The Tirthas of the Vitasta, Devika, and Sarasvati

Verse 1 (padma.3.25.1)

नारदउवाच । वितस्तां च समासाद्य संतर्प्य पितृदेवताः । नरः फलमवाप्नोति वाजपेयस्य भारत

nāradauvāca vitastāṁ ca samāsādya saṁtarpya pitṛdevatāḥ naraḥ phalamavāpnoti vājapeyasya bhārata

Narada said: O Bharata, having reached the Vitasta and offered tarpana to the ancestor-deities, a man obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya.

Verse 2 (padma.3.25.2)

काश्मीरेष्वेव नागस्य भवनं तक्षकस्य च । वितस्ताख्यमिति ख्यातं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम्

kāśmīreṣveva nāgasya bhavanaṁ takṣakasya ca vitastākhyamiti khyātaṁ sarvapāpapramocanam

In Kashmir is the abode of the serpent Takshaka, known by the name Vitastakhya, releasing from all sin.

Verse 3 (padma.3.25.3)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरो नूनं वाजपेयमवाप्नुयात् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा गच्छेत परमां गतिम्

tatra snātvā naro nūnaṁ vājapeyamavāpnuyāt sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā gaccheta paramāṁ gatim

Having bathed there, a man surely obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya; with a soul purified of all sin, he attains the supreme destiny.

Verse 4 (padma.3.25.4)

ततो गच्छेत मलदं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । पश्चिमायां तु संध्यायामुपस्पृश्य यथाविधि

tato gaccheta maladaṁ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam paścimāyāṁ tu saṁdhyāyāmupaspṛśya yathāvidhi

Then one should go to Malada, renowned in the three worlds; having duly touched the water at evening twilight,

Verse 5 (padma.3.25.5)

चरुं सप्तार्चिषे राजन्यथाशक्ति निवेदयेत् । पितॄणामक्षयं दानं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः

caruṁ saptārciṣe rājanyathāśakti nivedayet pitṝṇāmakṣayaṁ dānaṁ pravadaṁti manīṣiṇaḥ

one should, O king, offer an oblation of cooked grain to the Seven-Flamed one, according to one's means; the wise declare it an imperishable gift to the ancestors.

Verse 6 (padma.3.25.6)

गवांशतसहस्रेण राजसूयशतेन च । अश्वमेधसहस्रेण श्रेयान्सप्तार्चिषश्चरुः

gavāṁśatasahasreṇa rājasūyaśatena ca aśvamedhasahasreṇa śreyānsaptārciṣaścaruḥ

Better than a hundred thousand cows, better than a hundred Rajasuyas, and better than a thousand Ashvamedhas is the oblation offered to the Seven-Flamed one.

Verse 7 (padma.3.25.7)

ततो निवृत्तो राजेंद्र रुद्रास्पदमथाविशेत् । अभिगम्य महादेवमश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

tato nivṛtto rājeṁdra rudrāspadamathāviśet abhigamya mahādevamaśvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

O lord of kings, having turned back from there, one should then enter the abode of Rudra; having approached Mahadeva, one obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha.

Verse 8 (padma.3.25.8)

मणिमंतं समासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः । एकरात्रोषितो राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्

maṇimaṁtaṁ samāsādya brahmacārī samāhitaḥ ekarātroṣito rājannagniṣṭomaphalaṁ labhet

Having reached Manimanta, a composed celibate student, O king, having dwelt one night, obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma.

Verse 9 (padma.3.25.9)

अथ गच्छेत राजेंद्र देविकां लोकविश्रुताम् । प्रसूतिर्यत्र विप्राणां श्रूयते भरतर्षभ

atha gaccheta rājeṁdra devikāṁ lokaviśrutām prasūtiryatra viprāṇāṁ śrūyate bharatarṣabha

Then, O lord of kings, one should go to Devika, renowned throughout the world, where, O bull among the Bharatas, brahmins are heard to have been born.

