by anointing the body with which, a mall becomes possessed of a beautiful form and good gifts.
1309-11. There is Gavyasara and Pancagavyasara. O king, there are flve other (lakes) and also the sacred Tailasara, the sacred Udvartanasara, the sacred Atasisara, Siddharthakasara and the (lake filled witb the) water of tbe Myrobalan fruit (amalakavari) . There is the holy Madhuparkasara and thc holy Usnodaka. One obtains heaven by seeing every one of these.
1312. One is honoured in heaven by climbing up the Citrakuta. There is a holy place named Saptarsi which gives the fruit of all desires.
1313. The offering of boiled rice to Saptarsi is more efficacious than (the performance of) one thousand Asvamedhas, one hundred Rajasuyas and (the gift of) one lac cows.
1314. O king, funeral ceremonies, charity, recital of the name of the God, bath, sacrifice and worship, all these become imperishable when performed at that place.
1315. Having arrived at Vastrapada, one is honoured in the world of Rudra and after reaching Chagalesvara, one gets one's desire fulfilled.
1316. Having become an attendant of Rudra, one enjoys oneself in His company. By reaching the source of Parosni, one obtains the merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows.
1317. After bathing in Usnodaka one gets the merit of giving one thousand cows in charity and having reached Sahasradhara, one is honoured in the world of Visnu.
1318-1320. Visnu, while stepping over the worlds, crcated that lake by means of his foot, so it is called Kramasara as is the other place Visnupada. When the god Brahma performed Vedic sacrifices there, then that Kramasara came to be spoken of as the destroyer of all sins. When there was the abode of the Naga Kaundinya, then that place became famous by the name Kaundinyasara only.
1321-22a. By worshipping the gods and the manes, by seeing three beautiful peaks (named) Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara, and after having taken bath therein, one certainly obtains the three worlds of those (gods) .
1222b-23. O lord of the earth, one attains heaven a saves one's family by seeing the sacrificial place of Brahma there. By seeing there the beautiful Ksirasara, one is released from sins.
1324. By bathing on the dark 14th after reaching the source of the Samara, one is freed frorn all the sins and is honoured in the world of Rudra.
1325. I have narrated to you the sacred places which are near and which remove the sins of all. What else should I tell you ?"
1326. Gonanda (spoke): "O twice-born, with (your) sins burnt by austerites, tell me about the prominent tirthas in Kasmira and about the merit which can be obtained by taking bath in them."
1327-28. Brhadasva (said): "The sacred great river named Kaundinya originating from the lake Kramasara gives, through bath, the merit of (performing) Pundarika. And the holy river Ksira is the giver of the merit of (the gift of) a hundred cows. One gets the merit of (giving) one thousand cows by bathing in the confluence of both of them.
1329. A man becomes devoid of grief and possessed of wealth, by taking bath in the Visoka and obtains the holy merit of (performing) Devasattra.
1330. O chief of the kings, one gets the merit of (performing) Vajapeya, by taking bath at the place where the Kaundini meets the Visoka.
1331. A man gets (the merit of performing) the sacrifice Gosava, by taking bath at Vrddhatirtha. Vasuki - the lord of the Bhujagas - is always present there.
1332. By bathing in Devasara, a man obtains the world of gods and by bathing at Agnitirtha he obtains the world of Agni.
1333. In the south-eastern portion of Devasara is present the river named Sarasvati, by bathing in which, a man goes to heaven.
1334. A man obtains the merit of (the gift of) a hundred cows by bathing in two tirthas, one in front of Vinatasvami and the other near Kadrusvami.
1335. O giver of honour, there is the goddess Samdhya, the holy river, by bathing in which, sin is removed from the body and one goes to heaven.
1336-37. Samdhya Puskarini is another (holy place) which gives the merit equal to that of the previous one. One is honoured in heaven after plunging with devotion into the holy Brahmanakundika and after seeing the holy place bearing three names Nilakunda, Vitastakhya and Sulaghata.
