Chapter 223 - Greatness of Puruṣottama Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine of the Liṅga well-known as Gātrotsarga, which is adored by all the three worlds. It is stationed to the south thereof (i.e. of Rukmavatīśvara). It is the place where the wise Balabhadra and other Yādavas of great repute abandoned their bodies in the course of a battle.

It is the place where the Yāḍavas became weak and feeble due to the curse of Brāhmaṇas, as though they were bitten by a powerful serpent. This Puruṣottama Kṣetra extends to a hundred Dhanus all round.

4. O goddess, Lord Puruṣottama stands there directly manifested. This Vaiṣṇava Kṣetra is highly destructive of sins in the Kali age.

5. O goddess, this is a great secret. This most excellent of all Tīrthas was remembered as Pretatīrtha earlier in Kṛtayuga. After the advent of Kali Yuga, it became Gātrotsarga.

6. In the centre of the region near Ṛṇamocana and Pāpamocana, if anyone happens to die he is relieved of all sins.

7. O goddess, how can the great and infinite merit of the pilgrimage there be extolled? By taking the holy bath there, the merit of a thousand horse-sacrifices is obtained.

8. It was here that Keśava resorted to an Aśvattha (holy fig tree), and directed his mind in a deep absorption. Thereafter he discharged through Brahma-randhra (cerebral apperture) the vital airs which are ordinarily very difficult to give up.

9. By worshipping directly in accordance with the injunctions, Nārāyaṇa, Balabhadra and Rukmiṇī there, the pilgrim is relieved of the three types of sins.

10. One should devoutly take his holy bath there and offer libation unto the Pitṛs. Those Pitṛs of the pilgrim who performs Śrāddha will become free from the state of Preta (a ghost, a spirit).

11. A man may be a Goghna (one who kills cows), Surāpa (one who imbibes liquor), Durmedhas (wicked-minded), Brāhmahā[?] (Brāhmaṇa-slayer), and Gurutalpaga (defiler of the bed of the preceptor). By taking the holy bath there, he immediately becomes free from sins.

12. A man may have committed sins during his childhood, youth or in old age, knowingly or unknowingly, O beloved, but by taking the holy bath in the Gātrapramocana Tīrtha (i.e. Gātrotsarga) he shall become relieved of them.

13. Formerly Hari had said that by offering balls of rice there, the Pitṛs can be propitiated for a period of a hundred years.

14. If, O goddess of Devas, a man makes the gift of food there with great mental concentration and purity, no one in his family becomes a Preta (ghost).

Śrī Devī said:

15. It was originally called Pretatīrtha and afterwards Gātravimocana. Tell me, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas, the reason (why it was called) Pretatīrtha.

Īśvara said:

16. Listen, O goddess, I shall mention why it was called Pretatīrtha. On listening to this devoutly, a man shall become relieved of all sins.

17-19. Formerly, there was a great sage named Gautama of esteemed holy rites. He came to the excellent Prābhāsika Kṣetra from Bhṛgu Kalpa (modern Broach) with a desire to see Śrīsomeśa at the time of the sacred Uttarāyaṇa (Northern Transit).

After visiting Lord Someśvara and taking holy bath in all the Tīrthas, he proceeded on his pilgrimage and reached Gātrotsarga.

20. O goddess, when this Brāhmaṇa reached that place, the outskirts of the place, the Vaiṣṇava forest, a favourite of Viṣṇu was seen.

21. It is a holy spot named Puruṣottama extending to an area of a hundred Dhanus. In that holy spot, he saw five horrible Pretas.

22-23. Those huge-bodied, excessively powerful Pretas were on a great tree. Their hairs were standing up erect and they had spike-like ears. Their blood vessels were prominently visible on their bodies. They were devoid of blood and flesh. Their bodies were black and they were nude. On seeing them, he became extremely frightened and thought that he was doomed.

24-25. After meditating for a long time, he summoned courage and asked: “Who are you having hideous form? Formerly you were not seen by me. Why have you come to the centre of the holy spot? Distressed with great sorrow you appear to be running about. Hence is my great curiosity.”

The ghosts said:

26-28. O highly esteemed one, we are Pretas (ghosts). On hearing that this holy spot is very sacred we have come from a very far-off place. But we are unable to gain an access therein. We have been shattered by the invisible Gaṇas by means of blows.

