Entry in the forest of Devadaru
The sages said, “O Lord of all immortal beings, how can we have an audience with Shiva, the holder of Pinaka, once again; you are the saviour of those who seek refuge.
The Grandsire said, “the linga of Mahesvara, had been observed by you as falling on the ground and as such you make an excellent linga of the same type, and it should be adored by you with your wives and sons, observing celibacy, as per Vedic practices.
The linga of Shiva should be consecrated reciting the mantras pertaining to Sankara, hymns from Rgveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda, performing great tapas reciting the Satarudriya- stotra, and with a concentrated mind, all of you with your wives and sons, should adore the lord Shiva and take refuge with him with folded hands.
Then, you will see the lord of Devas, rarely visible to those who are not self-possessed. By meeting whom, the entire ignorance and adharma vanish.”
Thereafter, the sages, offering their salutation to lord Brahma of unmeasured prowess, with a delightful heart, again went back to the forest of Daruvana.
Reaching there, they did as had been advised by Brahma. They started adoration of lord Shiva. Though they were not aware of the supreme lord, still the sages were free from attachment and jealousy.
They stationed themselves in the different kinds of pieces of grounds, caves of mountains and the auspicious lonely banks of the rivers.
Some of them consumed aquatic plants, some of them lived in water, some of them stood under the open sky on the tips of their big toes, and adored Shiva with concentrated mind.
Some of them consumed the cereals by chewing them with teeth without cooking them, some of them powdered the cereals over the stone and then consumed the same. Some of them lived on the vegetation washing it properly. Some of the sage remained alive by inhaling the sun rays.
Some of them lived under the trees, others slept over the rocks. In this way they continued tapas for Shiva, for a long time.
Then lord Shiva, observing that the sages have thus taken refuge with him, the lord in order to grace them, decided to bestow the excellent knowledge to them.
Thus speaking, in the krtayuga, Mahesvara getting pleased, again visited the forest of Devadaru tress, over the auspicous Himalaya.
He was of white complexion because of the ashes smeared over his body. He was without robes and had a deformed appearance. His eyes were red and of yellow colour. He held firebrands in his hands.
Sometimes, he laughed in awful form, sometimes he sang feeling surprised, and danced artistically, while at times he wept as well again and again.
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Creating such a Maya, Mahadeva wandered in the asramas in the form of a Bhiksu, begging for alms again and again.
The Pinaka-bearer kept Gaurl, the daughter of Himalaya, by his side. As before, the goddess of Devas, came to the forest of Devadarus.
In this way lord Shiva, having the matted locks of hair over the head, reached the forest with Parvati. Finding the arrival of Shiva, the sages approached him and offered their salutation to him, besides the prayers.
They started eulogising Shiva reciting various Vedic hymns, the auspicious Mahesvara-suktas, Atharvas'iras, and the Vedic hymns relating to Rudra.
They said, “You are the god of gods, salutation to you. Salutation to Mahadeva, salutation to the holder of the best of trident, salutation to the one having three eyes, the one who at his own will remains without robes and also remains in hideous forms, salutation to you. Salutation to the holder of the Pinaka bow, you are the refuge of all the devotees, and you yourself are without any refuge, salutation to you.
You are destroyer of the god of death, and of all the living beings, salutation to you. Salutation to one whose sport is dance and who is of terrible forms. Salutation to the eternal and Bhairava forms. You take to the form of man and woman, are the preceptor of the Yogins, salutation to you. You have controlled your senses, you are calm, terrific, clad in elephant- hide, salutation to Rudra. Salutation to the one who lick with the tongue again and again. Salutation to the blue-throated one, salutation to Vamadeva with the terrific and pleasant forms. You wear the garland of thorn apples, and are beloved of the goddess Parvati, from whose head issues the holy river Ganga, Parameshthin, Sambhu, salutation to you. Salutation to the one, who is the overlord of Yoga and of all living beings.
