The Glory of Balapendra Tirtha

Verse 1 (padma.6.152.1)

महादेव उवाच। तीर्थानां प्रवरं तीर्थं साभ्रमत्यास्तटे स्थितम् । बालाप इति विख्यातं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

mahādeva uvāca tīrthānāṃ pravaraṃ tīrthaṃ sābhramatyāstaṭe sthitam bālāpa iti vikhyātaṃ bhuktimuktipradāyakam

Mahadeva said: The foremost of tirthas stands on the bank of the Sabarmati, known as Balapa, the bestower of both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 2 (padma.6.152.2)

तपस्विधारितं तीर्थं विबुधानां समाश्रयम् । तत्र कन्या तपस्तेपे परमं सुदृढव्रता

tapasvidhāritaṃ tīrthaṃ vibudhānāṃ samāśrayam tatra kanyā tapastepe paramaṃ sudṛḍhavratā

That tirtha is upheld by ascetics, a refuge of the wise. There a maiden of the firmest vows performed the highest austerity.

Verse 3 (padma.6.152.3)

कन्या कण्वमुनेः साध्वी रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । बाला बालावती नाम कुमारी ब्रह्मचारिणी

kanyā kaṇvamuneḥ sādhvī rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi bālā bālāvatī nāma kumārī brahmacāriṇī

She was the virtuous daughter of the sage Kanva, unrivaled in beauty on this earth -- a young girl named Balavati, a maiden vowed to chastity.

Verse 4 (padma.6.152.4)

व्रतं चचार सावित्र्या नियमैर्बहुभिर्युता । भर्ता मे भास्करो भूयादिति निश्चित्य भामिनि

vrataṃ cacāra sāvitryā niyamairbahubhiryutā bhartā me bhāskaro bhūyāditi niścitya bhāmini

That radiant girl practiced a vow in the manner of Savitri, joined with many observances, resolving: 'May the Sun himself become my husband.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.152.5)

समास्तस्य समाक्रांता दश साभ्रमतीतटे । चरंत्या नियमांस्तांस्तान्भक्त्या परमदुश्चरान्

samāstasya samākrāṃtā daśa sābhramatītaṭe caraṃtyā niyamāṃstāṃstānbhaktyā paramaduścarān

Ten full years passed for her on the bank of the Sabarmati, as she practiced those various observances, most difficult to perform, with devotion.

Verse 6 (padma.6.152.6)

तस्यास्तु तेन व्रतेन तपसा व्रतचर्यया । भक्त्या च भगवान्प्रीतः परया भक्तिसंपदा

tasyāstu tena vratena tapasā vratacaryayā bhaktyā ca bhagavānprītaḥ parayā bhaktisaṃpadā

By that vow of hers, by her austerity, by her practice of the vow, and by her devotion, the Lord became pleased, through the wealth of her supreme devotion.

Verse 7 (padma.6.152.7)

आजगामाश्रमपदं देवदेवो दिवाकरः । आस्थाय रूपं विप्रर्षेः प्रविष्टस्तु महामनाः

ājagāmāśramapadaṃ devadevo divākaraḥ āsthāya rūpaṃ viprarṣeḥ praviṣṭastu mahāmanāḥ

The god of gods, the Maker of Day, came to her hermitage, that great-minded one, entering in the form of a brahmin sage.

Verse 8 (padma.6.152.8)

सा तं दृष्ट्वोग्रतपसा वरिष्ठं ब्रह्मवित्तमम् । वानप्रस्थविधानेन पूजयामास तं द्विजम्

sā taṃ dṛṣṭvogratapasā variṣṭhaṃ brahmavittamam vānaprasthavidhānena pūjayāmāsa taṃ dvijam

Seeing him -- foremost in fierce austerity, greatest knower of Brahman -- she worshipped that twice-born one according to the rite for forest-dwellers.

Verse 9 (padma.6.152.9)

उवाच रविभक्ता सा कल्याणी तं तपोधनम् । भगवन्मुनिशार्दूल किमाज्ञापयसि प्रभो

uvāca ravibhaktā sā kalyāṇī taṃ tapodhanam bhagavanmuniśārdūla kimājñāpayasi prabho

That auspicious girl, devoted to the Sun, said to that ascetic rich in austerity: 'O lord, O tiger among sages, what do you command, my lord?'