Verse 10 (padma.3.25.10)

त्रिशूलपाणेः स्थानं यत्त्रिषुलोकेषु विश्रुतम् । देविकायां नरः स्नात्वा अभ्यर्च्य च महेश्वरम्

triśūlapāṇeḥ sthānaṁ yattriṣulokeṣu viśrutam devikāyāṁ naraḥ snātvā abhyarcya ca maheśvaram

The place of the trident-wielder, renowned in the three worlds — having bathed in the Devika and worshipped Maheshvara,

Verse 11 (padma.3.25.11)

यथाशक्ति नरस्तत्र निवेद्य भरतर्षभ । सर्वकामसमृद्धस्य यज्ञस्य लभते फलम्

yathāśakti narastatra nivedya bharatarṣabha sarvakāmasamṛddhasya yajñasya labhate phalam

O bull among the Bharatas, a man, having made an offering there according to his means, obtains the fruit of a sacrifice abounding in every desired object.

Verse 12 (padma.3.25.12)

कामाख्यं तत्र रुद्रस्य तीर्थं देवर्षिसंमतम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरः क्षिप्रं सिद्धिमाप्नोति भारत

kāmākhyaṁ tatra rudrasya tīrthaṁ devarṣisaṁmatam tatra snātvā naraḥ kṣipraṁ siddhimāpnoti bhārata

There is Rudra's tirtha named Kamakhya, esteemed by the divine seers; having bathed there, a man swiftly attains accomplishment, O Bharata.

Verse 13 (padma.3.25.13)

यजनं याजनं गत्वा तथैव ब्रह्मवालकम् । पुष्पन्यास उपस्पृश्य न शोचेन्मरणं ततः

yajanaṁ yājanaṁ gatvā tathaiva brahmavālakam puṣpanyāsa upaspṛśya na śocenmaraṇaṁ tataḥ

Having performed the sacrifice with its officiants, and likewise gone to Brahmavalaka, having touched the flower-offering, one need not thereafter grieve over death.

Verse 14 (padma.3.25.14)

अर्द्धयोजनविस्तारां पंचयोजनमायताम् । एतावद्देविकामाहुः पुण्यां देवर्षिसंमताम्

arddhayojanavistārāṁ paṁcayojanamāyatām etāvaddevikāmāhuḥ puṇyāṁ devarṣisaṁmatām

Half a yojana in width and five yojanas in length — such they say is the sacred Devika, esteemed by the divine seers.

Verse 15 (padma.3.25.15)

ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ दीर्घसत्रं यथाक्रमम् । यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः

tato gaccheta dharmajña dīrghasatraṁ yathākramam yatra brahmādayo devāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ

Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to Dirghasattra in due order, where Brahma and the other gods, the Siddhas, and the great sages,

Verse 16 (padma.3.25.16)

दीर्घसत्रमुपासंते दीक्षिता नियतव्रताः । गमनादेव राजेंद्र दीर्घसत्रमरिंदम

dīrghasatramupāsaṁte dīkṣitā niyatavratāḥ gamanādeva rājeṁdra dīrghasatramariṁdama

consecrated and of firm vows, worship at the Long Sacrifice. O lord of kings, O subduer of foes, merely by going to Dirghasattra,

Verse 17 (padma.3.25.17)

राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः । ततो विनाशनं गच्छेन्नियतो नियताशनः

rājasūyāśvamedhābhyāṁ phalaṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ tato vināśanaṁ gacchenniyato niyatāśanaḥ

a man obtains the fruit of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha. Then, disciplined and restrained in diet, one should go to Vinashana,

Verse 18 (padma.3.25.18)

गच्छंत्यंतर्हिता यत्र मेरुपृष्ठे सरस्वती । चमसे च शिवोद्भेदे नागोद्भेदे च दृश्यते

gacchaṁtyaṁtarhitā yatra merupṛṣṭhe sarasvatī camase ca śivodbhede nāgodbhede ca dṛśyate

where, upon the ridge of Meru, the Sarasvati flows hidden, and appears at Chamasa, at Shivodbheda, and at Nagodbheda.