1338-39. Having reached Vinasana, one gets the merit of (the performance of) Vajapeya. Charity, funeral ceremonies and penance (performed) at Brahmanakundika and Nilakunda, are stated to be imperishable. By bathing in Vitastonmajjana, one obtains the merit of (giving ) one thousand cows.
1340. 0 lord of the earth, by bathing in Pancahastsaka, one obtains the (merit of performing) five sacrifices which a householder is required to perform daily.
1341. Lokapunya is, verily, the remover of all sins. By bathing in Kapotaka, a man gets the merit of giving a cow.
1342. O best of the kings, Vitastonmajjana in the hermitage of Visnu in front of Nrsimha is holy. One is honoured in the world of Visnu (by bathing in that).
1343-44. The merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows accrues for him who bathes in the Dhyanadharini, and by bathing in the sin-destroying confluence of the Vitasta and the Dhyanadharini, a man obtains the holy merit of (performing) Vajapeya. Having entered the Dhyanadharini, the Vitasta disappeared at that place.
1345. The river Visoka, concealing herself, reached that place soon. The merit of (perforrning) Rajasuya is considered to accrue at the confluence of these two at Dhaumyasrama.
1346. By seeing Caturvedi, a man gets the merit of giving a daughter (in marriage).
Having arrived at the Harsapatha, a human being obtains much gold.
1347. By reaching the source of Trikoti, one is freed from all sins and having reached the source of the Candravati, one is honoured in the world of the Moon.
1348. By bathing in Devatirtha one becomes a god and gets a son. And by bathing in Trikoti, a man is honoured in the world of the gods.
1349. By bathing in Harsapatha, one is honoured in the world of Sakra and by bathing in Candravati one gets the merit of (giving) ten cows.
1350. Holy is the river Harsapatha and so also is Candravati. The wise say that there accrues (the merit of the performance of) Rajasuya at the confluence of these two.
1351. The area beginning from the confluence of Trikoti up to Raupycsvara Hara should be regarded equal (in merit) to Varanasi or even more powerful.
1352. One attains the world of Rudra by taking bath in Kapatesvara and is honoured in the world of Rudra (by taking bath) in the holy Visalingahrada.
1353. O lord of the earth, one attains the world of Rudra and saves one's family by taking bath in the Vitasta in front of Vijayesvara.
1354. One is honoured in the world of Visnu by taking bath in front of Pingalesa and the same merit is stated to accrue from a bath at the hermitage of Khandapuccha.
1355. By taking bath in Pundarika, a man gets the merit of (performing) Pundarika sacrifice and by bathing in Surparka, one obtains the merit of the gift of cows.
1356. One who gives food in charity at the confluence of the Vitasta and the Dhyanadharini, gets merit which remains imperishable so long as there are the fourteen Indras.
1357-58. All the scred places are present, at that time, in the hermitage of Narasimha. O lord of men, the area beginning from the confluence of the Vitasta and the Dhyanadharini up to the worthy abode of the Naga Kalpasodasa is as holy as Priayaga.
1359. By taking bath in Gangodbheda near Bhedadevi, a man obtains the merit of bathing in the Ganga and is honoured in heaven.
1360-61. By plunging in the holy Katha, one gets the merit of the gift of ten cows and by badling in Aujasa in front of Dharmaraja, one does not reach the state of misery and obtains the merit of (performing) Vajapeya.
1362. O king, one enjoys endlessly, the meals offered after death at that holy place, specially on the dark fifteenth of the month Asvayuj.
1363. One is honoured in the world of Visnu by taking bath at Narayanasthana and a similar merit is stated to accrue at Ramatirtha and Bhavotsa.
1364. By taking bath at Sailaprstha and the holy place of Vaisravana, one is sure to possess wealth, wherever he may be born.
1365. Having bathed at Kamatirtha, a man obtains the fulfilment of his desires and having bathed at Apasarastirtha, he becomes possessed of beauty.