Our names are Lekhaka, Rohaka, Śūcaka [Sūcaka?], Śīghraga and I am the fifth one named Paryuṣita, the most sinful of all.

Gautama said:

29. Here it excites a great curiosity in me. By whom have these names been given to you all who have entered the state of ghosts?

The Pretas said:

30. This being here was wont to write on the ground the name of the Brāhmaṇa who used to come for begging. He does not read anything (gives anything) thereafter. Hence he is remembered as Lekhaka.

31. The second one used to climb on to the terrace because he was afraid of Brāhmaṇa. Therefore he came to be known as Rohaka. O Brāhamaṇa, hear about the third one.

32. Many Brāhmaṇas having wealth have been scandalously reported to the king by this being. Therefore he became notorious on the earth as Sūcaka due to this sin.

33. Whenever he was pressed with the requests of Brāhmaṇas, he used to run away. He never gave anyone anything. Hence this fellow is remembered as Śīghraga.

34. Stale and rotten food was always served to excellent Brāhmaṇas by me. On the other hand I always received gifts from Brāhmaṇas and adequate nourishment from sweet food. Hence I became nick-named as Paryuṣita on the earth.

Gautama said:

35. No living being can exist on the earth without food. What then is the diet that sustains you all? Do mention this to satisfy my curiosity.

The Pretas said:

36. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, should there be any quarrel over the food at the time of meal, the essence of that food is our intake.

37. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, if men neglect cleanliness and begin to take food while the ground is not swept neatly and daubed over properly that will form part of our food.

38. If anyone partakes of food without washing his feet or with his head covered with a turban, Pretas always take that food away.

39. If Śrāddha food is glanced at by a dog, a woman in her monthly period, a low-born one or a pig that constitutes our food.

40-41. If anyone were to make a monetary gift willy-nilly to someone other than the Brāhmaṇa traditionally honoured by his ancestors, we desire the sacred benefit of that Dana. If there is perpetual quarrel in any house, if leavings of food are always scattered over and if there is no Vaiśvadeva sacrifice, we gleefully partake of that food there.

Gautama said:

42. Of what nature is that house where you people have no access? Tell me the truth. No untruth, please. Truth is befitting to good people.

The Pretas said:

43. O Brāhmaṇa, we have no entry into that house where the fumigation of incense arising from Vaiśvadeva is to be seen.

44. If a house is washed and daubed with cow-dung in the morning and the sound of the Veḍic chants is audible, we have no entry therein.

Gautama said:

45. What is that sinful act whereby a man turns out to be a ghost? It behoves you to explain this in detail and also exactly.

The Pretas said:

46. Those who take away things under false pretext, those who move away with leavings of food unwashed, and those who are killed by cows and Brāhmaṇas turn out to be Pretas.

47. Those who habitually engage themselves in calumny, men who indulge in perjury, and those who never abide by justice, become Pretas after death.

48. Those men, who defile a lake by throwing into it human faeces, phlegm and urine become Pretas and wander here and there.

49. If, when some gift is made to Brāhmaṇas or sick men or cows, anyone objects to it by proclaiming “Do not give” they become Pretas.

50. If a Brāhmaṇa dies with the food offered by a Śūdra remaining undigested within his belly he certainly becomes a Preta even if he has learned all the six Aṅgas of the Vedas.

51. A man haughty enough to yoke three bullocks to the plough, and that too on the New-Moon day, becomes a Preta.

52. A man who is an atheist who curses and censures (good people, things etc.), who is petty-minded, who does not perform Nitya and Naimìttika rites and who alienates Brāhmaṇas certainly becomes a Preta.

53. A man who commits breach of trust, who slays a Brāhmaṇa, who engages himself in committing the murder of a woman, who kills cows, and who commits patricide becomes a Preta.

54. If the sixteen Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha rites are not offered on behalf of anyone or Vṛṣotsarga (letting free a bull) is not performed to anyone, he becomes a Preta.

55. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, what we were asked has been completely answered. If still you have any doubt ask me again.

Gautama said:

56. What is that sacred rite as a result of which a man can avoid becoming a Preta? Do explain to me this completely. I am curious about it.

The Pretas said:

57. A man who is engaged in pilgrimage, who is devoted to the adoration of deities, and who is always a devotee of Brāhmaṇas, does not become a Preta.