Verse 10 (padma.6.152.10)

सर्वं तुभ्यं यथाशक्ति दास्यामि स्वतनुं विना । सूर्यभक्तास्मि ते पाणिं दास्यामि न कथंचन

sarvaṃ tubhyaṃ yathāśakti dāsyāmi svatanuṃ vinā sūryabhaktāsmi te pāṇiṃ dāsyāmi na kathaṃcana

'I shall give you everything within my power, except my own body. I am devoted to the Sun -- I shall never give my hand to you in any way.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.152.11)

व्रतैश्च नियमैश्चापि तपोभिश्च तपोधन । सूर्यस्तोषयितव्यो मे देवस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः

vrataiśca niyamaiścāpi tapobhiśca tapodhana sūryastoṣayitavyo me devastribhuvaneśvaraḥ

'O ascetic rich in austerity, by vows, by observances, and by penances, the Sun, lord of the three worlds, is the god I must please.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.152.12)

इत्युक्तवत्यां तस्यां तु स्मयन्निव निरीक्ष्य ताम् । उवाच नियमस्थां तां सांत्वयन्निव भास्करः

ityuktavatyāṃ tasyāṃ tu smayanniva nirīkṣya tām uvāca niyamasthāṃ tāṃ sāṃtvayanniva bhāskaraḥ

When she had said this, the Sun, as if smiling, looking at her steadfast in her observance, spoke to her as though consoling her:

Verse 13 (padma.6.152.13)

उग्रं चरसि कल्याणि तपः परमदुष्करम् । यदर्थं च समारंभस्तव बाले तथैव तत्

ugraṃ carasi kalyāṇi tapaḥ paramaduṣkaram yadarthaṃ ca samāraṃbhastava bāle tathaiva tat

'O auspicious one, you perform a fierce austerity, most difficult to accomplish. And that for whose sake you have undertaken it, O girl, shall indeed come to be.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.152.14)

तपसा लभ्यते सर्वं सर्वं तपसि तिष्ठति । देवत्वं प्राप्यते भद्रे तपसा मोक्ष एव च

tapasā labhyate sarvaṃ sarvaṃ tapasi tiṣṭhati devatvaṃ prāpyate bhadre tapasā mokṣa eva ca

'By austerity everything is obtained; everything rests in austerity. Godhood is attained by austerity, O gracious one, and liberation itself as well.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.152.15)

इमानि पंच सुभगे बदराणि प्रतीच्छ मे । दत्त्वा स बदराण्यस्यै पचेत्युक्त्वा रविर्ययौ

imāni paṃca subhage badarāṇi pratīccha me dattvā sa badarāṇyasyai pacetyuktvā raviryayau

'Take these five jujube fruits from me, O fortunate one.' Having given her the jujubes, and telling her to cook them, the Sun departed.

Verse 16 (padma.6.152.16)

अपृष्ट्वा तां तु कल्याणीं ब्रह्मरूपी विहाय ताम् । स्थितोऽसौ नातिदूरेण इंद्रग्रामे महायशाः

apṛṣṭvā tāṃ tu kalyāṇīṃ brahmarūpī vihāya tām sthito'sau nātidūreṇa iṃdragrāme mahāyaśāḥ

Without further word to that auspicious girl, he who bore the form of a brahmin, that most glorious one, remained not far away, at Indragrama, leaving her there.

Verse 17 (padma.6.152.17)

स्थित्वा जिज्ञासया भावं तस्याश्च ब्राह्मणो रविः । बदराणामुपवनं कारयामास भास्करः

sthitvā jijñāsayā bhāvaṃ tasyāśca brāhmaṇo raviḥ badarāṇāmupavanaṃ kārayāmāsa bhāskaraḥ

Remaining there out of a wish to test her disposition, the Sun, in the guise of a brahmin, caused a grove of jujube trees to spring up.

Verse 18 (padma.6.152.18)

ततः सा प्रयता बाला प्रांजलिर्विगतश्रमा । पाकाय बदराणां सा पावकं समधिश्रयत्

tataḥ sā prayatā bālā prāṃjalirvigataśramā pākāya badarāṇāṃ sā pāvakaṃ samadhiśrayat

Then that pure girl, with joined palms, all weariness gone, kindled a fire in order to cook the jujubes.