1366. By bathing at Rsitirtha, one becomes pure like a sage and by bathing in Vaitaram, one does not reach the state of misery.
1367-68. One gets the merit of the gift of cows by arriving at Rsikulya, Devakulya, Asvatirtha, Prabhasa, Varuna, Vahnitirtha, Candratirtha Nagatirtha, Cakratirtha and Vamana.
1369. A man is honoured in heaven after having bathed at Madatirtha, Skandatirth and Suresvaritirtha.
1370. Having arrived at Madhuri, one gets the merit of giving one prastha of sesame in charity and by bathing in her confluence with Vitasta, one is removed from sins.
1371. One is honoured in the world of Rudra by seeing the mountain Mahadeva after having a plunge in the Mahuri in front of Tripuresa.
1372. By bathing at Amaresa, a man may get the merit of (the gift of) a hundred cows and by bathing in the Malini, one may get the merit of giving ten cows.
1373. Having bathed at Pandavatirtha, one enjoys the merit of (performing) the five sacrifices and having arrived at Uccesatirtha, one is honoured in the world of Rudra.
1374-75. One gets much gold by bathing in the water of the Ramahrada. O king, the merit of (bathing) both at the confluence of the Malini with the Sindhu and at the place where the Ramahrada meets the Sindhu is stated to be equal to (that of the performance of) Rajasuya and Asvamedha.
1376. One gets one thousand cows and becomes rich by taking bath at the place where the Kanakavahini joins the Sindhu.
1377-79. Holy is the river Pavana. (There is also) the Rajobinduvinirmala, by taking bath in which a man obtains the merit of performing) Pundarika. The merit of (performing Rajasuya is considered to be accruing at the holy confluence of these two rivers) . The area, beginning from that place and extending up to Ciramocana is regarded as sacred as that of Varanasi.
1380. The sacred place Cirapramocana is stated to be the provider of the way to heaven. The presence of all the tirthas at that place has been mentioned by me.
1381. Leaving their clothes there, the seven sages went to heaven. By bathing there, even those who are sinners, go to heaven.
1382-83. One gets the merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows by taking bath in Sodara. The merit of (the performance of) Rajasuya and Asvamedha is stated to accrue from both (the places), for a person who visits the confluence ol the Kanakavahini where meets also the holy river Kalodaka.
1384. The wise say that by bathing in the confluence of the Sindhu and the Vitasta, specially on the full-moon day of the month Prausthapada, one obtains the merit of (the performance of) Asvamedha.
1385. One gets the merit of (performing) Pundarika by taking bath in Patratirtha and saves one's family through bath in the Apaga.
1386. By taking bath in the lake Manasa, especially on the full-moon day of the month of Asadha, one gets the merit of (performing) Agnistoma. There is no need to doubt this.
1387-88. One obtains the merit of (performing) Vajapeya, (by bathing) in the lake Mahapadma. A man gets the merit of (performing) Agnistoma by bathing in the holy river Hiranya which takes rise from the Haramunda.
1389. One gets the merit of (performing) Asvamedha, especially on full-moon day, (by bathing) at the place where Hiranya meets the holy lake Mahapadma.
1390. By bathing at Bahurupa, one is honoured in the world of Visnu. This, O best among men, is stated to be the ment at Bahurupa.
1391-93. O king, the lord of men, it is stated by the sages - perceivers of true essence - that the merit of the gift of ten cows accrues separately at each sacred place, namely, the good sacred place Satasrnga, the sacred place of Vaisravana, the sacred place near Bhurjasvami, the places sacred to the Vasus, the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Maruts, all the gods, tlse Bhrgus and the Angiras.
1394. The merit of (the gift of) a hundred cows has been formerly stated for each of the (two) places where the Biilasa and the Silama meet the Vitasta.
1395. The best amongst men immediately purifies his family by taking bath at the place where the river Kularani meets the Vitasta.