Salutation to you since you are the form of Prana (vital airs). Salutation to the one who applies ashes over the body. Salutation to the carrier of havya, having curved fangs, and the form of fire.
You are the one who removed the head of Brahma, the form of Kala, we are unaware always of your arrival and departure.
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О! Lord of the universe, О Mahadeva, we offer salutation to you in whichever form (in which I meet you). You are the lord of Pramathas, and bestowers of the good fortunes, salutation to you.
You hold the skull in your hand, and you are served by all, salutation to you. You are yellow like the gold having the lingas of water salutation to you.
Salutation to you having the linga of Agni, Sfirya and Jhana. You have garland of snakes, the Karnikara (oleander) flowers are liked by you, salutation to you. You wear the crown and earrings, and are destroyer of the god of death, salutation to you.
You are Mahadeva, Mahadeva, god of gods, three-eyed lord of Devas, whatever was done by us out of delusion, you kindly forgive us for the same. All of us take refuge with you.
Your activities are astonishing, deep and secret. Therefore, О Shiva, you are beyond the power of understanding by Brahma and others, and are invincible.
A person who knowingly or unknowingly does something, it is done by you through your Yogic Maya.
Thus the sages who were devoted to lord Mahadeva by heart, offered salutation to lord Mahadeva and prayed to him- “We are interested in looking at your true form.”
Listening to the prayer of the sages, Shiva, adorned with the crescent as his head ornament, displayed before them his true form.
Then Shiva, the holder of Pinaka, together with goddess Parvati, appeared in his earlier fonn, which pleased the Brahmanas, who bowed to him in reverence.
Thereafter, the sages like Bhrgu, Angiras, Vasistha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Atri, Sukesa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Marichi, Kasyapa and Samvartaka, offered prayer to Mahesvara. Then they bowing in reference to the lord, said to Shiva.
“O God of Gods, how should we always adore you? Should we do so by karmayoga (path of action) or Jitanayoga (path of knowledge)?
О Lord, how should we worship you? How should we serve you? What should be resorted to and what should be avoided? You please tell us.”
Lord Shiva said, “0 Great Rishis, I shall reveal before you the excellent and deep secret.” In earlier times, Lord Brahma had revealed the same to me.
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The means of salvation for the people, can be known by two means of Sarnkhya and Yoga. In reality, Sarnkhya together with Yoga surely bestows deliverance to the humans.
One cannot be face to face with great Purusa by means of Yoga alone, but in case Yoga is linked with Jnana, then both of them combined make the people to achieve moksa.
Eschewing the pure Sarnkhya and depending solely on Yoga, you made your attempts for salvation.
Therefore, О Brahmanas, you had developed ignorance while performing the deeds alone, because of the confusion and to remove the ignorance, I had come to your place and am now speaking to you.
Therefore, all of you depending upon the perfect knowledge, making all the efforts must listen to the speech of the lord and you can have audience with him accordingly.
The Atman is all pervading, is spotless, spiritual, blissful, unblemished, eternal and one and only one. This is indeed the Sarnkhya philosophy.
This alone is the supreme knowledge. This has been conceived as moksa. This is the spotless deliverance and also the auspicious Brahmabhava (the state of Brahman).
Taking refuge in this knowledge, getting devoted to the same, the great ascetics and the у at is, have an audience with my universal form, the Ishvara.
This is the essence, spotless, the absolute Reality, and unique supreme knowledge. I am the lord to be known, and this Shiva also happens to be my own form.
О Best of Brahmanas, for achieving of the success in the world, the means have been discussed. But out of them all, learning about myself, is the best of knowledge.
The followers of Jnanayoga are peaceful and taking refuge in me, applying ashes over their bodies, they always devote their hearts to me. Those yatis are always absorbed in my devotion as a result of which they are freed from the sins. Because of this, 1 remove their sufferings in the ocean of the universe,
In earlier times, I had introduced the holy Pas'upata vow for the liberation of the people, which is immensely secret, subtle, and the essence of the Vedas.
