Chapter 65 - Pilgrimage to Kurukṣetra

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Mohinī said:—

1. O leading Brāhmaṇa, what are the forests there? What are the splendid rivers? Kindly recount to me the pilgrimage that bestows Siddhi.

2. Mention to me the Tīrthas that are present in Kurukṣetra that yields merit, since you are my preceptor and bestower of salvation.

Vasu said:—

3. O Mohinī, listen. I shall recount to you the rules of procedure for undertaking the pilgrimage of Kurukṣetra. It bestows merit. By undertaking the pilgrimage, the devotee attains excellent salvation.

4-7. In the middle of Kurukṣetra there are seven holy forests.^[1] I shall mention their names as they are bestowers of merit on men: 1) the Kāmyakavana is meritorious. 2) the Aditivana is very big. 3) Vyāsa’s forest (Vyāsavana) is sacred. 4) So also is Phalakīvana. 5) The Sūryavana is holy. 6) Madhuvana is equally meritorious. 7) Sītāvana is famous and is destructive of sins. Thus there are seven forests here. There are many Tīrthas. The river Sarasvatī is holy. So also is the river Vaitaraṇī. Gaṅgā, Mandākinī (flowing slowly) is also meritorious.

8-9. Another river is Madhusravā. Dṛṣadvatī, Kauśikī and Hairaṇvatī are also sacred.^[2] Excepting Sarasvatī all these rivers are flooded during the rainy season. The waters of these rivers are holy for touching, drinking and plunging.

10a. These rivers are not frothy and foaming in view of the greatness of the sacred holy centre.

10b-11a. The devotee should first go to Rantuka and pay respects to that Yakṣa, the extremely powerful gatekeeper. Only then the pilgrim should begin his pilgrimage.

11b-13a. Thereafter, O auspicious lady, the man should go to the holy Aditivana.^[3] It was here that a great penance was duly performed by Aditi for obtaining sons. By taking holy dip and worshipping Aditi, the mother of the Devas, the lady-devotee gives birth to a great and heroic son endowed with all auspicious characteristic features.

13b-16a. Thereafter, O fair lady, the pilgrim should go to the excellent spot of Viṣṇu that is famous by the name of Vimala.^[4] Lord Hari is present here. By taking holy dip in Vimala and by visiting lord of Vimala the devotee should become (free from impurities). He shall attain the world of discus-bearing lord of the Devas. O Mohinī, there is no doubt about this that by visiting Hari and Baladeva occupying one and the same seat, the devotee shall immediately be liberated from sins.

16b-17. Thereafter, the devotee should go to the Tīrtha Pāriplava^[5] well-known in the worlds. By taking holy dip there and drinking its waters as well as by propitiating a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedas, by means of monetary gifts etc., the devotee shall derive the benefit of Brahma-Yajña.

18. By devoutly taking a holy dip in the place where the sin-destroying confluence of the Kauśikī^[6] is present, O splendid lady, the man attains union with his beloved ones.

19. Thereafter, the man endowed with forbearance should go to the Pṛthivītīrtha and devoutly take holy dip. Thereby, O blessed lady, he attains excellent salvation.

20. The goddess (Earth) forgives the offences committed by a man on the Earth, if that embodied soul takes his holy dip there.

21. By visiting Śiva, the lord of Dakṣa in the holy hermitage Dakṣāśrama, the man obtains the benefit of a horsesacrifice.

22. Thereafter, the devotee shall go to Śālakinī. After taking a holy dip there, he should worship Hari in communion with Hara, for achieving the desired object.

23. The devotee who knows rules of procedure should go to Nāgatīrtha and take holy dip there. By taking in ghee and curds thereafter, he shall attain freedom from the fear of serpents.

24. Thereafter, he should return in the evening to the shrine of Rantuka. Staying there for a night, the devotee should worship the gatekeeper on the next day.

25. The next day he should worship a Brāhmaṇa receiving him with scents and other articles of service and then feed him. Thereafter, he should go to the Tīrtha, Pañcanada, well known in the three worlds.

26-27a. It was here that Śiva gave out five loud shouts, that terrified the Asuras. Hence, the holy centre is famous by the name Pañcanada. It is destructive of all sins. By taking a holy dip there and making charitable gifts, the man becomes fearless.

27b-29a. Thereafter, he should go to Koṭitīrtha, O Mohinī, where a crore of Tīrtha were brought as installed by Rudra the Great Ātman. By taking the holy dip in that Tīrtha and by visiting Hara, Koṭīśvara (the lord of crores) the devotee shall attain the merit originating from five Yajñas ever since that day.

