Chapter 58 - End of Arjuna’s Pilgrimage

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: This chapter explains why the holy place Mahī-Sāgara-Saṅgama was not famous as other sacred places like Kāśī, Prayāga etc. It appears that even at the time of writing this Purāṇa by the anonymous writer of KK, this place was neglected and temple-buildings were in a dilapidated condition and were shown to have been repaired or restructured by Princess Kumārī (Barkareśvarī). The story of the curse to this holy place is invented to explain its obscurity and negligence by the public.

Arjuna enquired:

1. Why is this holy spot a Guptakṣetra (‘a secret well-guarded holy spot’)? Why is it a secret, O Nārada? Its great power has never been told to anyone (else).

Nārada replied:

2. Listen, O son of Pāṇḍu, to the old story about the name Guptakṣetra, and how this (spot) became concealed and secret due to a curse.

3. Formerly, for some reason, the presiding deities of all the Tīrthas collectively went to the assembly-chamber of Brahmā in order to pay obeisance to the god.

4-7. There were the (presiding) deities of Puṣkara, Prabhāsa, Nimiṣa, Arbuda, Kurukṣetra and the holy Dharmāraṇya. There were the deities of Vastrāpatha, Śveta and Phalgutīrtha, of Kedāra and crores of other Tīrthas as well. There were the presiding deities of the confluence of Sindhu and the sea, of Mahī-Sāgara and Gaṅgā and Sāgara. There were the deities of Sūkara (i.e. Varāhakṣetra) and the rivers, the chief of whom were Gaṅgā and Revā. There were the deities of all the whirlpools, the chief of whom was Śoṇa Hrada.

8. They came in groups in order to know their (comparative) excellence. Those deities who were free from impurities came to the great assembly of Brahmā.

9. On seeing that all the Tīrthas had come, Pitāmaha stood up along with all the members of the assembly.

10. After bowing down to all the Tīrthas, the Lord (Brahmā) with his eyes glistening due to surprise and beaming like full blown (lotus), addressed them with palms joined in reverence:

11. “Today our entire abode has been highly sanctified by you all. We too have been purified by meeting you all.

12. Seeing the Tīrthas is conducive to welfare. So also their touch, holy bath in them. Their glorification and recollection cannot take place without great merit.

13. Even those who are very ruthless, terrible and contaminated by great sins are sanctified by the Tīrthas. All the more so in the case of those who are established in Dharma (i.e. abide by all sorts of pious and devout activities).”

14. After saying this, he commanded his son Pulastya, “Bring Arghya quickly for the sake of these Tīrthas so that I shall honour them.”

Pulastya said:

15-17. O Lotus-born Lord, innumerable Tīrthas are seen here (yet) as you order me, O dear father, I shall bring only one Arghya. For in the Texts on Dharma, this verse occurs: “If there be innumerable persons worthy of being offered Arghya and adored, it should be offered to only one who is the most distinguished and excellent among them.”

Brahmā said:

18. O dear son, the words uttered by you are very significant and well said. Do so. Bring only a single Arghya very quickly.

Nārada said:

19. Thereupon Pulastya quickly brought the excellent Arghya. Brahmā took it up in his hands and spoke these words to the Tīrthas:

20. “Let one chief among you be declared jointly by you all. I shall offer Arghya to him. Thus (the fault of) unfairness will not accrue to me.”

The Tīrthas said:

21. We do not know at all our relative superiority. That was why we have come here. You understand it yourself and hence may decide the same.

Brahmā said:

22-24. I do not know in any way the superiority among you. Obeisance to you all. It behoves you all to let me know your own respective boundless superiority. How can we judge in the presence of such great ones as Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kāśī, Puṣkara, Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Revā, Mahī-sāgara-saṅgama and hundreds of Tīrthas like Prabhāsa etc.?

Nārada said:

25. When this was stated by the Lotus-born Lord, no one said anything. After a long time Maḥi-sāgara-saṅgama said:

26. “O Four-faced Lord, quickly offer the Arghya unto me, since no one can (compete) even with one croreth of my portion.

27. When the earth was being scorched by king Indradyumna, the river named Mahī took its origin with all the Tīrthas melted into it.

28. That river is the collective form of all the Tīrthas. They are united with me. Hence I too am identical with all the Tīrthas and well-known in the three worlds as such.

29. Guha (i.e. Skanda) installed the great Liṅga of Īśvara named Kumāreśvara. I have been given the status of the chief among the Tīrthas by the noble-souled Guha himself.

30. Nārada established the splendid sacred place on my banks. Formerly I have been given the status of being the most excellent among all the holy spots by Nārada himself.

31. Thus for three excellent reasons, let the Arghya be given to me. No other Tīrtha is on a par with even a part of (my) quality (sanctity).”

32. When this was spoken by the king of Tīrthas, O son of Pṛthā, O descendant of Bharata, no one said anything as they waited for what Brahmā might say.

33. Thereupon Dharma, the eldest son of Brahmā, smeared with white unguents and wearing white garlands, lifted his right hand and spoke these words:

34. “Alas! This is painful and ill-said by the king of Tīrthas out of delusion, since one’s own good qualities should not be spoken of by oneself even if they be real. They should never be mentioned by good people.

