Verses 1001-1100

1001. O best among the Nagas, having banished him from here, I allotted to him a place on Usiraka - the best of the mountains - in Darva.

1002. Through a device I appointed him there as a guardian of the territory and won over the people of Kas'mira through affection.

1003. Sadangula - the lord of the Nagas - has been settled by me on an even road. Honoured by the people, he lives there happily.

1004-5. At my request, Hari himself has given him protection there. Here I allot to you, as your habitation, the beautiful city named Candrapura, of the king Visvagasva, in the beautitul territory which belonged to Sadangula. Turn that into a lake.

1006. Disguised as a mad man, once, Durvasa - the best of the sages - did not get proper reception at the beautiful habitation of Sadangula.

1007. Filled with rage, he pronounced the curse: "It shall turn into a lake." O Naga, this saying of the sage is not known to anyone.

1008. I alone know it due to the favour of that sage. Hence, O Naga, make your abode there. Do not delay.

1009. But (you should ) importune the king Visvagasva - the protector of the earth. You should make request to that king, in disguise.

1010. If due to greed, he would not give when rcquested to give, in disguise, he as a king, would be disgraced for not doing that which be must do."

1011. Brhadahra (spoke): Addressed thus by Nila, the Naga Mahapadma assumed the form of an old Brahmana and went to the city (named) Cantrapura.

1012. He looked at the compassionate king Visvagasva. Then, having seen him, he made request (to him) as Visnu had made to Bali.

1013. Brahmana (said): '~O compassionate king, give me that much dwelling place at Candrapura, which may be sufficient for my big family."

1014. Visvagasva (replied): "O chief of the Brahmanas, I give you a beautiful place in Candrapura. O twice-born, occupy that much (space) which may be enough for you along with your family."

1015. Brhadasva (said): Having accepted the water of gift and having pronounced the benedictory formula, he - in the form of a Naga - spoke to the king in the midst of ministers.

1016. "Go away from this city, along with your collecton of money and other things, accompanied by your cavalry, elephants and chariots and surrounded by your own men.

1017. O Lord of men, the city is sufficient for me along with my family. It will turn into an extensive lake, very soon."

1018-19. Then, that pious king went away along with his citizens, horses, elephants and host of ministers, and constructed another beautiful town at a distance of two Yojanas to the west of his own city. That is famaos on the earth under the name Visvagasvapura.

1020. Worshipping the Brahmanas, the king lived there happily. The Naga Mahapadma flooded the city.

1021-24. The best of the Nagas lives there happily, along with his family.

And that Mahapadma lake, one Yojana long and one Yojana wide, is hvly, beautiful and pleasing to the hearts of the good.

Due to the influence of Mahapadma, (that lake is) devoid of wicked crocodiles. The Naga, surrounded by his family, lives there happily.

This birth (story) of the lalce Mahapadma has been related by me. What else, O king, should I relate to you? Tell that."

1025. Gonanda (spoke): "O Venerable one, I want to hear about the holy places in the countries of Kasmira. Tell the glorification of seeing them."

1026. Brhadasva (said): (There is) Vinayaka, the son of Ganga descended from Vardhanadruma. Having seen him, a man obtains success which brings all sorts of welfare.

1027. By seeing Kamyavara of similar type, at a distance of one Krosa to its south-west, one obtains success in one's undertakings.

1028-30. By seeing with concentrated mind, each and every Ganesa of all these, namely, Bhurjasvami, Hidimbesa, Lovara, Srivinayaka, Utankesa, Guhavasi, Bhimesa, Saumukha Bhadresvara, Mahasya, Mahasana, Gavesana, Paulastya, Girivasi, Jayesvara and Mahesvara, one obtains accomplishment one's doings and enjoys holy merit.

1031. O Lord of men, after taking bath in Patrakunda one obtains the world of Kumara by seeing Skanda, erected by Pulastya near (the lake of) Saci.

1032-33. By the sight of each and every Kumara namely, Malivana, Gautarnesa, Visvamitresa. Saunasika, Vasisthesa, Makharesa, Suresvara, Skandesvara, Visakhesa and another erected by Pulastya, one obtains the merit which accrues from the gift of cow.