1396. One gets the merit of (performing) Atiratra by having a plunge in Puskara and that of Agnistoma by bathing at the holy place of the seven sages.
1397. A man attains the world of Visnu and saves his family by reaching the sacred place Varaha in the water of Vitasta.
1398. A man surely obtains the world of Visnu by bathing in the water of the Vitasta at Narayanasthana.
1399. For one who is bathed in both (the rivers) at the place where the river Gotranadi approaches the Vitasta, the merit of (the gift of) one thousand cows is pronounced.
1400-1403. The river Madhuri is specially holy like Mathura. One obtains the merit arising from the gift of a cow by taking bath in every one of these viz. the Satanila, the Samala, the river Vimalodaka, the holy river Rahula; the great river Srimadhya, the second Suddha, the Samula, the Surasa. A man gets the merit of giving ten cows by plunging in the confluences of all these (rivers) separately. Having bathed in Anantatirtha, one is honoured in the world of the Nagas.
by Dr. Ved Kumari
Om auspiciousness. Salutation to the auspicious Ganes'a.
Salutation to the venerable Vasudeva Om.1404-1405. One obtains the merit of giving ten cows by seeing every one of these, namely, Bindunadesvaratirtha, Somatirtha, Prthudaka, Tungesatirthaksetra, Utankasvami, Ramatirtha, Bhrgutirtha and the holy place of Angiras. 1406. O king, all the good rivers and the fountains are sacred and all these mountains are also sacred. Verses 1404-1453
1407. O lord of the earth, all the images erected by the sages, and all the great lakes (are holy) everywhere but spccially so in Kasmira.
1408. Holy are all the confluences and the pools of the Nagas. One surely obtains the merit of the gift of hundred Suvarnas (by bathing in them).
1409. Holy are these sacred places and specially so is the Vitasta. O king, the goddess Vitasta is stated to be purifying everywhere.
1410. Even those men who are sinners go to heaven by bathing in that. O lord of men, one gets the merit of (performing) Vahnistoma by bathing in that.
1411-1413. One, with one's forehead anointed with goraja, is freed from all sins, by seeing (the river Vitasta) and by bathing in the Vitasta on the bright thirteenth, at the places where the Vitasta is holy always but is specially so on the bright thirteenth of a month. (The places are) the hermitage Vitastakhya, Dhaumyesa, the confluence of (the Vitasta and) the Sindhu, and Varahatirtha which destroys the sins and gives (the merit of performing ) Rajasuya.
1414. A man who has committed any invisible sin except the five (great sins), removes (that sin) away by one bath in the cold waler.
1415. O king, a man gets his desired objects if he takes bath there, before sun-rise, for the whole winter.
1416-1417. One attains heaven so long as there are the fourteen Indras, by bathing properly, worshipping the fire in the right procedwe and then offering boiled rice and pulses mixed with purified butter to the Brahmanas.
1418. O lord of men, a person who takes bath daily thus for the whole year will obtain the means of getting salvation and then will obtain salvation.
1419. I have narrated to you, all the sayings of Nila and the merit of all the sacred places of Kasmira. I am going. May you be happy.
1420. Whatever has been narrated by me to you, should be remembered with effort. By listening to this, a man obtains the merit of the gift of ten cows."
1421. Vaisarnpayana said: "Having spoken thus to the king Gonanda, the pious-minded Brhadagva took his desired route for holy pilgrimage.
1422. The militant Gonanda also thought highly himself and ruled over the earth, in accordance with the instructions of the Sastras.
1423. Janamejaya (said): "O best among the twice- borns, tell me again the glorification of the Vitasta. I shall go after being free from sins by listening to that.
1424. Vaisampayana (said) ;"O king, it was beautiful Sati, the daughter of Daksa and the beloved wife of Hara, who was called Uma in Vaivasvata Antara.
1425. The same daughter of the Himadri was the sin- destroying Yamuna and the same was spoken of as the greatest boat in the three worlds, at the end of Manvantara.