35. If during the state of affluence, anyone disdains others and proclaims his own good qualities, this is egotism of Rajas nature. It is reprehensible.

36. Hence despite the existence of good qualities, this Tīrtha will remain unknown and in a ruined condition on account of this egotism.

37. It may be known as Staṃbhatīrtha, since it has become boastful. Even Brahmā obtained the (evil) consequence of boastfulness immediately. What to say of others?”

38. When this was uttered by Lord Dharma, a loud exclamation “Hā! Hā!” (Alas! Alas!) was heard. Thereupon the Lord of Yogins (i.e. Guha) and I came to the spot, O son of Pāṇḍu.

39-40. Approaching Lord Dharma, Guha spoke these words: “It is highly improper, O Dharma, to give this curse out of impudence and rudeness. Let anyone among the Tīrthas say whether this Mahī-sāgara-saṅgama does or does not deserve this exalted magnificence.

41. It is true, that his own good quality was proclaimed by the king of Tīrthas. But what is the fault here? For otherwise making a false statement becomes a good quality!

42. It is not proper on the part of the protectors (of people) to take such actions without proper reflection. If they do so, to whom can the subjects resort?”

43-44. When this was spoken by Guha, Dharma spoke these words: “This is true that Mahī-sāgara-saṅgama is a worthy one deserving the honour of being the chief among all the Tīrthas and the Arghya (worship) from Pitāmaha (i.e. Brahmā). But one’s own good qualities should not be proclaimed by oneself. This is the perpetual vow of good people. Self-praise, even indirectly will unseat even Brahmā.

45-48. Did not Yayāti formerly fall from heaven on to the earth because he boasted about himself along with remarks disparaging to others?

The standards formerly fixed by the wise Īśa (i.e. Śiva) should be honoured by us. What sensible man will transgress them?

It is for this purpose that your father has commanded and appointed us. We have maintained it. īf Lords like you do as you please, this is forsaken by us, Let some other person be assigned.”

After saying this, he was about to set aside his seaī of authority. I then thought over the point at issue and spoke thus:

49-54. “Obeisance to great Dharma, to the noble-souled creator of the universe, to the Lord perpetually adored by Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, to the destroyer of sins. If, O Dharma, you lay down your seal of authority for any reason, what shall be our state? O Lord, do not ruin the universe. It behoves you to honour Guha, the Lord of Yogins, since the son of Śiva must be personally and directly honoured like Śiva. It behoves Guha the Lord and master to honour you. Thanks to the unity between you two, the universe shall live happily. Let not the curse pronounced by you on the king of Tīrthas, O bestower of honour, be a repudiation of the king of Tīrthas. Let it be made a blessing.”

55-56. Even as I uttered this, the Lotus-born Lord praised me and said, “What has been said by Nārada is relevant. O Dharma, carry out his suggestion. Honour Guha since Guha is our master.”

When this was spoken by Brahmā, Dharma spoke these words:

57-58. “Obeisance to Guha, the Siddha, of whom we are the servants. O Lord Skanda, listen attentively to this submission of mine. This great Tīrtha will become unknown and lose its fame due to its boastfulness. But known as Staṃbhatīrtha it will become very famous.

59-65. It will be well-known as Staṃbhatīrtha^[1] and yield the benefit of all the Tīrthas. If any man performs charitable rites or holy ablution here, he will have all those benefits exactly as mentioned.

Listen attentively to the benefit of the pilgrimage to Mahī-sāgara when the New-Moon day falls on a Saturday. It is equal to the following: ten pilgrimages to Prabhāsa, seven to Puṣkara, eight to Prayāga, five to Kurukṣetra, three to Vastrāpatha, five to Gaṅgā, four to Kūpodarī, six to Kāśī and five to Godāvarī. That is the benefit of (the pilgrimage to) Staṃbhatīrtha on a New-Moon day coinciding with Saturday.”

When the boon was granted thus, Skanda became delighted in his mind.

66. With great concentration, Brahmā offered Arghya (worship) to Staṃbhatīrtha. The Lord of unmeasured splendour granted it the status of being the most excellent one among all the Tīrthas.

67-68. He honoured the Tīrthas and Lord Guha and bade farewell to them. Such is the legend indicating the origin of the name Guptakṣetra. Again, for increasing its reputation celestial damsels were sent here by me. They have been liberated from the state of being crocodiles, O scion of the family of Kuru, by you.

69-70. That is because your birth as well as that of Kṛṣṇa in this world is for the sake of protecting all forms of Dharma.

The great benefit of all the Tīrthas has been recounted to you. On hearing this from the beginning a person is liberated from all sins.

Sūta said:

71. On hearing this. Vijaya (i.e. Arjuna) the intelligent one, was very much surprised. He praised (Nārada). On being bidden farewell by Nārada and others he went to Dvārakā.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Popular etymology of Staṃbhatīrtha, modem Khambayat (Cambay). The fact is that the first settlement of Śaivite Brahmins was established on the virgin pillar-like well-protected cliffs, stambha from Ved. Skambha meaning ‘a pillar’. Hence the name Staṃbhatīrtha, ‘The holy place of the pillar’. VV 57-60 are only a poetic explanation. Staṃbha implies haughtiness of the Tīrtha for which it was cursed to remain unknown and in a ruined condition (vide vv 36-37).