Verse 19 (padma.6.152.19)

अपचत्परमा देवि बदराणि महाप्रभा । तस्याः पचंत्याः सुमहान्कालोऽगाच्च सुरेश्वरि

apacatparamā devi badarāṇi mahāprabhā tasyāḥ pacaṃtyāḥ sumahānkālo'gācca sureśvari

O goddess, that most radiant girl cooked the jujubes. And, O queen of the gods, a very long time passed as she went on cooking them --

Verse 20 (padma.6.152.20)

भस्मपुंजो महान्जातो दिनं च क्षयमन्वगात् । हुताशनेन दग्धस्तु महान्वै काष्ठसंचयः

bhasmapuṃjo mahānjāto dinaṃ ca kṣayamanvagāt hutāśanena dagdhastu mahānvai kāṣṭhasaṃcayaḥ

a great heap of ash formed, and the day itself came to its end; a vast store of wood was consumed by the fire.

Verse 21 (padma.6.152.21)

पादौ प्रक्षाल्य सा पश्चात्पावके चारुदर्शने । ददाह बदरार्थं च ब्राह्मणप्रियकाम्यया

pādau prakṣālya sā paścātpāvake cārudarśane dadāha badarārthaṃ ca brāhmaṇapriyakāmyayā

Then, having washed her feet, for the sake of the jujubes and out of the wish to please the brahmin, she thrust them into the beautiful-seeming fire,

Verse 22 (padma.6.152.22)

दग्ध्वा दग्ध्वा पुनः पादौ उपर्या धार्यतेऽनघे । अथास्याः कर्म तद्दृष्ट्वा प्रीतो देवो दिवाकरः

dagdhvā dagdhvā punaḥ pādau uparyā dhāryate'naghe athāsyāḥ karma taddṛṣṭvā prīto devo divākaraḥ

burning her feet again and again, that sinless girl kept feeding the fire to sustain it. Then, seeing this deed of hers, the god, the Maker of Day, was pleased,

Verse 23 (padma.6.152.23)

ततः संदर्शयामास कन्यायै रूपमात्मनः । उवाच परमप्रीतस्तां कन्यां सुदृढव्रताम्

tataḥ saṃdarśayāmāsa kanyāyai rūpamātmanaḥ uvāca paramaprītastāṃ kanyāṃ sudṛḍhavratām

and thereupon showed the girl his own true form, and, filled with the highest delight, spoke to that maiden of firmest vow:

Verse 24 (padma.6.152.24)

सूर्य उवाच। प्रीतोऽस्मि बाले भक्त्या ते तपसा व्रतचर्यया । यस्मादभिमतः कामो बाले संपद्यतां तव

sūrya uvāca prīto'smi bāle bhaktyā te tapasā vratacaryayā yasmādabhimataḥ kāmo bāle saṃpadyatāṃ tava

The Sun said: 'I am pleased, O girl, by your devotion, your austerity, your practice of the vow. Therefore, O girl, let your cherished desire be fulfilled.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.152.25)

अस्मिंस्तीर्थे तपोयुक्ता मद्गृहे त्वं निवत्स्यसि । इदं च तीर्थप्रवरं तव नाम्ना च लक्षितम्

asmiṃstīrthe tapoyuktā madgṛhe tvaṃ nivatsyasi idaṃ ca tīrthapravaraṃ tava nāmnā ca lakṣitam

'Endowed with austerity at this tirtha, you shall dwell in my house. And this most excellent tirtha shall be marked with your own name.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.152.26)

बालाप इति विख्यातं साभ्रमत्यास्तटे स्थितम् । विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु ब्रह्मर्षिभिस्तु स्तुतं पुरा

bālāpa iti vikhyātaṃ sābhramatyāstaṭe sthitam vikhyātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu brahmarṣibhistu stutaṃ purā

'It shall be known as Balapa, standing on the bank of the Sabarmati -- renowned in the three worlds, praised by the brahmin sages of old.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.152.27)

बालातीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा त्रिरात्रमुषितः शुचिः । रक्तादित्यमुखं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति

bālātīrthe naraḥ snātvā trirātramuṣitaḥ śuciḥ raktādityamukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā sūryasyodayanaṃ prati

Whatever man bathes at Bala-tirtha and dwells there in purity for three nights, beholding the reddened face of Aditya at the moment of the sun's rising --

Verse 28 (padma.6.152.28)