29b-30a. It was here alone that lord Vāmana was installed by all Devas.

30b. Hence by worshipping him the devotee shall derive the benefit of Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.

31a. Thereafter, he should go to Aśvitīrtha. By having faith and mastering sense-organs as well as by taking holy dip therein, the man shall become renowned and handsome.

31b-32a. Then he should go to the Varāhatīrtha created by Viṣṇu. By taking holy dip therein with faith, the man shall attain good goal.

32b-33. Thereafter, O fairfaced lady, he should go to Soma tīrtha^[7] where Soma (the moon) performed penance and became free from ailments. The devotee should like his holy plunge therein. By giving a cow as gift there, he shall attain the benefit of Rājasūya sacrifice.

34. By worshipping Bhuteśvara, Jvālāmāleśvara and Tāṇḍaliṅga, the devotee shall never have rebirth.

35. By taking a holy dip in Ekahaṃsa, the man shall attain the benefit of charitable gift of a thousand cows. By taking holy bath in Kṛtaśauca the man shall attain the benefit of sacrifice called Puṇḍarīka

36. Thereafter, the devotee should go to the holy centre of the trident-bearing lord, called Muñjavaṭa. By observing fast for a night and worshipping Īśa he shall be the lord of Gaṇas.

37. The devotee should propitiate the female Yakṣiṇī stationed at the threshold by observing fast, taking the holy dip and worshipping. For quelling great sins, he should feed the Brāhmaṇas.

38. He shall circumambulate them. Thereafter, he shall go to Puṣkara. By taking a bath and by worshipping the Pitṛs, he shall have his objects accomplished.

39. If any one offers the gift of a virgin (i.e. if he gives a virgin away in marriage) there on the fullmoon day of Kārttika, the deities will be delighted and give him the desired benefit.

40. Kapila, the great Yakṣa, is stationed here as the gatekeeper. He creates obstacles in the commission of sins (to the sinners). He grants merit too.

41-42a His highly blessed wife Ūkhalamekhalā continuously beats the Dundubhi drum and wanders every where. She prevents sinners from taking bath. She leads the meritorious ones.

42B-43 Thereafter, the devotee shall go to Rāmahrada.^[8] By taking a holy dip therein duly and by worshipping the Devas, Pitṛs and sages the devotee shall attain worldly pleasures and liberation. By worshipping Paraśurāma faithfully and by making gift of gold, the devotee shall become rich.

44. By going to Vaṃśamūla Tīrtha and by taking the holy bath therein, the devotee shall uplift his own race. By taking the holy dip in Kāyaśodhanaka (that which purifies the body) the devotee’s body shall become pure and he shall enter Hari.

45. The devotee shall go to Lokoddhāra. By taking bath and worshipping Janārdana, he shall attain the permanent world where the eternal Viṣṇu abides.

46. He should then go to Śrītīrtha and after taking bath should worship the excellent Śālagrāma. Thereby, he sees Hari present continuously near him.

47. After reaching Kapilahrada, he should take a holy bath and worship Devas and Pitṛs. Thereby, he derives the merit of a thousand tawny-coloured cows.

48. By duly worshipping Kapila, the lord of the universe, O gentle lady, the devotee shall be duly greeted by Devas and he shall derive the region of Śiva himself.

49. Thereafter, observing fast, he should worship the sun in the Sūryatīrtha. After attaining the benefit of Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, he shall go to heaven.

50. Gaṇapati himself is stationed at the entrance to a crevice into the Earth. By visiting him and duly worshipping him, the devotee shall attain the benefit of a Yajña.

51. By taking a holy dip in the Tīrtha of Goddess, a man obtains excellent features. By taking holy dip Brahmāvarta, a man attains perfect knowledge of the Brahman.

52. By taking holy dip in Sutīrthaka and by worshipping Devas, sages, Pitṛs and human beings, a man obtains the benefit of a horse-sacrifice.

53. By performing holy bath in the Tīrtha of Kāmeśvara with faith, the devotee shall be liberated from all ailments. He shall attain the eternal Brahman.

54. By taking a holy dip and worshipping with faith in the Mātṛtīrtha the family flourishes till the eleventh generation. Excellent prosperity increases.

55. Thereafter, the devotee should go to Śītāvana.^[9] O auspicious lady, there is a great Tīrtha there. By its mere vision, it sanctifies twenty-one generations.