58. He who always listens to the scriptures, who serves learned men and always puts question to the elders (for clearing doubt) never becomes a Preta.

59. It is for this reason that we have come here from afar. But we are unable to enter this excellent holy Kṣetra.

60. We are disgusted with Preta-hood. Hence, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, be our redeemer. O highly esteemed one, endeavour to serve us all.

Gautama said:

61. How shall your release be effected? Tell me in full. With my mind moved with pity. I shall undoubtedly endeavour in this regard.

The Pretas said:

62. It is a long time for which we are in this Preta stage, O Lord. No man comes across our path to be able to redeem us.

63. Hence go to the Vaiṣṇava Kṣetra and offer us Śrāddha mentioning our names and lineage. Thereby we will get released.

Īśvara said:

64. Thereafter, the Brāhmaṇa who was overcome with pity went to Hari’s abode and offered severally the Śrāddha unto each of them.

65. As the excellent Brāhmaṇa performed the Śrāddha unto one, he came to him in dream and spoke these words:

66. “O leading Brāhmaṇa, thanks to your favour. I have been relieved of Preta-hood. Hail unto you! My aerial chariot has come. I shall go.”

67. In this manner he redeemed four excellent Brāhmaṇas.

68. When the fifth day dawned, this excellent Brāhmaṇa duly performed the Śrāddha unto Paryuṣita.

69. In dream he saw Paryuṣita in human form uttering piteous words and frequently sighing in distress.

Paryuṣita said:

70. O Brāhmaṇa, unlucky and sinful that I am, I am not redeemed yet because I had misappropriated the wealth collected for the sake of a lake.

Gautama said:

71. How can your redemption be brought about? Tell me quickly in full, I shall do so even if it is very difficult. There is no doubt about it.

Paryuṣita said:

72. After the advent of Uttarāyaṇa (Northern transit of the Sun) you go to the Tīrtha dear to Hari and offer Śrāddha. Thereby I shall get redemption.

Īśvara said:

73. On being told thus by that Preta, the sage went to the Tīrtha that is Hari’s favourite, during Uttarāyaṇa, and duly offered the Śrāddha to Paryuṣita.

74. At night Paryuṣita appeared to him in dream. He was beaming with pleasure. He was wearing divine garlands. He spoke these words:

Paryuṣita said:

75. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, with your favour, I have become released from the state of Preta. Hail unto you! I shall go. The aerial chariot has come.

76. I have attained divinity. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I am capable (of granting boons). I shall grant you a decent boon. Accept it.

77. Expiation has been laid down by good men in the case of a Brāhmaṇa-slayer, one who imbibes liquor, in regard to a thief, and one who has defaulted in the course of a Vrata. Būt no expiation has been laid down in the case of an ungrateful man.

Gautama said:

78. If a boon has to be granted to me, if you are capable of granting in then I shall have this boon. I shall make my penance-grove at the spot where you all were seen as ghosts in great misery. I shall perform excellent penance.

79-80. I will be going back to my house after taking my holy bath in this great Tīrtha.

A man who, after taking bath devoutly, offers Śrāddha and propitiates gods there in accordance with the injunctions with the Pitṛs in view, shall become holy. With your favour, let there be no Preta-hood in his family even if someone is sinful.

Paryuṣita said:

81. Do go, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, and make a hermitage there. You will attain great Siddhi and will attain renown in the world.

82. A man who devoutly offers Śrāddha there will be excellent. They will ride in the aerial chariot of the Pitṛs and go to heaven.

83-84. None among the members of his family shall attain Preta-hood. Learned men of steadfast intellect say that friendship is formed with seven words (spoken) and seven steps (taken) together. With such a friendship in view, I shall proclaim now which please listen to. Your hermitage and penance-grove shall become a very sacred one on the earth.

85. It shall suppress all sins. It shall be destructive of all miseries. O lord, may this Tīrtha become famous after my name as Preta-Tīrtha.

Īśvara said:

86. “Let it be so” said the excellent Brāhmaṇa and performed all rites in accordance with what has been mentioned in the Vedas.

87-88. O my beloved, Paryuṣita too became delighted and attained heaven. All these events took place in this holy spot named Gātramocana. He who listens to this well, shall be released from all sins. He who visits Puruṣottama at the time of Śayana and Utthāpana at the Gātrotsarga shall attain the benefit of ten thousand Yajñas.