1426. The (same) goddess is called Kasmira and the same is the river Vitasta. The river goddess arose from the Nether world, by means of the stroke of the spear.
1427. On account of the destruction of all sins after bathing in the water of the Vitasta, one by one's own self knows oneself to be possessed of the quality of lightness.
1428-29. O lord of men, the Ganga does not excel the Vitasta. The on]y thing which the water of the Ganga has more than that of the Vitasta, is the heap of the bones of men. Bath and other things are equal.
1430-31. O king, this Ganga was brought down formerly by the king Bhagiratha desirous of deluging the bones of the highminded Sagaras, so she is stated to be famous in that act. The auspicious Vitasta is verily the holy river, remover of all sins.
1432. All those who died with the water of the Vitasta in their bellies, reached heaven like the soma-drinkers.
1433. The gods are satisfied not so much with the sacrifices accompanied by sacrificial fees as they are with those waters (of the Vitasta) .
1434. The Fathers are satisfied just as with various sorts of offerings of sweet food given to proper persons in proper time at holy place, so with those clean waters (of the Vitasta).
1435-36. The Nagas of various forms, the rivers, the holy places, the gods, the sages, the Gandharvas, the Yaksas and the Raksasas constantly approach her. The wise (man) should go to her to make his birth a success.
1437. Varuna knows the man who merely bathes in the Vitasta and how can he, who is known by the lord of the waters, fall in hell?
1438. The goddess Vitasta - destroyer of sins- gives protection with her hand, to the evil-doing sinners falling into hell.
1439-1441a. Those who will go to the Vitasta, the staircase for climbing up to heaven and the giver of the fulfilment of desires, shall go to Amaravati, by means of a sky- chariot containing the swans and the aquatic birds (Sarasa), decorated by the Cakravakas, having a colour like that of the sun, garlanded with a net-work of small bells, swarming with a host of heavenly maidens and resounding with the sounds of the Vina and the Muraja.
1441b-1444. O chief of the kings, those men obtain fame on the earth, who go to the goddess Vitasta, endowed with various bridges, decorated with blue and red lotuses, filled with the sounds of the herds of the cows, resounding with the bellowing-sounds, full of fish and tortoises, possessed of good bathing places, giver of the desired objects, possessed of the water which tastes like nectar, charming to the eyes of men and boon-giver like a mother.
1445. 0 king, pay obeisance to her, the purifying one praised by the high sages, passessed of tasty water, daughter of the Himalaya who is the king of the mountains, and the wife of Hara in the form of the sea.
1446-47. The Sindhu, the Trikoti, the Visoka, the holy and auspicious river Harsapatha, the holy Sukha, the Candravati, the Sugandha, the sin-destroying Punyodaka, the Kularani, the sin-removing Krsna, the holy Madhumati and the holy river Parosni go to the boon-giver and celestial Vitasta.
1448. O king, the river Ganga on the matted hair of Sambhu - torn forth by the god Moon and hence called Candrabhaga in the human world - comes to the sacred and extensive Vitasta.
1449. O king, the sacred places, the lakes, the rivers, the tanks, the various types of wells, all these come to the boon- giver Vitasta, on the bright thirteenth of Bhadrapada.
1450. Who can be able, O king, to describe to you the merits of the goddess even in several hundred years? Having heard a little which has been narrated by me with devotion, you should be always devoted (to her).
1451. Having listened to the glorification of the Vitasta, one is freed from all sins and having heard the whole of the Nilamata, one gets the merit of (the gift of) ten cows.
1452-53. Narrated thus to Janamejaya by Vyasa's pupil who had undertaken a great vow, this was not included in the Bharata lest that should become exhaustive with the inclusion of all the treatises. As it was not useful everywhere, so the high-souled venerable (Vyasa) did not include it in the most interesting though highly exhaustive Bharata - dear to the people like the full moon.
This is Vitasta mahatmya. This (treatise) named the Nilamata is complete.
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