सूर्यलोकमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा । सूर्यवारेऽथ संक्रांतौ सप्तम्यां तु विशेषतः

sūryalokamavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā sūryavāre'tha saṃkrāṃtau saptamyāṃ tu viśeṣataḥ

attains the world of the Sun -- there is no need for doubt on this. On a Sunday, at the solstice, and especially on the seventh lunar day,

Verse 29 (padma.6.152.29)

विषुवत्ययने चापि चंद्रसूर्यग्रहेऽपि च । स्नात्वा संतर्पयेद्देवान्पितॄनथ पितामहान्

viṣuvatyayane cāpi caṃdrasūryagrahe'pi ca snātvā saṃtarpayeddevānpitṝnatha pitāmahān

at the equinox, at the solstitial turning, and also at a lunar or solar eclipse, one should bathe and offer libations to the gods, to the fathers, and to the grandfathers.

Verse 30 (padma.6.152.30)

गुडधेनुं ततो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो गुडोदनम् । करवीरैर्जपापुष्पै रक्तादित्यप्रपूजनम्

guḍadhenuṃ tato dadyādbrāhmaṇebhyo guḍodanam karavīrairjapāpuṣpai raktādityaprapūjanam

One should then give a cow made of molasses, and rice cooked with molasses, to brahmins; and with oleander flowers and hibiscus flowers, worship the reddened Sun.

Verse 31 (padma.6.152.31)

ये कुर्वंति नरास्ते वै सूर्यलोके वसंति वै । रक्तां धेनुं नरो दद्यादेकं चैव धुरंधरम्

ye kurvaṃti narāste vai sūryaloke vasaṃti vai raktāṃ dhenuṃ naro dadyādekaṃ caiva dhuraṃdharam

Those men who do this dwell indeed in the world of the Sun. A man should give a red cow, and also a single draft-ox,

Verse 32 (padma.6.152.32)

स यज्ञफलमाप्नोति न नरो निरयं व्रजेत्। व्याधितो मुच्यते रोगात्बद्धो मुच्येत बंधनात् । तीर्थेऽस्मिन्पिंडदानेन तृप्तिं यांति पितामहाः

sa yajñaphalamāpnoti na naro nirayaṃ vrajet vyādhito mucyate rogātbaddho mucyeta baṃdhanāt tīrthe'sminpiṃḍadānena tṛptiṃ yāṃti pitāmahāḥ

and thereby obtains the fruit of sacrifice; such a man does not go to hell. The diseased is freed from illness, the bound is freed from bondage; through the offering of rice-balls at this tirtha, the ancestors attain full satisfaction.

Verse 33 (padma.6.152.33)

महादेव उवाच। तथान्यदपि माहात्म्यं तीर्थस्यास्य तपोधने । श्रूयतां यत्पुरावृत्तं व्यासेन कथितं महत्

mahādeva uvāca tathānyadapi māhātmyaṃ tīrthasyāsya tapodhane śrūyatāṃ yatpurāvṛttaṃ vyāsena kathitaṃ mahat

Mahadeva said: O rich in austerity, hear also another great glory of this tirtha -- an old tale told by Vyasa.

Verse 34 (padma.6.152.34)

पुरात्र महिषो वृद्धो जरया जर्जरीकृतः । अशक्तो भारमुद्वोढुं सार्थवाहस्तमत्यजत्

purātra mahiṣo vṛddho jarayā jarjarīkṛtaḥ aśakto bhāramudvoḍhuṃ sārthavāhastamatyajat

Formerly, here, an old buffalo, worn out with age, unable to bear his load any longer, was abandoned by a caravan-merchant.

Verse 35 (padma.6.152.35)

स निदाघे जलं पातुं जगाम च महानदीम् । दैवात्पंके निमग्नोऽसौ ततो मृत्युवशं गतः

sa nidāghe jalaṃ pātuṃ jagāma ca mahānadīm daivātpaṃke nimagno'sau tato mṛtyuvaśaṃ gataḥ

In the heat of summer he went to the great river to drink water, and by fate he sank into the mire there, and thus came under the sway of death.

Verse 36 (padma.6.152.36)

प्लवितास्थिर्जले पुण्ये तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः । कान्यकुब्जेश्वरसुतो राजा जातिस्मरोऽभवत्

plavitāsthirjale puṇye tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ kānyakubjeśvarasuto rājā jātismaro'bhavat

His bones, floating in that sacred water, by the power of this tirtha -- he became, as the son of the lord of Kanyakubja, a king who remembered his former birth.