1034-35. Having seen (the images of) Sakra - the performer of hundred sacrifices - erected by Pulastya, Bharadvaja, Kasyapa, Kanva, Agastya and Vasistha, one obtains heaven and the merit of giving thousand cows in charity. A sight of the image of Agni erected by Angira gives heaven.

1036. By seeing Yama - the lord of the Pretas - , after having taken bath in Taijasa, one gets heaven as well as the merit accruing from the gift of a cow and sesame.

1037. By seeing the son of the Sun god, after having taken bath in Puskara Tirtha, one is freed from all the sins and is honoured in heaven.

1038. The sight afeveryone of these viz., Yama, Sutankesa and the lord of the Pretas erected by Vasistha, releases one from all the sins.

1039-42. These highly strong ones should be specially seen in a night full of stars. By the sight of that worshipped god known as Virupaksa, one does not get, at all times, the fear born of the Raksasas. O king, after seeing the (images of the) god erected by Varuna and Bali, one is freed from all the sins and enjoys in the world of Varuna. After a bath in the lake of Mahapadma and on the northern bank of Manasa lake, a mere sight of the temple erected by Pulastya, gives one the merit of the gift of cows and also releases (one) from the diseases.

1043-44. One becomes rich by the sight of everyone of these, namely, the god Dhanesvara near Vitastaksa, ( the image of the god) erected by Agastya near Kapatesvara, Setara, Gotamasvami, Saurnukha and one erected by Surabhi.

1045. After seeing (the image of) Sasanka erected by king Sucandra, a man obtains the world of the Moon. There is no doubt about this.

1046. By seeing Manibhadra, one becomes possessed of wealth.

1047. One obtains happiness and becomes beautiful after seeing Kamdeva erected by Agastya on the mountain.

1048. The (image of the) goddess erected by Pulastya is known as Bheda on the earth.

1049. By seeing the goddess erected by Pulastya and accompanied by Kesava, one is freed from all the sins and gets highest knowledge.

1050. One is honoured in the world of Visnu, by seeing Visoka in Kasmira, accompanied by Kesava and erected by Him.

1051-53. By a sight of the goddess Bhima, one gets the best wealth and by seeing the goddess Kapinjali, the goddess Suresvari. (the goddesses) Bhadresvari, Gautamesi, the goddess Kalasila, (the goddess) named Udyogasri, (the goddesses) Gavaksi, Candika, Durga, Gauri, Suvijaya, Sakuni Brahmacarini and Cakresvari, one gets one's desire fulfilled.

1054. After seeing near Cakrasvami, the goddess sitting in the lap of Hara, one is freed from all the sins and is honoured in the world of Rudra.

1055-56. By seeing that (image of) Divakara called Kartaviryrarjunasvami, (that of) Martanda called Kasyapasvami, (that of) Ravi erected by Visvagasva and everyone of these, namely, (the images called) Sucandresa, Sucakresa, and Surabhisvami, one obtains the merit of the gift of horses.

1057-1064. O king, one obtains heaven for one's ancestors, by seeing the boon-giver Brahma in the form of a hill, a form which he himself has assumed, and also (his images called) Visnusvami, Harasvami and Kasyapasvami.

O great king, one is released from all the sins by seeing everyone of these viz., Sudarsana Hara near Cakrasvami, Svayambhu, (Hara's image) erected by the: Fire-god, (Hara's images called) Pidgalesvara, the god Bindunadesvara, the god Bhadresvara, Candresvara along with Jyesthesa, Valakhilyesvara Hari, Kesavesa, Samesa, Dhaumyesa, Varunesvara, Cakresvara along with Candresa, Kasyapesa, Vilohita, Kamda along with Vasisthesa, Bhutesa along with Ganesvara, Suryesvara, Bhasmesa and Vimalesvara; (so also) the boon-giver god (called) Himacalesa, Sankhesa, Vaivattilesvara, Mahanadisvara, Sambhu, Kasyapesvara, Rajesvara, Nrsimhesa, Bhavesa and Dhanadesvara. O king, the god Hara - the lord of the Bhutas - is always present (in all these images.).

1065-66. By merely seeing Nandi there, one is freed from all sins. Nandisvara is always pleased and so also is Bhutesvara. O tiger among kings, (their) presence is due to their desire for doing good to the worlds. Nandi is always present there due to devotion for Hara.

