Chapter 6 - The Greatness of Vasudhārā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: [Vasudhārā is] a waterfall four miles north of Badrīnāth near the village Manal. It is the source of Alakanandā, a tributary of Gaṅgā. (Dc 3, 26)

Skanda asked:

1. O my father Maheśvara, kindly recount to me the greatness of that Tīrtha where the skull dropped down from your hand.

Jaimini said:

2. This Tīrtha is a great secret. It is bowed down to by Suras and Asuras. Merely by bathing therein even a man guilty of the murder of a Brāhmaṇa becomes purified.

3. There are five Tīrthas in the holy place named Kapālamocana

which rids one of all the sins. Penance, charitable gifts and holy ablution therein (the merit accrued from) everything is expected to be inexhaustible.

4. By making rice-balls duly (and offering them to Pitṛs) one can redeem the Pitṛs from hell. This is called Pitṛtīrtha, eight times more meritorious than Gayā.

5. By the libation of water and gingelly seeds, the Pitṛs go to the excellent heaven.

6. If the devotee is steadily engaged in Japa day and night with concentration and mental purity, the fulfilment of his desire shall be great and instantaneous.

7. All the holy rites pertaining to the other world are unobstructed in the Tīrtha called Kapālamocana. Nothing more remains to be done about Pitṛs.

Skanda said:

8. Where is this Brahmatīrtha? Of what sort is its benefit? Who stay there? Kindly recount this to me, O father.

Śiva said:

9-10. Once Madhu and Kaiṭabha carried away the Vedas from the lotus-like mouth of Prajāpati who was stationed in the lotus coming out through the navel of Viṣṇu. They went away. Then the Lotus-born Lord got up from his bed and was desirous of creating (the universe). But without the Vedas he could not create the world. His power of memory was affected.

11. Then he came to Badarikā guarded by Han. Bending his head down, he eulogized the eternal Lord.

12-14. Then, from the holy pit rose up the horse-headed Lord equipped with his own weapons. He was clad in yellow robes. He was white in complexion. He had four arms and very proud eyes. He was very wonderful in his features, with prominently keen eyes. He resembled a cloud tinged with moving lustre. By his own refulgence he had subdued all sorts of lustres. Endowed with mercy he appeared in front of Brahmā. On seeing him Brahmā became agitated with surprise. With his delight evident in his eyes he bowed down and eulogized him.

Brahmā said:

15. Obeisance to you having the lotus in your navel. Bow to you, O support of Kamalā (Goddess of fortune). Obeisance to you, O abode of Kamalā. Salute to the Lord wearing a large garland of sylvan flowers.

16. Obeisance to the Lord of the nature of pure knowledge, to the Lord residing in his abode in the cavity (hearts of all beings); obeisance to you, to Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, the calm one.

17. Salute to the Lord who have assumed many bodies for the sake of protecting your own devotees, to the wielder of the Śārṅga bow; obeisance to Brahman, to the wielder of the iron club for destroying infinite pain (of devotees).

18. Obeisance to the victorious Viṣṇu, to the protector of all creatures, to the Lord who engage yourself in various activities to stop the worthless worldly existence(?).

19. O Lord supporting the universe, obeisance to you from whom all the activities of the Guṇas have receded, O Lord, the excellent supporting pillar of Suras and Asuras; obeisance to you, the cause of recession, sustenance and renown?

20. On being praised thus by the Lord of Suras, the great Īśvara who is stationed in the heart and who knows everything along with all activities, came in between those demons suddenly, bound them and killed them sportingly.

21. Thereafter he took the Nigama (Vedas) and came near Brahmā. After giving his own Nigama unto him, he became happy and composed, and was eulogized.

22. Ever since then that Tīrtha which was manifested by Brahmā became well-known as Brahmakuṇḍa. It is famous in all the three worlds.

23. Merely by visiting it people of great sins become absolved of their sins. They immediately go to the world of Brahmā.

24. Those people who take their holy bath or perform holy rites there, go beyond the world of Brahmā, to that of Viṣṇu.

Skanda said:

25. What did Brahmā do after obtaining the Vedas from Janārdana? Kindly recount this and everything else to me now.

Mahādeva narrated:

26. Having seen Badarikāśrama, all the four Vedas were not inclined to go along with Brahmā, O dear son.

27. Thereupon Brahmā became depressed. On seeing him so, Siddhas, the residents of Janaloka, duly eulogized, prostrated and spoke thus:

Siddhas said:

28. The command of the Lord must be earned out by all the beings, mobile and immobile. The Lord is the maker, the annihilator, the father (protector) and the preceptor unto all the creatures.

29. Your stay (residence) near Brahmā has been commanded by Lord Hari himself. There is a way out, still without much of worry.

30. One form of yours should stay here in the liquid form and let the second form go with Brahmā to his world.

31. Thereafter, the Vedas with due consideration assumed two forms. They went to the world of Brahmā along with him with great delight.