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A person with a peaceful mind and by controlling it, he should cover the body with ashes, observing celibacy, remaining without robes, should perform Pas'upata vow.
Or otherwise, he should be clad in a kaupln or a single cloth, practicing the reciting of the Vedas silently, and should always devote himself to Shiva-Pas'upati-the lord of beings,
This Pasupata Yoga should be followed by the people desirous of achieving of the moksa. This has been ordained by the Srutis. The people free from attraction, fear, anger, who take refuge in me, who recite my name always mentally, getting purified with the practicing of this Yoga, achieve my own form.
There are several other scriptures in this world which create confusion and are against the Vedic philosophy and have been propounded by me only. They are very fascinating in this world.
They include Vama-marga, Pas'upata, Soma cult, Lakura, Bhairava, and others which are opposed to the Vedas. They should not be followed.
О Brahmanas, I am the form of the Vedas. Those who are well-versed in the other s'astras, cannot know about my true form, except the eternal lord (Visnu).
Therefore, the Pasupata-marga should be established and by so doing, all of you shall achieve the best of knowledge shortly. There is no doubt about it.
O Best of the people, all of you are immensely devoted to me. О Best of the sages, I shall grant you my closeness, by your simply meditating for me.”
Thus speaking, lord Shiva disappeared from that place along with Uma. The Rishis also with the peaceful mind, observing brahmacarya and following Jnanayoga, started adoring lord Shiva in the same Daruvana. Then the noble sages, collecting there, held many discussions relating to spirituality.
What is the base or root of this world? What is our own root? There should be a cause for all rlie causes? He could be Is'vara alone. Thus when they believed like this, after resorting to the path of meditation, then the great goddess, Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya, also appeared there before them.
She resembled a crore of suns. She was engulfed in a cluster of flames. She was spreading her spotless lustre in the whole sky.
She was shining among the thousands of fire flames, Parvati was unparallel and they had an audience with her. Then all the sages offered their salutation to Parvati, the spouse of Shiva, because they were aware of the fact that she happened to be the seed of Supreme.
The Rxis thought, “She is the spouse of our lord, our goal and the soul. She is known as the sky.” Thus thinking, the sages looked at Parvati as their own soul lodged in her. They witnessed in her the entire universe.
Parvati, the spouse of Paramesvara, also started looking at the sages, or she glanced at them. In the meantime, the sages also found Shiva, the sole cause of the universe, extremely learned, controller of all, the great Rudra and Ригйпаригща.
Thus finding both Parvati and Shiva there, the sages offered their salutation to both of them. They were immensely delighted. At the same time, they were bestowed with the divine bliss and knowledge, which removed the cause of birth and death, dawned in them.
They felt that it was the goddess alone, who was the cause of the creation of the world, the universal soul, controller of all, and was known as iMahesVarl from the time eternal. She was known by the name of Vyoma (the sky), and was illumining in the heaven.
Even the great Shiva -Paramethin, Mahesvara, who is beyond everything, Rudra, the lord of Devas, created the universe in her mounting over the Maya that is existing in the great Shakti.
Lord Shiva is also pervading in the bodies of all the living beings. The same Rudra is the wielder of Maya, is entire and undivided. He is also the form of the goddess. There is nothing separate from him. Thus realising, one achieves the amrtatatJva (immortality).
Thereafter lord Mahes'vara, the overlord of the Devas, together with the goddess suddenly disappeared from the place and the forest dweller Rishis started adoring the Supreme Rudradeva, the primordial lord.
Thus in the forest of Daruvana in the earlier times, the story relating to the lord Shiva, as had been heard by me, from the Puranas, has been narrated by me.
The one who recites the same regularly, or listens to it, he is removed of all the sins. The one who shall narrate the same to others with a peaceful mind, he will surely achieve the greatest goal.
Chapter 40
Glory of the river Narmada
Suta said, “The auspicious goddess who is served by the gods and the Gandharvas is known by the name of Narmada in the world. Even in the form of the river, she is the best of all the tlrthas.