56-57. By casting off the tresses of hair there, the devotee becomes liberated from sins. The Tīrtha named Daśāśvame- dhika is well known in all the three worlds. By seeing that Tīrtha one shall be liberated from sins. Thereafter, he shall go to the Tīrtha called Mānuṣa^[10] and take the holy bath.

58-59. O daughter of god Brahmā, if one wishes for a human birth once again one shall take bath in the Tīrtha Mānuṣa. The river Mahānadī three kilometres from the Mānuṣa Tīrtha is well known. After taking bath there in accordance with the injunctions, the devotee should feed excellent Brāhmaṇa on Śyāmāka rice cooked in milk.

60-61a. His sins perish. He attains salvation by performing the rite of Śrāddha to the Pitṛs. At midday on the fourteenth, day during the Pitṛpakṣa (the dark fortnight dedicated to the manes) called Mahalaya in the month of Bhadrapada, the devotee shall offer Piṇḍas. Thereby, he shall attain liberation.

61b-62a. Thereafter, he should go to Brahmā’s spot Brahmodumbaraka. He who takes a holy dip in the pools of Brahmarṣis (Brahmanical sages) obtains the benefit of Somayāga.

62b-63a. By worshipping Sthāṇu accompanied by Daṇḍin in the Tīrtha called Vṛddhakedāraka the man attains the power of vanishing at will.

63b-64a. Thereafter, the devotee should go to Kalaśī where the goddess herself is present. By taking a holy dip here and worshipping Ambikā, one shall cross the ocean of worldly existence.

64b-65. By visiting lord Maheśvara at Saraka on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month, the man endowed with faith, shall attain the region of Śiva. O beautiful lady, there are three classes of Tīrthas at Saraka.

66-67a. The Rudrakoṭi (the crore of Rudras) is stationed in the well in the middle of the lake. The man who takes bath in that lake and remembers Rudrakoṭī is meritorious. There is no doubt about this that Rudrakoṭi it worshipped by him.

67b-69a. There is another Tīrtha there itself, viz. īhāspapadam [Īhāspada][?] (Basis for desire). It is destructive of sins. By its mere sight a man attains liberation. By worshipping Devas and Pitṛs, the man wards off mishaps. He shall obtain everything mentally thought of.

69b-70a. There is a great Tīrtha called Kedāra. It is destructive of all sins. By taking a holy bath there, the man shall achieve the benefit of all gifts.

70b-71a. There is a great lake of very clear water to the east of Saraka. It is well known by the name “Anyajanma” (another birth), where the lord Hari and Hara are present. Viṣṇu stands there in his four-armed form, while Śiva abides there in the form of a Liṅga. By performing holy ablution there in visiting and eulogising the deity, the man obtains liberation.

71b-73a. Thereafter, the devotee shall go to Nāgahrada and take a holy dip towards the end of the bright half of the month of Caitra. By offering Śrāddha, he attains liberation. He never sees the world of Yama.

73b-75. Thereafter, the devotee shall go to the Tīrtha Triviṣṭapa that is resorted to by the Devas. There is a holy river Vaitaraṇī there. It liberates one from sins. By taking a holy dip and worshipping the trident-bearing and bull-emblemed deity, he shall purify his soul of all sins. He will definitely attain the greatest goal (Mokṣa). By taking holy dip in the Rasāvarta the man attains excellent Siddhi.

76. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra, the devotee should take a holy dip in the Vilepaka and worship Śiva devoutly. Thereby he is liberated from all sins.

77. Thereafter, O gentle lady, the man should go to the excellent Phalakīvana^[11] where Devas perform great penance along with the Gandharvas.

78. By taking a holy dip in the river Dṛṣadvatī there in accordance with the injunctions and by performing the rite of Tarpaṇa to the Devas and Pitṛs. the man shall attain the benefit of Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra sacrifices.

79. On the new-moon day or on Lunar-day (Full-moon day (?) the man shall perform Śrāddha rite there. He attains an excellent benefit thereby on a par with that of Gayāśrāddha.

80a. That is the benefit of the Śrāddha. The remembrance of the forest yields satisfaction to the Pitṛs.

80b-81a. Thereafter, the devotee shall go to the Tīrtha Pāṇighāṭa and perform the rite of Tarpaṇas to the Pitṛs. Thereby he attains the benefit of Rājasūya and of Sāṅkhya and Yoga as well.

