Vasishtha's Other Tirthas: Arbuda, Prabhasa, and Dvaravati

Verse 1 (padma.3.24.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । अथान्यानि तु तीर्थानि वसिष्ठोक्तानि मे वद । श्रुत्वा यानि च पापानि विलयं यांति नारद

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca athānyāni tu tīrthāni vasiṣṭhoktāni me vada śrutvā yāni ca pāpāni vilayaṁ yāṁti nārada

Yudhishthira said: Now tell me the other tirthas spoken by Vasishtha, O Narada, hearing which sins dissolve away.

Verse 2 (padma.3.24.2)

नारद उवाच । शृणुष्वात्र हि तीर्थानि वसिष्ठोक्तानि पार्थिव । दक्षिणं सिंधुमासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी जितेंद्रियः

nārada uvāca śṛṇuṣvātra hi tīrthāni vasiṣṭhoktāni pārthiva dakṣiṇaṁ siṁdhumāsādya brahmacārī jiteṁdriyaḥ

Narada said: Listen here, O lord of the earth, to the tirthas spoken by Vasishtha. Having reached the southern Sindhu, a celibate student of mastered senses

Verse 3 (padma.3.24.3)

अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति विमानं चाधिरोहति । चर्मण्वतीं समासाद्य नियतो नियताशनः

agniṣṭomamavāpnoti vimānaṁ cādhirohati carmaṇvatīṁ samāsādya niyato niyatāśanaḥ

obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma and ascends a celestial chariot. Having reached the Charmanvati, disciplined and restrained in diet,

Verse 4 (padma.3.24.4)

रंतिदेवाभ्यनुज्ञातो अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ हिमवत्सुतमर्बुदम्

raṁtidevābhyanujñāto agniṣṭomaphalaṁ labhet tato gaccheta dharmajña himavatsutamarbudam

sanctioned by Rantideva, one obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma. Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to Arbuda, son of the Himalaya,

Verse 5 (padma.3.24.5)

पृथिव्या यत्र वै छिद्रं पूर्वमासीद्युधिष्ठिर । तत्राश्रमो वसिष्ठस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतं

pṛthivyā yatra vai chidraṁ pūrvamāsīdyudhiṣṭhira tatrāśramo vasiṣṭhasya triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaṁ

where, O Yudhishthira, there was formerly a fissure in the earth; there is Vasishtha's hermitage, renowned in the three worlds.

Verse 6 (padma.3.24.6)

तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । पिंगातीर्थमुपस्पृश्य ब्रह्मचारी नराधिप

tatroṣya rajanīmekāṁ gosahasraphalaṁ labhet piṁgātīrthamupaspṛśya brahmacārī narādhipa

Having dwelt there a single night, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows. Having touched Pinga-tirtha, a celibate student, O lord of men,

Verse 7 (padma.3.24.7)

कपिलानां नरव्याघ्र शतस्य फलमाप्नुयात् । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ प्रभासं लोकविश्रुतम्

kapilānāṁ naravyāghra śatasya phalamāpnuyāt tato gaccheta dharmajña prabhāsaṁ lokaviśrutam

O tiger among men, obtains the fruit of a hundred tawny cows. Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to Prabhasa, renowned throughout the world,

Verse 8 (padma.3.24.8)

यत्र सन्निहितो नित्यं स्वयमेव हुताशनः । देवतानां मुखं वीर अनलोऽनिलसारथिः

yatra sannihito nityaṁ svayameva hutāśanaḥ devatānāṁ mukhaṁ vīra analo'nilasārathiḥ

where the fire-god himself, ever present, is the mouth of the deities, O hero, Anala with Anila as his charioteer.

Verse 9 (padma.3.24.9)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे स्नात्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

tasmiṁstīrthavare snātvā śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ agniṣṭomātirātrābhyāṁ phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

Having bathed at that finest of tirthas, pure and of composed mind, a man obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma and the Atiratra.