The sages Markandeya had spoken to Yudhisthira about the glory of this river. All of you should listen to the auspicious glory of the same, which relieves one of all the sins.
“O Great sage, I have listened to the various dharmas by your grace. I have also heard about the glory of Prayaga and several other tlrthas.
You have stated that Narmada is the foremost of all the sacred rivers. Therefore, kindly speak out the glory of the same.”
Markandeya said, “Narmada has emerged out of the body of Rudra and is the foremost of all the rivers. She in fact redeems all the mobile and immobile living beings.
Whatever has been heared by me from the Puranas about her glory, I am going to repeat the same. All of you should listen to me with a concentrated mind,
The Ganga is sacred at Kanakhala and Sarasvatl is sacred in Kuruksetra, but the river Narmada is auspicious everywhere in the villages or the forests.
The holy water of Sarasvatl sanctifies one in three days, the water of Yamuna in seven days and the water of Ganga sanctifies immediately. But the water of Narmada purifies a person, while simply looking at it.
On the rear side of the Kalinga country, and in the half of its region over the Amarakantaka mountain, is the place of origin of the sacred, auspicious, pleasant and well-known river of Narmada.
О leading king, the gods, the demons, besides Gandharvas, saints, and the ascetics, have met with great success, in their endeavours (while meditating over the banks of Narmada.)
О king, a person by having a bath in Narmada, getting disciplined and controlling his sense organs, when fasts for a night, then he redeems a hundred generations of his race.
О Indra among the kings, it is heard that the excellent river, is a bit longer than a hundred yojanas and is spread (at places) nearly two yojanas in width.
All around the Amarakantaka mountain, there are sixty crores and sixty thousand tlrthas.
A Brahmacarin who purifying himself, overcoming anger and the sense organs, getting relieved himself of all types of voilance, is engaged in the welfare of all the living beings, and conducts the auspicious deeds, when such person with excellent conduct, meets with his end there, he earns the enormous merit which you please listen, О Sinless King!
О son of Pandu, the said person having been surrounded by the divine damsels in the heaven, enjoys all the pleasures for a hundred thousand years.
He will smear himself with the divine scents and unguents, and will shine with the divine flowers and enjoys sports in the Devaloka with the gods.
After falling off from the heaven, he, after many births, becomes a king and achieves the well decorated palaces having the gem studded pillars, besides the diamonds and rubies. He also gets the beautifully painted chariots and the palaces filled with slaves and the slave-girls.
He becomes the king of kings, possessing all the fortunes, becomes beloved of all the damsels, and enjoying all the pleasures, remains alive over the earth for over a hundred years.
Reaching that tlrtha, in case one ends his life by entering the water or the fire flames, or by fasting, he achieves a place, from where, he does not have to return on earth, like that of the wind absorbed in the sky.
On the western peak of the mountain, there is a lake known by the name of Jalesvara, which is well known in the three worlds and removes all the sins.
By performing sandhya and pindadana there, the manes remain satisfied for ten thousand years. There is no doubt about it.
There is a great river named Kapila, on the southern bank of Narmada, which is stationed not very far, and is surrounded by the juicy Arjuna trees.
The said auspicious river, is well-known in the three worlds. О Yudhisthira, there are more than a hundred crore tlrthas over the banks of that river.
The trees which fall there in due course of time, they with the touch of the water of the river Narmada, get redeemed.
There is another extremely auspicious river known by the name of Vis'alyakaranl. By taking a bath in that river, a person is relieved of all the sins, ailments and his wounds are healed up
О Best of the kings, this is the traditional belief that both Kapila and Visalya rivers, have been commanded by the lord to provide welfare to all the living beings.
О King of the humans, a person who performs there a fast until death, he, getting relieved of all the sins, proceeds to Rudraloka.
