VAN PARV MAHABHARAT BOOK 3 CHAPTER 86

Mahabharat Book 3 Chapter 86 : English

SECTION LXXXVIII

Mentions the sacred tirth of the south

"Dhaumya continued, 'Listen, O Bharata, I shall now narrate to thee in detail according to my knowledge, the sacred tirth of the south. In that quarter lieth the sacred and auspicious river

• Godavari (III.86.2), full of water abounding in groves and frequented by ascetics. In that direction also are the rivers

• Venna (III.86.3) and

• Bhimarathi (III.86.3), both capable of destroying sin and fear, and abounding in birds and deer, and graced with abodes of ascetics. In that region also, O bull of the Bharata race, is the tirtha of the royal ascetic,

• Nrig (III.86.4) viz., the river

• Payoshni (III.86.4), which is delightful and full of waters and visited by Brahmans. There the illustrious

• Markandeya (3.86.5), of high ascetic merit sang the praises in verse of king Nrig's line! We have heard respecting the sacrificing king Nriga that which really took place while he was performing a sacrifice in the excellent tirtha called

• Varaha on the Payoshni. In that sacrifice Indra became intoxicated with quaffing the Soma, and the Brahmanas, with the gifts they received. The water of the Payoshni, taken up (in vessel), or flowing along the (p. 201) ground, or conveyed by the wind, can cleanse a person from whatever sins he may commit till the day of his death. Higher than heaven itself, and pure, and created and bestowed by the trident-bearing god, there in that tirtha is an image of Mahadeva beholding which a mortal goeth to the region of Shiv. Placing on one scale Ganga and the other rivers with their waters, and on the other, the Payoshni, the latter, in my opinion would be superior to all the tirth, together, in point of merit! Then, O foremost of the Bharata race, on the mountain called

• Varunasrots (III.86.7) is the sacred and auspicious wood of

• Mathar (III.86.7) abounding in fruits and roots, and containing a sacrificial stake. Then, O king, it is said that in the region on the north of the

• Praveni (III.86.8), and about the sacred asylum of

• Kanwa (III.86.8), are many woody retreats of ascetics. And, O child, in the tirtha called

• Shurparak (III.86.9) are two sacrificial platforms of the illustrious Jamadagni, called Pashana and Punaschandra, O Bharata! And, O son of Kunti, in that spot is the tirtha called

• Ashok (III.86.10) abounding in woody retreats of ascetics. And, O Yudhishthira, in the country of the

• Pandyas (III.86.10) are the tirths named

• Agastya (III.86.10) and

• Varun (III.86.10) And, O bull among men, there, amongst the Pandavs, is the tirth called the

• Kumari (III.86.11). Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe

• Tamraparni (III.86.11) . In that asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation. In that region also is the lake of

• Gokarn (III.86.12) which is celebrated over the three worlds, hath an abundance of cool waters, and is sacred, auspicious, and capable, O child, of producing great merit. That lake is extremely difficult of access to men of unpurified souls. Near to that tirtha is the sacred asylum of Agastya's disciple, the mountain

• Devsabha (III.86.14) which abounds in trees and grass, and fruits and roots. And there also is the

• Vaiduryya (III.86.15) mountain, which is delightful abounding in gems and capable of bestowing great merit. There on that mountain is the asylum of Agastya abounding in fruits and roots and water.'"

Rivers and lakes belonging to the Surashtra :

"I shall now, O lord of men, describe the sacred spots, and asylums, and rivers and lakes belonging to the

• Surashtra (III.86.16) country! O Yudhishthir, the Brahmans say that on the sea-coast is the

• Chamasonmajjan (III.86.17), and also

• Prabhas (III.86.17), that tirtha which is much regarded by the gods. There also is the tirtha called

• Pindarak (III.86.18), frequented by ascetics and capable of producing great merit. In that region is a mighty hill named

• Ujjayant (III.86.18) which conduceth to speedy success. Regarding it the celestial Rishi Narada of great intelligence hath recited an ancient sloka. Do thou listen to it, O Yudhishthira! By performing austerities on the sacred hill of Ujjayanta in Surashtra, that abounds in birds and animals, a person becometh regarded in heaven. There also is

• Dwaravati (III.86.21), producing great merit, where dwelleth the slayer of Madhu, who is the Ancient one in embodied form, and eternal virtue. Brahmans versed in the Veds, and persons acquainted with the philosophy of the soul say that the illustrious Krishna is eternal Virtue. Govind is said to be the (p. 202) purest of all pure things, the righteous of the righteous and the auspicious of the auspicious. In all the three worlds, He of eyes like lotus-leaves is the God of gods, and is eternal. He is the pure soul and the active principle of life, is the Supreme Brahma and is the lord of all. That slayer of Madhu, Hari of inconceivable soul, dwelleth there!"

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