Verse 10 (padma.3.24.10)

ततो गत्वा सरस्वत्याः सागरस्य च संगमम् । गोसहस्रफलं प्राप्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते

tato gatvā sarasvatyāḥ sāgarasya ca saṁgamam gosahasraphalaṁ prāpya svargaloke mahīyate

Then, having gone to the confluence of the Sarasvati and the ocean, having obtained the fruit of a thousand cows, one is honored in the heavenly world,

Verse 11 (padma.3.24.11)

दीप्यमानोऽग्निवन्नित्यं प्रभया भरतर्षभ । तीर्थे सलिलराजस्य स्नात्वा प्रयतमानसः

dīpyamāno'gnivannityaṁ prabhayā bharatarṣabha tīrthe salilarājasya snātvā prayatamānasaḥ

O bull among the Bharatas, ever blazing like fire with radiance. Having bathed at the tirtha of the King of Waters, of composed mind,

Verse 12 (padma.3.24.12)

त्रिरात्रमुषितस्तत्र तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः । विराजति यथा सोमो वाजिमेधं च विंदति

trirātramuṣitastatra tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ virājati yathā somo vājimedhaṁ ca viṁdati

having dwelt there three nights, one should offer tarpana to the ancestor-deities; he shines like the moon, and obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice.

Verse 13 (padma.3.24.13)

वरदानं ततो गच्छेत्तीर्थं भरतसत्तम । विष्णोर्दुर्वाससा यत्र वरो दत्तो युधिष्ठिर

varadānaṁ tato gacchettīrthaṁ bharatasattama viṣṇordurvāsasā yatra varo datto yudhiṣṭhira

Then, O best of the Bharatas, one should go to Varadana-tirtha, where a boon was given to Vishnu by Durvasas, O Yudhishthira.

Verse 14 (padma.3.24.14)

वरदाने नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततो द्वारवतीं गच्छेन्नियतो नियताशनः

varadāne naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṁ labhet tato dvāravatīṁ gacchenniyato niyatāśanaḥ

Having bathed at Varadana, a man obtains the fruit of a thousand cows. Then, disciplined and restrained in diet, one should go to Dvaravati;

Verse 15 (padma.3.24.15)

पिंडारके नरः स्नात्वा लभेद्बहुसुवर्णकम्

piṁḍārake naraḥ snātvā labhedbahusuvarṇakam

having bathed at Pindaraka, a man obtains abundant gold.

Verse 16 (padma.3.24.16)

तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महाराज पद्मलक्षणलक्षिताः । अद्यापि मुद्रा दृश्यंते तदद्भुतमरिंदम

tasmiṁstīrthe mahārāja padmalakṣaṇalakṣitāḥ adyāpi mudrā dṛśyaṁte tadadbhutamariṁdama

O great king, at that tirtha, lotus-marked stamps are seen even to this day — a wonder indeed, O subduer of foes.

Verse 17 (padma.3.24.17)

त्रिशूलांकानि पद्मानि दृश्यंते कुरुनंदन । महादेवस्य सान्निध्यं तत्रैव भरतर्षभ

triśūlāṁkāni padmāni dṛśyaṁte kurunaṁdana mahādevasya sānnidhyaṁ tatraiva bharatarṣabha

Lotuses marked with the trident are seen there too, O joy of the Kurus; there, O bull among the Bharatas, is Mahadeva's presence as well.

Verse 18 (padma.3.24.18)

सागरस्य च सिंधोश्च संगमं प्राप्य भारत । तीर्थे सलिलराजस्य स्नात्वा प्रयतमानसः

sāgarasya ca siṁdhośca saṁgamaṁ prāpya bhārata tīrthe salilarājasya snātvā prayatamānasaḥ

O Bharata, having reached the confluence of the ocean and the Sindhu, having bathed at the tirtha of the King of Waters, of composed mind,

Verse 19 (padma.3.24.19)

तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवानृषींश्च भरतर्षभ । प्राप्नोति वारुणं लोकं दीप्यमानः स्वतेजसा

tarpayitvā pitṝndevānṛṣīṁśca bharatarṣabha prāpnoti vāruṇaṁ lokaṁ dīpyamānaḥ svatejasā

O bull among the Bharatas, having offered tarpana to the ancestors, gods, and sages, blazing with his own radiance, one attains the world of Varuna.