О king, by taking a bath there, a person achieves merit of performing an Asvamedha sacrifice. Those who live over the northern bank of the river Narmada, they live in Rudraloka. чшз'агщ wit чйгат ^arfirfgTi m тчтщ 3 ^11
О Yudhisthira as Sankara told me, by taking bath in Gahga, Sarasvati and Narmada, or by giving away the charities, one achieves enormous merits. The one who meets with the end of his life at Amarakantaka, he is adorned in Rudraloka for more than a hundred crores of years.
The water of Narmada is quite auspicious. By sprinkling the auspicious water along with its foam over the head, a person is relieved of his sins.
Narmada is sacred everywhere and relieves one even from the sin of brahmahatya. By fasting there for a day and night, one is relieved of the sin of Brahmana-slaughter.
A sacred tlrtha named Jalesvara, relieves one of all the sins. A humble person, who observes religious regulation and restraints on going there, he gets all his desires fulfilled. On the day of the solar or lunar eclipse, the one who goes on pilgrimage to Amarakantaka, he earns the merit ten times greater than the Asvamedha sacrifice.
Amarakantaka is auspicious and the best of mountains. It is served by the gods and the Gandharvas and has many types of trees and creepers besides the flowers.
О King, here lord Mahesvara, lives with the goddess Parvati. Vidyadharas, Brahma, Visnu, besides Rudra is present there.
A person, who goes round the Amarakantaka mountain, he achieves the merit of performing the Paundarika sacrifice.
Similarly, there is also a famous river of Kaverl which removes all the blemishes or impurities. By taking a bath in the same, as also at the confluence of Narmada and Kaverl, one who adores lord Shiva, he is honoured in the Rudraloka.
Chapter 41
Glory of the Narmada river
Markandeya said, “ The river Narmada is the best of all the rivers and is the remover of all the sins. This had been revealed by the sages as well as Brahma, formerly.
The excellent river Narmada has been praised by the sages, because, for the benefit of the people, it emerged out of the body of Rudra.
It always removes all the sins and is adored by all the Gods, Gandharvas and the apsards (heavenly ladies).
On the northern bank of Narmada, there are the holy places which are famous in the three worlds, by the name BhadresVara, which removes all the sins.
О King, by taking a bath there, a person feels blissful, together with the gods. О Indra among the kings, one should go to Vimalesvara tlrtha from this place.
О King, by taking a bath there, a person earns a merit equivalent to the donating of a thousand cows. Thereafter, taking the appropriate and restricted food, one should reach Angaresvara tlrtha. By so doing, a person getting relieved of all the sins, becoming the purified soul, and achieves the Rudraloka.
О leading king, thereafter, one should visit the meritorious tlrtha of Kedara. By consuming water, after taking bath there, one has all his desires fulfilled.
Thereafter, one should go to the Nisphales'a tlrtha, which destroys all the sins. By taking a bath there a person is adored in Rudraloka.
O Rajendra, then one should go to the excellent Banatlrtha. By meeting with one’s end there, the place of Rudra is achieved.
Thereafter, one should take bath in PuskarinT river. By merely taking a bath there, a person achieves the lion throne of lord.
Thereafter, one should go to the Sakra tlrtha which is located over the southern bank of Narmada. By having a bath there, a person becomes eligible to achieve half of the throne of Indra.
О King, one should then move to a place known as Sulabheda. It is believed that by consuming the water, thereafter having a bath, a person achieves the merit of donation of a thousand cows.
By fasting for a night there, and taking bath appropriately, getting purified, one should adore lord Hari, the god of great Yogic power, and by so doing, one achieves the merit of donating a thousand cows, and he achieves Visnuloka ultimately.
Thereafter, a person should reach the Rsi- tlrtha, which is destructive of all sins of men, and by taking a bath there, one is adored in the Shivaloka.
The auspicious tlrtha dedicated to Narada is also located there. By taking a bath there, one achieves the merit of donating a thousand cows there.
The divine sage Narada had performed tapas here in earlier times. Lord Mahesvara, getting pleased with him, bestoved the knowledge of Yoga to him at this place.