81b-82a. Then the man should perform bath in the Tīrtha Miśraka in accordance with the injunctions. Thereby he attains the benefit of all the Tīrthas and attains excellent salvation.

82b-83a. Thereafter he should go to Vyāsavana^[12] and take a holy dip in the Tīrtha Manojava. By visiting the lord Manīṣin he shall attain whatever is mentally thought of.

83b-84a. After going to the Madhuvana, he should take a holy bath in the Tīrtha of the goddess and be pure. By worshipping Devas and sages, he attains an excellent Siddhi.

84b-85a. The man shall take a holy plunge in the Tīrtha, the confluence of Kauśikī and Dṛṣadvatī. If he observes restraints and restricts his diet, he shall be liberated from all sins.

85b-86. Thereafter, the devotee should go to Vyāsa- sthalī. It was here that the intelligent Vyāsa, overwhelmed by grief at the bereavement of his son, decided on casting off his body. He was resuscitated to life by Devas. By going to that holy spot, the man is rid of his grief-

87. After going to the well of Kinduśū kūpa the devotee should make a gift of a Prastha measure of gingelly seeds. Thereby, he attains the greatest Siddhi. If he dies there, he shall attain liberation.

88. Two Tīrthas are well-known over the Earth Viz. Āhna and Mudita. By taking a holy dip therein and purifying the soul, the devotee shall attain the world of Sun.

89. Thereafter, he should go to the Tīrtha Mṛgamucya on the Gaṅgā. By bowing down and worshipping Mahādeva, the devotee shall attain the benefit of a horse-sacrifice.

90. Thereafter, he should go to Koṭitīrtha. By taking a holy dip, by visiting Śivakoṭīśvara and by eulogising him faithfully, he shall attain the benefit of a crore of sacrifices.

91-92. Thereafter, the devotee shall go to Vāmanakuṇḍa^[13] well-known in the three worlds. It was here that Vāmana his birth with the desire to destroy Bali’s Yajña. By taking the holy bath at Viṣṇupāda therein and by worshipping Vāmana, the devotee shall be freed of all sins. He is honoured in the world of Viṣṇu.

93-94. The hermitage Jyeṣṭhāśrama is destructive of all sins. The devotee should observe fast on the eleventh day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha. On the next day, he should perform ablution therein in accordance with the injunctions. Thereby, he attains the greatest excellence among men. O gentle lady, the Śrāddha performed there gives great satisfaction to the Pitṛs.

95. There itself is the Koṭitīrtha well known in the three worlds. By taking a holy dip in that Tīrtha he shall obtain the benefit of a crore of sacrifices.

96. By duly worshipping Maheśvara, the lord of the Devas, named Koṭīśvara, the devotee shall attain chieftancy of the Gaṇas.

97a. By taking a holy dip in the Sūryatīrtha the devotee shall attain the world of the Sun.

97b-98a. Going to the Tīrtha called Kulottāraṇaka. and taking a holy dip therein, the devotee uplifts his family. He then stays in heaven till the end of Kalpa.

98b-99a. By taking a holy dip in the Deep pool of the Wind-God and by visiting lord Maheśvara, the devotee shall be liberated from all sins and attain Śiva’s region.

99b. By taking a holy dip in the Hanumattīrtha the man shall attain liberation.

100. By taking a holy dip in the Tīrtha of the saintly- king Śālahotra the devotee shall be devoid of sins. By taking the holy dip in the Tīrtha of the Sarasvatī named Śrīkumbha the man shall attain the benefit of Yajña.

101. By taking the holy dip in the Naimiṣakuṇḍa the devotee attains the merit of ablution in the Naimiṣa. By taking a holy bath in the Vedavatī tīrtha a woman shall attain the Status of Satī (Pārvatī).

102. By taking a holy dip in the Brahma Tīrtha a man obtains. Brāhmaṇa-hood. This is the greatest spot of Brahmā. By going there none comes to grief.

103. By taking a holy dip in Somatīrtha, a man shall attain heavenly goal. By going to and by having a holy dip in the seven Sārasvata Tīrthas the man shall attain liberation.

104-105. The seven Sarasvatīs viz Suprabhā, Kāñcanākṣī, Viśālā, Manoharī, Sunandā, Suveṇu and Vimalodakā join together there. By taking a holy bath in the Auśanasa Tīrtha, the devotee shall be freed from all sins.

106. By taking a holy dip in the Kapālamocana even a Brāhmaṇa-slayer becomes pure. A man who takes a holy dip in the Vaiśvāmitra Tīrtha shall attain Brāhmaṇa-hood.