1067. By seeing Kapatesvara who appears in the midst of waters, one obtains thousand cows and by worshipping (him) one gets desired refuge.

1068. Gonanda said: "O best of the speakers, how did Nandi propitiate the god, by which he - present in Bhutesvara - is always near him?"

1069. Brhadasva (replied): "O king, the protector of the earth, listen to the account as it happened with reference to Nandi, the account which is divine, heart-enchanting and remover of all sins.

1070-72a. In former times, there was a Brahmana named Silada who had no son. O king, he went to Nandi mountain and in order to get a son (he) propitiated the Great God, by eating the powder of rocks for one hundred years. Due to compassion, the God of the gods, gave to him as a son, his own Ganesa Nandi possessed of great strength.

1072b-73. While being given as a son, Nandi spoke to Sankara thus: "O lord, due to (your) favour, I shall bocome the son of this Brahmana, but O god, let me be his son, not born from the womb.

1074-76. Moreover, separated from you, I would not stay for long in the human (world). Smiling with compassion, the god Hara said to him: "O best of the ganas, you have been cursed by Bhrgu not honoured (by you) in the marriage of Uma. So (you) shall surely be born in the human form. With that very body, you shall come near me.

O best of the ganas, thenceforward you shall live in the human world.

1077-78. At your will, you shall live near me, as may give you happiness. You shall live in the human world, compelled by the curse of Bhrgu, but O lord of the ganas, there too I shall live according to your desire."

1079. O king, thus Nandi always lives at Bhutes'vara and so also the god Hara (lives) willingly, due to favour upon him.

1080. Gonanda (said): "How did Nandi - born ( in the human world) - become a son of Silada. How did he attain ganapatihood with his body."

1081. Brhadasva (said): Then, while grinding a rock, Silada found in the midst of the rock, the son Nandi not born from the womb and possessed of the lustre of the moon.

1082. Having got that son, the Brahmana Silada became pleased and thereafter performed all the ceremonies with reference to the son.

1083. When the ceremonies of the son were being performed, the twice-born (Silada) heard from the Brahmana that the son was to be short-lived.

1084-1085. Having heard (thisl, the pious Silada - full of affection for the son - started weeping. Nandi - the knower of Dharma - consoled him who was weeping, thus: "Father, do not weep today. For your favourite desire, I shall obtain long life by propitiating the god Sankara.

1086-87. Saying so to his father and after getting his permission, Nandi himself - determined to perform penance - went to the auspicious peak of the Himalaya, known as Haramukuta.

1088. In the eastern half of that peak, there is a laks of clear water called Kalodaka, the destroyer of all sins.

1089. Placing a big rock on his head and unweariedly engaged in muttering the name of Rudra in that water, Nandi propitiated Hara.

1090. One hundred years passed away while he was muttering the name af Rudra, in the water. After the completion of a hundred years the goddess spoke (thus) to the god:

1091. "O venerable one, my son Nandi is performing austerities at Kaloda. Endow him, quickly, with a boon. Be not late, O lord!"

1092.93a. O lord of men, thus was the god addressed by the goddess at Varanasi. Then mounted on the bull and (going) by land-route, the god, along with the goddess, was not seen by anyone in that area.

1093b-1094. After crossing Prayaga and the great city of Ayodhya, (he crossed) the holy Naimisa forest and beyond that Gangadvara. From Sthanesvala (he went) to Kuruksetra and holy Visnupada.

1095-96. Having crossed all these, viz. the Satadru, the Vipasa and the Iravati, possessed of holy water, the Devika, the Candrabhaga, the auspicious Visnupada the Visoka, Vijayesa and the confluence of the Vitasta and the Sindhu, he went to the mountain Bharata.

1097-98. Having reached the foot of that (mountain), he said to the goddess: "O divine lady, stay here along with the bull, while I shall go further. Whosoever climbs up this mountain by this way, obtains high merit.

1099. You being tender, are not able to climb up (the mountain) by this way, so I shall go alone quickly, today,

1100. From that place, the best of the gods began to climb up the way, and there came into existence a temple of the god called Istapathesvara.