О King, there is a linga which was consecrated here by Brahma, and is known as Brahmesvara linga. By taking a bath at this holy place, one achieves glory in the Brahmaloka.
From here, one should move towards Rnatirlha, and by reaching there, a person is surely relieved of all the debts. From here, one should go to the Vates'vara tlrtha, where one achieves the full merits of the life.
Then, one should move on to Bhlmesvara tlrtha, which removes all the miseries, by taking a bath there.
О Rajendra, after this tlrtha, one should go to Pingales'vara tlrtha. By fasting there for a day and night, one achieves the merit of performing Triratra sacrifice.
A person who donates a Kapila (tawny- coloured) cow there, he gets established in the heaven for an equal number of years in Rudraloka as the cow has the hair on her body and on that of its calves.
О Best of the rulers, one who meets with his death there, he achieves the bliss till the sun and the moon shines.
A person who takes refuge over the banks of Narmada, and starts living there, he achieves the heaven after his death like the meritorious sages of good conduct.
From there, one should move on to Dlptes'vara tlrtha. It is a penance grove otherwise called Vyasatlrtha.
In ancient times, getting terrified, the river Narmada had returned to this place and with the performing of a Humkara sound by Vyasa, she took a turn towards the south.
О Yudhisthira, one who goes round this tlrtha, the sage Vyasa feeling pleased with him, grant him the desired boon.
О Rajendra, thereafter one should go to the confluence of the Iksu river which is quite auspicious, in which lord Shiva always resides. By taking a bath there, a person achieves the position of a Ganapati.
Thereafter, one should go to the Skanda tlrtha, which removes all the sins. By taking a bath there, all the sins of earlier births are washed out. Here all the Devas, together with the Gandharvas, adore lord Skanda, the bearer of Shakti, the noble-souled excellent son of Shiva.
From there, one should go to the Angiras tlrtha and take bath there. A person who does so, earns the merit of donating a thousand cows and reaches Rudraloka.
This is the place, where, Angiras, the son of Brahma, had performed tapas for the bull- bannered lord of Devas and the universe, and had achieved the best of Yoga there. From there one should move on to the Kusatlrtha, which removes all the sins. By taking a bath there, a person achieves the merit of performing an Asvam edha-yajha.
Then, one should move to the Kotitirtha, which removes all the sins. By taking a bath there one earns great glory in the solar region.
Thereafter, one should go to Candrabhaga and perform the rite of oblation there. Immediately after the bath there, the person is honoured in the region of moon.
О King, there is an excellent Sangamesvara tlrtha on the southern bank of the river Narmada, and by taking a bath there, a person achieves the merit of all the yajnas.
И Similarly on the northern bank of Narmada, there is a holy place known as Adityayatana, which has been described as pleasant one even by Is'vara himself. A person by having bath there and performing charities as per his means, achieves the undecaying merit. The people who are indigent, sick, or performers of the evil deeds, they getting relieved of all the sins, proceed on to the solar region.
From there, one should go to the Matrtlrtha, and take his bath there. By taking a bath there, a person reaches the heavenly world.
From there, one should go to westward to the excellent place of Vayu, known by Maratas'aya. О Rajendra, by taking a bath there, getting purified and with sound concentration, one should donate gold to a Brahmana according to his means. By doing so, one goes to Vayuloka boarding the Puspaka plane.
О Rajendra, from there, one should move on to Ahalya tlrtha, and by taking a bath there one enjoys pleasures with apsaras for an indefinite period.
The thirteenth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra is the day of Kamadeva. A person who adores Ahalya there during this time, wherever he might have been born, be becomes excellent and the dearest of all. He particularly becomes the beloved of the women, besides being graceful, having enough of fortunes and turns like Kamadeva.
At the bank of the excellent river Saridvara, there is a famous tlrtha of Indra, known as Sakratlrtha. By having a bath there, a person earns the merit of donating a thousand cows.