107. By taking the holy dip in the Pṛthūdaka^[14] one is liberated from worldly bondage. By taking a holy dip in the Avakīrṇa a man attains the benefit of celibacy.

108. One who goes to Madhusrāva and takes a holy bath shall be liberated from sins. By taking the holy dip in the Vasiṣṭhatīrtha, the devotee attains the world of Vasiṣṭha.

109. By taking a holy bath in the confluence of Aruṇā and by observing fast for three days, the devotee attains liberation. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.

110. O auspicious lady, there are four seas there. One who takes a holy dip there attains the benefit of the gift of a thousand cows. He is honoured in the heavenly world.

111. There is another Somatīrtha there. O Mohinī, by taking holy bath in that on the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra, and by performing Śrāddha, one shall uplift the Pitṛs.

112. By taking a holy dip in the Pañcavaṭa and by duly worshipping Śiva who has assumed the Yogic form, the devotee rejoices along with the Devas.

113. One who takes a holy dip in the Kurutīrtha shall attain all Siddhis. The man who takes a plunge in the Svargadvāra, is honoured in the heavenly world.

114a. One who takes bath in the Tīrtha Anaraka is liberated from all sins.

114b-115a. O gentle lady, thereafter, the man should go to the excellent forest Kāmyaka Vana.^[15] The moment he enters, he is liberated from all accumulations of sins.

115b-116a. After reaching Ādityavana, if he visits (the deity) he will be liberated. By taking holy dip there on a Sunday, the devotee shall attain everything desired.

116b. By taking a holy dip in the Yajñopavītika Tīrtha, the devotee shall attain the benefit of maintaining his own duty.

117. Thereafter, the excellent man shall take a holy dip in the Tīrtha Catuḥpravāha. Thereby, he attains the benefit of all Tīrthas and rejoices in heaven like a Deva.

118. One who takes bath in the Tīrtha Vihāra shall attain all happiness. By taking a holy dip in the Durgā Tīrtha a man never faces misfortunes.

119. Thereafter, the devotee should take bath in the well Sarasvatī also known as Pitṛ-Tīrtha, and perform the Tarpaṇa rite to the Devas and others; thereby he shall attain excellent salvation.

120. By taking a holy dip in the Prācī Sarasvatī^[16] (Eastern Sarasvatī) and by performing the Śrāddha rites in accordance with the injunctions, the devotee shall attain even inaccessible desires. At the time of death, he shall attain heavenly goal.

121-22a. By taking a holy dip in the Śukra Tīrtha and offering Śrāddha a man shall uplift the Pitṛs. He should observe fast on the eighth or the fourteenth day particularly in the dark half of the month of Caitra and take bath in the Brahma Tīrtha. Undoubtedly he will attain liberation.

122b-123. Thereafter, he shall take bath in the Sthāṇu- Tīrtha and visit the Sthāṇuvṛṣa. The man thereby is liberated from terrible sins. So says Pitāmaha. By visiting the Sthāṇu- liṅga the pilgrimage becomes complete.

124. O goddess, the pilgrimage of the holy centre Kurukṣetra is thus complete. Truth and nothing but the truth is uttered by me. There has never been and there never will be a Tīrtha like Kurukṣetra.

125a. By undertaking twelve such pilgrimages the devotee is not born again.

125b-126a. Holy rites and laudable public works like digging tanks, wells, penances, Homas, duly given charitable gifts etc. at that place, everything shall be everlasting. They who know the Vedas know this.

126b-127. One who takes a holy dip on the inaugural days of Manvantaras and Yugas, during lunar and solar eclipses during the transits of the sun, on Mahāpāta period and on other holy occasions shall attain infinite benefits.

128. It is for the purification of sins of noble souls, originating from the Kali age that the pleasant Tīrtha of Kurukṣetra has been created by Brahmā.

129. He too who glorifies this sacred story that destroys sins, or the man who devoutly listens to this, is liberated from sins

130. In every birth, the man shall always attain whatever he gives away at Kurukṣetra at the time of solar eclipse.

131. Now, of what avail is much talk? O daughter of Brahmā, listen to this decision. If one wishes for deliverance from worldly bondage, one shall of necessity resort to Kurukṣetra.

132. This is the greatest merit. This is the greatest penance. This alone is the greatest perfect knowledge if one goes to the Sthāṇutīrtha.