Verse 37 (padma.6.152.37)

संस्मृत्य च स्ववृत्तांतं प्रभावं तीर्थजं महत् । आगत्य तज्जले स्नात्वा ददौ दानान्यनेकशः

saṃsmṛtya ca svavṛttāṃtaṃ prabhāvaṃ tīrthajaṃ mahat āgatya tajjale snātvā dadau dānānyanekaśaḥ

Recalling his own past history and the great power born of that tirtha, he came and bathed in its waters, and gave gifts many times over.

Verse 38 (padma.6.152.38)

स तत्र स्थापयामास देवदेवं महेश्वरम् । अत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा संपूज्य महिषेश्वरम्

sa tatra sthāpayāmāsa devadevaṃ maheśvaram atra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā saṃpūjya mahiṣeśvaram

There he established the God of gods, Maheshvara. Whatever man bathes at this tirtha and duly worships Mahisheshvara,

Verse 39 (padma.6.152.39)

रक्तादित्यमुखं दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । साभ्रमत्युदकं यत्र पूर्वतः पश्चिमं व्रजेत्

raktādityamukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate sābhramatyudakaṃ yatra pūrvataḥ paścimaṃ vrajet

and beholds the reddened face of Aditya, is released from all sins. There, where the water of the Sabarmati flows from east to west,

Verse 40 (padma.6.152.40)

प्रयागादपि तत्पुण्यं सर्वकामप्रदं महत् । दत्तं द्विजेंद्रेषु हुतं यदग्नौ श्राद्धं कृतं जाप्यमिहाक्षयं स्यात्

prayāgādapi tatpuṇyaṃ sarvakāmapradaṃ mahat dattaṃ dvijeṃdreṣu hutaṃ yadagnau śrāddhaṃ kṛtaṃ jāpyamihākṣayaṃ syāt

the merit there is even greater than that of Prayaga, granting every desire. Whatever is given to foremost brahmins, offered into fire, performed as shraddha, or recited in prayer here, becomes imperishable.

Verse 41 (padma.6.152.41)

गोभूतिलाः कांचनवस्त्रधान्यं शय्यासनं वाहनछत्रदानम् । यं यं वांछयते कामं तं तं प्राप्नोति मानवः

gobhūtilāḥ kāṃcanavastradhānyaṃ śayyāsanaṃ vāhanachatradānam yaṃ yaṃ vāṃchayate kāmaṃ taṃ taṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

The gift of a cow, land, sesame, gold, cloth, grain, a bed, a seat, a vehicle, or an umbrella -- whatever desire a man wishes for, that very desire he obtains,

Verse 42 (padma.6.152.42)

श्रीमहेशप्रसादाच्च तीर्थस्यास्य प्रभावतः । बालापेंद्रं इदं तीर्थं पुण्यपापहरं सदा

śrīmaheśaprasādācca tīrthasyāsya prabhāvataḥ bālāpeṃdraṃ idaṃ tīrthaṃ puṇyapāpaharaṃ sadā

through the grace of Shri Mahesha and the power of this tirtha. This tirtha, Balapendra, ever bestows merit and removes sin --

Verse 43 (padma.6.152.43)

यं दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे वीतरागाः सदैव तु । यत्र माहिषनामेति श्वेताख्यं पुण्यदं महत्

yaṃ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve vītarāgāḥ sadaiva tu yatra māhiṣanāmeti śvetākhyaṃ puṇyadaṃ mahat

seeing which all the sages have ever become free of passion -- and where there is that great, merit-giving spot called Shveta, known by the name of the buffalo.

Verse 44 (padma.6.152.44)

यत्र स्नात्वा तु देवेशि पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । गोदावर्यां कृते स्नाने यत्फलं लभते नरः

yatra snātvā tu deveśi punarjanma na vidyate godāvaryāṃ kṛte snāne yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ

Bathing there, O queen of the gods, there is no rebirth again. Whatever fruit a man obtains by bathing in the Godavari --

Verse 45 (padma.6.152.45)

तत्फलं लभते देवि अत्र तीर्थे न संशयः

tatphalaṃ labhate devi atra tīrthe na saṃśayaḥ

that same fruit, O goddess, he obtains at this tirtha, without doubt.