Then at the Somatlrtha, one should take his bath there, by which one is relieved of all his sins. О Rajendra, at the time of the lunar eclipse, a bath there is really rewarding, which removes all the sins. О King, the Somatlrtha, is well known the world over, and bestows enormous merits.
A person who performs the Cmdrayana vrata with a concentrated mind there, he getting relieved of all the sins, becoming a purified soul, proceeds on to lunar region.
О Great king, a person who performs fasting or enters the fire or the water, there, he is never reborn as a mortal being.
From there, one should go to the Stambha- tlrtha, should take a bath there, and by so doing one achieves Somaloka and gets established there.
О Rajendra, one should go to the Visnu-tlrtha from there which is the abode of lord Visnu. Lord Vasudeva, had fought with crores of demons there who were destroyed. As a result of this, Visnu-tlrtha emerged there. A person who serves this place, he becomes gracefi.il like Visnu. By fasting there for a day and night, the sin of brahmahatya is removed.
On the southern bank of Narmada, there is an extremely beautiful tlrtha known as Kamatlrtha, where the god of love, had adored lord Shiva. One who taking bath in that tlrtha performs the fast, he turns as beautiful as the god of love and gets established in Rudraloka.
О Rajendra, thereafter, one should go to Brahmatirtha, which is known as Umahaka. One should perform there, oblation for the Pitrs.
One should perform Srdddha on the moonless and the full moon days appropriately.
A stone slab of the size of an elephant is fixed in the middle of the water. One should perform pindadana with concentrated mind therein, during the month of Vaisakha.
One should take bath there, with concentrated mind, discarding wickedness and jealousy, the one who does so, his manes remain pleased till the earth remains.
From there he should go to Visvesvara tlrtha and take his bath there and by so doing, one gets the position of Ganapati.
О Rajendra, there is a place, where Janardana, is himself consecrated in the form of linga and one should go to that place. By taking a bath there, one is respected in Visnuloka. dvldmra fof cTcqrtt 5ЧИ Lord Narayana here had displayed before the devoted sages his linga form. Because of this, this llngatlrtha is known as Visnu-dhdma.
Thereafter, one should go to Akolla tlrtha, where the charities perfonned by a person, besides the serving of the food to Brahmanas, and the performing of the pindadana, bestows unlimited reward after death. A Brahmana who reciting the Trayambaka mantra, cooking the
Caru in the water, gives the pindas at the root of the Ankolla plant (Alangium Hexapetalum), all his manes are redeemed and they remain satisfied, till the stars and the moon shine.
О Rajendra, thereafter, one should go to the excellent Tapases'vara tlrtha and by taking a bath there, one achieves the merit of performing the tapas.
Thereafter, one should go to Suklatlrtha which removes all the sins. О Yudhisthira, there is no other tlrtha over Narmada comparable to the same.
One achieves a great merit by its sight, taking a bath there, performing the charities, tapas, japam, homa and fasting there.
This place is spread in an area of a yojana. The Suklatlrtha is quite well known and is served by the gods and the Gandharvas and also removes all the sins.
Even if the holy centre is seen from the top of a tree from far, it dispels the sin of Brahmana- slaughter. Lord Sankara and goddess Parvati reside there.
О king of holy rites, on the dark fourteenth day of the month of Vaisakha, lord Shiva arrives here from his abode and lives here.
The best of the gods, demons, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, the attendants of Shiva, the celestial damsels, and the leading Nagas, also stay there.
As a dirty cloth is deprived of the dirt of stains, by washing the same with water, similarly, by bathing in the Suklatlrtha, all the sins since birth are removed.
The bath taken there and the charities, penance and sraddha performed there, bestow everlasting reward. There had never been a tlrlha better than Suklatlrtha not shall it be there in future.
All the sins committed by a person in earlier times are washed out by fasting here for a day and night.
Fasting on the black fourteenth day of the month of Karttika, one should bathe Paramesvara with ghee and by so doing he living in the abode of Ishvara with twenty one generations of his family, never falls off from there.
The position one achieves in the Suklatlrtha cannot be achieved by performing of enormous penance, celibacy, sacrifices and charities.