133. There is no other Tīrtha on the Earth as splendid as Kurukṣetra. Whether one adheres to the Ācāras or not (i.e. discipline of castes and stages of life) one attains liberation there.

134-135. O sinless lady, what I have been asked, I have told you entirely, about the greatness of Kurukṣetra that destroys sins. It is meritorious. It bestows salvation. What else do you wish to hear?

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

 The Vāmanapurāṇa 34-37 confirms the list of seven forests in Kurukṣetra as given by Nārada-purāṇa. here. But today there is no trace of a single forest, though the names of some villages (e. g. Kamodā for Kāmyakavana, Pharal for Phalakī-vana) are popularly believed to be the sites of those forests.

[2]:

The Vāmanapurāṇa 39. 6-8 confirms this list of so-called rivers. Tṇḍay even the great Sarasvati of Vedic and Purāṇic fame has a bare existence. Verse 10a below euphemistically suggests that these rivers were dry even in the days of the Nārada Purāṇa.

[3]:

Now there is no jungle but it is believed that its site was near the village Amin where there is Aditi Tīrtha. Amin is at a distance of 5 miles from Kurukṣetra on the Delhi-Ambala line Kalyāṇa-Tīrthāṅka, p. 78),

[4]:

Now-a-days a small eminence near Viṣṇupada is called Vimala and is regarded as the hermitage of sage Vimala (Kalyāṇa 31. 1 P. 82) but at the time of the Nārada-purāṇa. both Viṣṇupada and Vimala seem to have been identical.

[5]:

Mentioned as a famous Tīrtha at Kurukṣetra in Mahābhārata Vana. 83.12 and in VmP. (Vāmana P.) 34.17.

[6]:

This is a different river from modem Kosi and the one mentioned in Gayāmāhātmya. Its confluence with the Dṛsaḍvati is regarded as holy in VmP. 34.18 and the same confluence is implied here.

[7]:

It is probably the tank to the South of Amin mentioned also in the Mahābhārata Vana 83.114, VmP. 41.4.

Many of the sub-Tīrthas mentioned in the Nārada-purāṇa. are the same as in the Mahābhārata Vana and also in VmP. In fact many lines are borrowed verbatim from Mahābhārata by Nārada-purāṇa. Thus Nārada-purāṇa. V. 3 5=MM Vana 83. 20b-21a, Nārada-purāṇa. V. 36 = Mahābhārata Vana 83. 21b-22a. Such borrowings are found in all Purāṇas.

[8]:

 This is to the north of Thaneswar, Mahābhārata Vana 83. 26-40 tells us that originally five tanks were filled with the blood of Kṣattriyas by Paraśurāma for the Tarpaṇa to his ancestors and at his request they transformed them into Tīrthas; also vide Padmapurāṇa. I. 26. 23-37.

[9]:

Probably the same as Śītā-Vana mentioned as the seventh holy forest in Kurukṣetra in VmP. 34. 7. The village Sīvana is supposed to be on its site. Sītā, the queen of Rāma, has no association with Kurukṣetra as per Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa

[10]:

It is also glorified in VmP. 35. 50-56, Padmapurāṇa. I. 26. 60-63.

[11]:

There is no jungle now, but the village Pharal is regarded as the site of Phalakī Vana.

[12]:

No jungle now. Its site is now occupied by the village Vārasā to the south of Karnal-Kaithal road. This is different from Vyāsasthalī in Verses 85-86 below, where Vyāsa tried to commit suicide (mentioned in Padmapurāṇa. I. 26.90-91).

[13]:

Mentioned in Mahābhārata Vana 83.103, 88.130. Padmapurāṇa. I. 26.96. A Vāmana-Kuṇḍa (a pool) is now shown at its site (Kalyāṇa 31. 1 P. 81)

[14]:

Pṛthūdaka is the famous holy place Pehoa or Pehova, Kamal Dist. It is highly valued in Mahābhārata Vana 83. 142-149 and in Śalya Parva 39. 33-34. Also in Padmapurāṇa Svarga, 27.31, 38, 39. Vāmana Purāṇa calls it Brahmayoni- Tīrtha (39. 20, 23).

[15]:

The site of the forest is occupied by the village Kamodhā. It is three miles from Jyotisaras to the south of the Pehova road.

[16]:

It is so called as the Sarasvatī turned to the east at this place. Today ṃcrc is only a tank of that name where pilgrims performed Tarpaṇa to the ancestors. The surrounding relics testify to its glorious past.