Verse 20 (padma.3.24.20)

शंकुकर्णेश्वरं देवमर्चयित्वा युधिष्ठिर । अश्वमेधं दशगुणं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः

śaṁkukarṇeśvaraṁ devamarcayitvā yudhiṣṭhira aśvamedhaṁ daśaguṇaṁ pravadaṁti manīṣiṇaḥ

O Yudhishthira, having worshipped the god Shankukarneshvara, the wise declare a tenfold fruit compared to the Ashvamedha.

Verse 21 (padma.3.24.21)

प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य गच्छेत भरतर्षभ । तीर्थं कुरुवरश्रेष्ठ त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्

pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya gaccheta bharatarṣabha tīrthaṁ kuruvaraśreṣṭha triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam

Having performed circumambulation, one should go, O bull among the Bharatas, O best among the Kurus, to a tirtha renowned in the three worlds,

Verse 22 (padma.3.24.22)

तिमीति नाम्ना विख्यातं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् । यत्र शक्रादयो देवा उपासंते महेश्वरम्

timīti nāmnā vikhyātaṁ sarvapāpapramocanam yatra śakrādayo devā upāsaṁte maheśvaram

known by the name Timi, releasing from all sin, where Indra and the other gods worship Maheshvara.

Verse 23 (padma.3.24.23)

तत्र स्नात्वार्चयित्वा च रुद्रं देवगणैर्वृतम् । जन्मप्रभृति पापानि कृतानि नुदते नरः

tatra snātvārcayitvā ca rudraṁ devagaṇairvṛtam janmaprabhṛti pāpāni kṛtāni nudate naraḥ

Having bathed there and worshipped Rudra, surrounded by his hosts, a man dispels sins committed from birth onward.

Verse 24 (padma.3.24.24)

तिमिरत्र नरश्रेष्ठ सर्वदेवैरभिष्टुतः । तत्र स्नात्वा नरश्रेष्ठ हयमेधमवाप्नुयात्

timiratra naraśreṣṭha sarvadevairabhiṣṭutaḥ tatra snātvā naraśreṣṭha hayamedhamavāpnuyāt

O best of men, there Timi is praised by all the gods; having bathed there, O best of men, one obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice.

Verse 25 (padma.3.24.25)

जित्वा तत्र महाप्राज्ञ विष्णुना दितिनंदनम् । पुरा शौचं कृतं राजन्हत्वा दैवतकंटकान्

jitvā tatra mahāprājña viṣṇunā ditinaṁdanam purā śaucaṁ kṛtaṁ rājanhatvā daivatakaṁṭakān

O greatly wise one, there, having conquered the son of Diti with Vishnu's help, purification was performed formerly, O king, having slain the thorns of the gods.

Verse 26 (padma.3.24.26)

ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ वसुधारामभिष्टुताम् । गमनादेव तस्यां हि हयमेधमवाप्नुयात्

tato gaccheta dharmajña vasudhārāmabhiṣṭutām gamanādeva tasyāṁ hi hayamedhamavāpnuyāt

Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to the celebrated Vasudhara; merely by going there, one obtains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice.

Verse 27 (padma.3.24.27)

स्नात्वा कुरुवरश्रेष्ठ प्रयतात्मा तु मानवः । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवान्विष्णुलोके महीयते

snātvā kuruvaraśreṣṭha prayatātmā tu mānavaḥ tarpayitvā pitṝndevānviṣṇuloke mahīyate

O best among the Kurus, having bathed, a man of composed self, having offered tarpana to the ancestors and gods, is honored in the world of Vishnu.

Verse 28 (padma.3.24.28)

तीर्थं चापि परं तत्र वसूनां भरतर्षभ । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च वसूनां संमतो भवेत्

tīrthaṁ cāpi paraṁ tatra vasūnāṁ bharatarṣabha tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca vasūnāṁ saṁmato bhavet

O bull among the Bharatas, there too is the supreme tirtha of the Vasus; having bathed and drunk there, one becomes esteemed by the Vasus.