Verse 19 (padma.3.25.19)

स्नात्वा तु चमसोद्भेदे अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । शिवोद्भेदे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

snātvā tu camasodbhede agniṣṭomaphalaṁ labhet śivodbhede naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṁ labhet

Having bathed at Chamasodbheda, one obtains the fruit of the Agnishtoma; having bathed at Shivodbheda, a man obtains the fruit of a thousand cows,

Verse 20 (padma.3.25.20)

नागोद्भेदे नरः स्नात्वा नागलोकमवाप्नुयात् । शशयानं च राजेंद्र तीर्थमासाद्य दुर्लभम्

nāgodbhede naraḥ snātvā nāgalokamavāpnuyāt śaśayānaṁ ca rājeṁdra tīrthamāsādya durlabham

and having bathed at Nagodbheda, a man attains the world of the Nagas. And, O lord of kings, having reached the rare tirtha of Shashayana,

Verse 21 (padma.3.25.21)

शशरूपप्रतिच्छन्ना पुष्करा यत्र भारत । सरस्वत्यां महाभाग अनुसंवत्सरंहिते

śaśarūpapraticchannā puṣkarā yatra bhārata sarasvatyāṁ mahābhāga anusaṁvatsaraṁhite

where, O Bharata, the lotus-ponds are covered over in the shape of a hare; on the Sarasvati, O greatly fortunate one, year after year in due season,

Verse 22 (padma.3.25.22)

स्नायंते भरतश्रेष्ठ वृत्ता वै कार्त्तिकीं सदा । तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र द्योतते शिववत्सदा

snāyaṁte bharataśreṣṭha vṛttā vai kārttikīṁ sadā tatra snātvā naravyāghra dyotate śivavatsadā

O best of the Bharatas, always gathering and bathing on the Kartika full moon. Having bathed there, O tiger among men, one shines forever like Shiva,

Verse 23 (padma.3.25.23)

गोसहस्रफलं चैव प्राप्नुयाद्भरतर्षभ । कुमारकोटिमासाद्य नियतः कुरुनंदन

gosahasraphalaṁ caiva prāpnuyādbharatarṣabha kumārakoṭimāsādya niyataḥ kurunaṁdana

and, O bull among the Bharatas, obtains the fruit of a thousand cows also. O joy of the Kurus, having reached Kumarakoti, disciplined,

Verse 24 (padma.3.25.24)

तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत पितृदेवार्चने रतः । गवामयुतमाप्नोति कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत्

tatrābhiṣekaṁ kurvīta pitṛdevārcane rataḥ gavāmayutamāpnoti kulaṁ caiva samuddharet

one should perform the ritual bath there, devoted to the worship of ancestors and gods; one obtains the fruit of ten thousand cows and redeems one's whole family.

Verse 25 (padma.3.25.25)

ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ रुद्रकोटिं समाहिताः । पुरा यत्र महाराज ऋषिकोटिः समाहिता

tato gaccheta dharmajña rudrakoṭiṁ samāhitāḥ purā yatra mahārāja ṛṣikoṭiḥ samāhitā

Then, O knower of dharma, one should go, composed, to Rudrakoti, where formerly, O great king, a crore of sages had gathered,

Verse 26 (padma.3.25.26)

वर्षेण च समाविष्टा देवदर्शनकांक्षया । अहंपूर्वमहंपूर्वं द्रक्ष्यामि वृषभध्वजम्

varṣeṇa ca samāviṣṭā devadarśanakāṁkṣayā ahaṁpūrvamahaṁpūrvaṁ drakṣyāmi vṛṣabhadhvajam

engaged for a year in the desire to behold the god — 'I shall be first, I shall be first to behold the bull-bannered one!'

