Chapter 109 - The greatness of sacred spots (tīrtha-māhātmya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1-4. I shall describe the greatness of all sacred spots [tīrtha] which confer enjoyment and emancipation. One, whose hands, feet and mind are well-disciplined and one who possesses learning, austerity and penance, reaps the fruits of pilgrimage. One who has restrained from accepting alms, one who eats less, one who has conquered his senses, one who is devoid of sins, such a person on pilgrimage would get the fruits of all sacrificial rites. One would be born as poor, if he has not fasted three nights, had not gone on pilgrimage and had not given gold and cows as gift. Whatever fruit is got by doing sacrificial rites will be gained by going on pilgrimage.

5. O Brahmin! Puṣkara is the excellent sacred spot [tīrtha]. One should dwell there at least for three nights. There are thousand crores of sacred places in Puṣkara.

6. Lord Brahmā resides here along with celestials. The sages who desire for everything and the celestials have had perfection here after bathing and worshipping the ancestors and celestials.

7. They attain the fruits of performing Aśvamedha rite and reach Brahmaloka. One who gifts food in (the month of) Kārttika, gets free from sins and reaches Brahmaloka.

8. It is difficult to go to Puṣkara and the austerity at Puṣkara is still more difficult. It is difficult to give gift at Puṣkara and it is still more difficult to stay at Puṣkara.

9. One elevates hundreds of manes by staying therein, by repetition (of divine names) and by doing ancestoral rites. The path to Jambū also lies therein, as also the sacred spot [tīrtha] of Taṇḍulikāśrama.

10-11. The Kaṇvāśrama, Koṭitīrtha, (river) Narmadā, Arbuda, Carmaṇvatī, Sindhu, Somanātha, Prabhāsa, confluence of (river) Sarasvatī at the ocean, the ocean, Piṇḍāraka, Dvārakā and Gomatī yield all fruits.

12-13. The Bhūmitīrtha, Brahmatuṅga and the (land of) five rivers, the king of mountains, Devikā, the destroyer of sins, the meritorious Vinaśana, Nagodbheda, the destroyer of sins the Kumārakoṭi are spoken as bestowers of all benefits.

14. Whoever always says, “I will go to Kurukṣetra and live, therein”, becomes free of sin and goes to heaven.

15. The gods Viṣṇu and others dwell there. (One who) lives therein reaches lord Viṣṇu. One who bathes in the river Sarasvatī and Sannihata reaches the region of Brahmā.

16. Even the dust particles at Kurukṣetra confer excellent position. The Dharmatīrtha, Suvarṇa and Haridvāra are excellent places.

17. The sacred places Kanakhala and Bhadrakarṇahrada are meritorious. The confluence of the rivers Ganges and Sarasvatī and the Brahmāvarta destroy sins.

18. The Bhṛgutuṅga, Kubjāmra and the place of origin of Ganges destroy sins. Vārāṇasī is an excellent sacred spot. Avimukta is unsurpassed.

19. The sacred Kapālamocana and Prayāga, the excellent sacred spot, the confluence of Gomatī and Gaṅgā and (the river) Gaṅgā throughout do not confer hell.

20. The sacred Rājagṛha is meritorious. Śālagrāma removes sins. Vaṭeśa, the sacred Vāmana and the confluence of Kālikā are excellent places.

21. Lauhitya, (river) Karatoyā, Śoṇa, Ṛṣabha (hills) are excellent places. Śrīparvata, Kolbagiri, Sahyādri and Malayagiri (are sacred).

22. The rivers Godāvarī, Tuṅgabhadrā, Kāverī, Tāpī, Payoṣṇī and Revā are the bestowers (of fruits). The Daṇḍaka forest is excellent.

23. Kālañjara, Muñjavaṭa, Sūrpāraka, (river) Mandākinī, Citrakūṭa and Śṛṅgaverapura are excellent spots.

24. Avantī is an excellent place. Ayodhyā destroys one’s sins. Naimiṣa is an excellent place which yields enjoyment and liberation.