Verse 29 (padma.3.24.29)

सिंधुतममिति ख्यातं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरश्रेष्ठ लभेद्बहुसुवर्णकम्

siṁdhutamamiti khyātaṁ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam tatra snātvā naraśreṣṭha labhedbahusuvarṇakam

Known as Sindhutama, destroyer of all sin; having bathed there, O best of men, one obtains abundant gold.

Verse 30 (padma.3.24.30)

ब्रह्मतुंगं समासाद्य शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति सुकृती विरजा नरः

brahmatuṁgaṁ samāsādya śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ brahmalokamavāpnoti sukṛtī virajā naraḥ

Having reached Brahmatunga, pure and of composed mind, a virtuous man, free from passion, attains Brahmaloka.

Verse 31 (padma.3.24.31)

कुमारिकाणां शक्रस्य तीर्थं सिद्धनिषेवितम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरश्रेष्ठ शक्रलोकमवाप्नुयात्

kumārikāṇāṁ śakrasya tīrthaṁ siddhaniṣevitam tatra snātvā naraśreṣṭha śakralokamavāpnuyāt

There is the tirtha of the maidens, of Shakra, frequented by Siddhas; having bathed there, O best of men, one attains the world of Indra.

Verse 32 (padma.3.24.32)

रेणुकायाश्च तत्रैव तीर्थं देवनिषेवितम् । स्नात्वा तत्र भवेद्विप्रो विमलश्चंद्रमा इव

reṇukāyāśca tatraiva tīrthaṁ devaniṣevitam snātvā tatra bhavedvipro vimalaścaṁdramā iva

There too is Renuka's tirtha, frequented by the gods; having bathed there, a brahmin becomes stainless, like the moon.

Verse 33 (padma.3.24.33)

अथ पंचनदं गत्वा नियतो नियताशनः । पंचयज्ञानवाप्नोति क्रमशो ये तु कीर्तिताः

atha paṁcanadaṁ gatvā niyato niyatāśanaḥ paṁcayajñānavāpnoti kramaśo ye tu kīrtitāḥ

Then, having gone to Panchanada, disciplined and restrained in diet, one obtains the fruit of the five sacrifices declared in due order.

Verse 34 (padma.3.24.34)

ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ भीमायाः स्थानमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा न योन्यां वै नरो भरतसत्तम

tato gaccheta dharmajña bhīmāyāḥ sthānamuttamam tatra snātvā na yonyāṁ vai naro bharatasattama

Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to the excellent abode of Bhima; having bathed there, O best of the Bharatas, a man is not born again into the womb —

Verse 35 (padma.3.24.35)

देव्याः पुत्रो भवेद्राजन्तत्र कुंडलविग्रहः । गवां शतसहस्रस्य फलं चैवाप्नुयान्महत्

devyāḥ putro bhavedrājantatra kuṁḍalavigrahaḥ gavāṁ śatasahasrasya phalaṁ caivāpnuyānmahat

O king, he becomes there the Goddess's son, of earring-adorned form, and obtains the great fruit of a hundred thousand cows.

Verse 36 (padma.3.24.36)

गिरिकुंजं समासाद्य त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । पितामहं नमस्कृत्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

girikuṁjaṁ samāsādya triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam pitāmahaṁ namaskṛtya gosahasraphalaṁ labhet

Having reached Girikunja, renowned in the three worlds, and having saluted the Grandsire, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.

Verse 37 (padma.3.24.37)

ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ विमलं तीर्थमुत्तमम् । अद्यापि यत्र दृश्यंते मत्स्याः सौवर्णराजताः

tato gaccheta dharmajña vimalaṁ tīrthamuttamam adyāpi yatra dṛśyaṁte matsyāḥ sauvarṇarājatāḥ

Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to the excellent tirtha of Vimala, where even now golden and silver fish are seen.

Verse 38 (padma.3.24.38)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरश्रेष्ठ वाजपेयमवाप्नुयात् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा गच्छेत्परमिकां गतिम्

tatra snātvā naraśreṣṭha vājapeyamavāpnuyāt sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā gacchetparamikāṁ gatim

Having bathed there, O best of men, one obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice; with a soul purified of all sin, one attains the supreme destiny.