Verse 27 (padma.3.25.27)

एवं संप्रस्थिता राजनृषयः किलभारत । ततो योगीश्वरेणापि योगमास्थाय भूपते

evaṁ saṁprasthitā rājanṛṣayaḥ kilabhārata tato yogīśvareṇāpi yogamāsthāya bhūpate

Thus, O king, O Bharata, the sages had set out; then the Lord of Yogis himself, established in yoga, O lord of the earth,

Verse 28 (padma.3.25.28)

तेषां मन्युप्रशांत्यर्थमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । सृष्टा तु कोटिरुद्राणामृषीणामग्रतः स्थिता

teṣāṁ manyupraśāṁtyarthamṛṣīṇāṁ bhāvitātmanām sṛṣṭā tu koṭirudrāṇāmṛṣīṇāmagrataḥ sthitā

in order to pacify the wrath of those meditating sages, created a crore of Rudras and set them standing before each of the sages.

Verse 29 (padma.3.25.29)

मया पूर्वं हरो दृष्टो इति ते मेनिरे पृथक् । तेषां तुष्टो महादेव ऋषीणामुग्रतेजसाम्

mayā pūrvaṁ haro dṛṣṭo iti te menire pṛthak teṣāṁ tuṣṭo mahādeva ṛṣīṇāmugratejasām

'I have seen Hara first!' — each one thought this separately for himself. Pleased with those sages of fierce splendor, Mahadeva,

Verse 30 (padma.3.25.30)

भक्त्या परमया राजन्वरं तेषां प्रदत्तवान् । अद्यप्रभृति युष्माकं धर्मवृद्धिर्भविष्यति

bhaktyā paramayā rājanvaraṁ teṣāṁ pradattavān adyaprabhṛti yuṣmākaṁ dharmavṛddhirbhaviṣyati

O king, with supreme devotion, granted them a boon: 'From this day forth, your growth in dharma shall increase.'

Verse 31 (padma.3.25.31)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र रुद्रकोट्यां नरः शुचिः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत्

tatra snātvā naravyāghra rudrakoṭyāṁ naraḥ śuciḥ aśvamedhamavāpnoti kulaṁ caiva samuddharet

Having bathed there, O tiger among men, at Rudrakoti, a pure man obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha and redeems his whole family.

Verse 32 (padma.3.25.32)

ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र संगमं लोकविश्रुतम् । सरस्वत्यां महापुण्यमुपासीत जनार्दनम्

tato gaccheta rājeṁdra saṁgamaṁ lokaviśrutam sarasvatyāṁ mahāpuṇyamupāsīta janārdanam

Then, O lord of kings, one should go to the world-renowned confluence; on the Sarasvati, one should greatly reverently worship Janardana,

Verse 33 (padma.3.25.33)

यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः । अभिगच्छंति राजेंद्र चैत्रशुक्लचतुर्दशीम्

yatra brahmādayo devā ṛṣayaḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ abhigacchaṁti rājeṁdra caitraśuklacaturdaśīm

where, O lord of kings, Brahma and the other gods, sages, Siddhas, and Charanas gather on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight of Chaitra.

Verse 34 (padma.3.25.34)

तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र विंदेद्बहुसुवर्णकम् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा शिवलोकं च गच्छति

tatra snātvā naravyāghra viṁdedbahusuvarṇakam sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā śivalokaṁ ca gacchati

Having bathed there, O tiger among men, one obtains abundant gold; with a soul purified of all sin, one goes to the world of Shiva.

Verse 35 (padma.3.25.35)

ऋषीणां यत्र सत्राणि समाप्तानि नराधिप । तत्रावसानमासाद्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्

ṛṣīṇāṁ yatra satrāṇi samāptāni narādhipa tatrāvasānamāsādya gosahasraphalaṁ labhet

O lord of men, where the sacrificial sessions of the sages were completed — having reached that place of conclusion, one obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.