Suklatlrtha is a great holy place, served by the Rishis and the Siddhas. By taking a bath there, a person is never reborn.
A person should give away charities there with great concentration and full self-control during the Uttardyana or Daksinayana, and on the fourteenth day of the fortnight, the devotee should after bath, observe fast. Hari and Sankara will become delighted.
Because of the influence of this tlrtha everything become everlasting. A person who arranges marriage of a destitute or an unfortunate Brahmana, you listen to the merits he earns for the same. Whatever be the number of the hair on the bodies of his own as well as his progeny, he earns grace in Rudraloka for as many thousand years.
О Rajendra, from there, one should move on to Yama tlrtha. О Yudhisthira, on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Magha, one should take bath in the Yamatlrtha. One who takes food during the night alone, there, he never experiences the pain of being in womb.
О Rajendra, thereafter, one should move on to the Erandltlrtha and should have a bath at the confluence of the rivers, and then, the one while fasting, if serves food to a Brahmana, he earns the merit of serving food to a crore of Brahmanas. Taking his bath at the confluence of Erandl, getting filled with devotion, applying the clay of the river to his forehead, one who enters the eater of Narmada, at the confluence, such a person is relieved of all the sins.
О Rajendra, thereafter, one should go to Kallolakesvara-tirtha, where the Ganga descends into it on the auspicious days.
Taking a bath and sipping the water there, and performing the charities appropriately, a person getting relieved of all the sins, is honoured in Brahmaloka.
Then, reaching the Nanditirtha, one should take a bath there. One who does so, pleases Nandlsvara and is respected immensely in Somaloka.
О Rajendra, a tlrtha named Anaraka is there which is quite auspicious. О King, by taking a bath there, a person has never to face the hell.
A person should consign the ashes of his relatives there. By so doing, the dead person, is reborn extremely beautiful and enjoys various pleasures.
О Rajendra, thereafter, one should go to the excellent Kapila tlrtha. By taking a bath there, a person earns the merit of donating a thousand cows.
During the month of Jyestha, on the fourteenth day of the fortnight, one should fast and devotedly give away a lamp, along with ghee in charity. Rudra should also be bathed with ghee. A cow adored with the bell and other ornaments should be given in charity. Then he shall attain riches as a benefit thereof.
He shall himself become adorned with all the ornaments, and will be respected by the gods, and becomes powerful like Shiva, and then sports for long as Shiva.
When the fourth day of the moon falls on Tuesday, one should perform ablution rite of Shiva here, and food should be given to the Brahmanas.
By so doing, the concerned person enjoying all the pleasures, can move at all the places without any obstruction. Then boarding the planes, he enjoys all the pleasures in the abode of Indra. Then falling from the heaven, he becomes wealthy possessing all the fortunes and worldly enjoyments.
One should perform the ablution rite of Shiva on Tuesdays, on the ninth day and on the new moon day assiduously, as a result of which he becomes handsome endowed with comely features.
О Rajendra, thereafter, one should go to the Ganes'vara-tirtha. On the arrival of the month of Sravana, on the dark fourteenth day of the month, one who takes his bath there, he is well- established in Rudraloka.
By offering oblation to the Pitrs, one is relieved of all the three debts. There is a Gangavadana tlrtha close to the Ganesvara tlrtha. One who takes a bath with or without desire, he is freed of all the sins throughout the life. There is no doubt about it.
On the western side, not very far, of the aforesaid tlrtha, there is a well known tlrtha known as Dasasvamedhika.
In the auspicious month of Bhadrapada, one who observing the fast for a night, adores lord Shiva there, he proceeds to the place of bull- bannered deity Нага, on the new moon day, boarding a beautifully decorated with clusters of tinkling bells, golden aerial chariot and rejoice with Rudra.
A person who perform the rite of ablution on any day at any place, and offers oblation to the Pitrs, he achieves the reward of Asvamedha sacrifice.
Chapter 42
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