32. Thereafter, the Four-faced Lord duly created the three worlds. The holy bath, charitable gifts, penances and other holy rites performed in the liquid forms of the Vedas will not be broken or interrupted until the ultimate annihilation of all living beings.

33. Men who observe fast for three days with some benefit in view become undoubtedly the commentators and expounders of the four Vedas.

34. All the four Vedas stand in the proper order at the side of the Lord. They are called Ṛk, Yajus, Sāman and Atharvan.

35. Even in Kaliyuga there are very few people who are meritorious, devoid of sins and masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. Very few of them hear the chanting of the Vedas even.

36. Sarasvatī is above the four Vedas. If her name is repeated frequently, Sarasvatī^[1] in the form of water dispels the inertia of men.

37. If a person stands in the waters of Sarasvatī and performs Japa (of a Mantra) with concentration and mental purity, that Mantra will never be broken.

38. Even the holy lord, sage Vedavyāsa of a liberal mind, became conversant with the import or contents of the Purāṇa collection, by the favour of Sarasvatī.

39. For the welfare of all the three worlds the Lord of the worlds duly established Vāṇī (Goddess of speech) who bestows the (rich) gift of speech.

40. If a person visits, touches, takes bath in it, worships it, eulogizes it or rejoices in it, his family will never have separation from Sarasvatī (Learning).

41. If men perform Japas on the banks of Sarasvatī, they will attain perfection in (the employment of) Mantras ere long. There is no doubt about it.

42. Of what avail is much talk? Vāṇī, having the liquid form (i.e. River Sarasvatī) bestows the gift of speech on men. (Merely) by seeing it, there shall result brilliant (excellent) purification.

43. Behind it on the southern side there is the Tīrtha Indrapada well-known as Dravadhārā, where Indra had performed penance.

44. After performing a very severe penance, he propitiated Janārdana. Then he obtained the position of Indra bowed to by Suras and Asuras.

45. Penance, charitable gifts, Homa, holy rites, pious observances and restraints—all these are said to yield merit, multiplied infinite-fold. That Tīrtha is difficult of access.

46-47. Every month, on the thirteenth day in the bright half, a devotee should take bath in the excellent Tīrtha (named) Haritoṣaṇa. He should approach Sutrāmācchanda in its company(?) He should then fast for two days and worship Janārdana. He shall thereby be liberated and honoured in the world of (Indra).

48. There itself is (the holy spot) Mānasodbheda that is destructive of all sins. It is difficult of access to all creatures. There are great sages in that place.

49. They completely untie the mental knot of Cit and Acit. The name Mānasodbheda is proclaimed everywhere by the sages.

50. They split the knots in the heart and clarify many doubts. They destroy Karmas. Therefore (the holy spot) became (known as) Mānasodbheda.

51. If by chance a man obtains only a drop (from the Tīrtha) here, he attains liberation instantaneously. What can be superior to this?

52. These sages live in their abodes in the caves of the mountain. They subsist on the diet of fruits, roots and water. They have conquered their minds and (desire for) objects. They have keen intellect. They are agitated due to their fear of sins as well as that of the Kali Age. (Defective Text)

53. They get good clothes after exertions for (collecting) fruit (and bringing) water from springs in deep caverns. Everyday they take bath three times. Thereby these sages have subdued the onslaughts (strong impulses) of the sense organs.

54. There are many means (to salvation) involving physical strain. But the easiest means in the world is visiting Mānasodbheda.

55. On the day when a meritorious person obtains the (sacred) waters, he becomes similar to Vyāsa, Yama and the Pitṛs in due course.

56. This Tīrtha is one worthy of being desired by men. It keeps desires and ambitions under control by fulfilling them. There shall be salvation even if there is no desire. This is certain in both the cases.

57. If any man, by mistake, were to entertain desires, he will enjoy the fruits and later he will have liberation. There is no doubt about this.

58. People will enjoy all the pleasures in the worlds beginning with Maharloka as they desire. After the pleasures have been enjoyed, they go again (to this world) being subject to desires.

59. Learned men should endeavour for the acquisition of the aims of life. In my opinion their endeavour here in the holy spot Mānasodbheda does not go in vain.

60. On the western side of Mānasodbhedana there is the famous Tīrtha named Vasudhārā. It is the most fascinating of all. It is the rarest of Tīrthas in all the three worlds.

61. On hearing from Nārada that Badarikāśrama is the most excellent one among all the Tīrthas in the three worlds, all the Vasus came here.

62. They performed very severe penance for thirty thousand years with leaves and water for their diet. Thereby they attained Siddhi.

63-64. Their fatigue has been dispelled by the happiness of seeing the Lord. Their lotus-like faces became full-blown due to the mass of delight in their hearts. After seeing Lord Nārāyaṇa and securing a fine boon, they obtained the happiness, prosperity and devotion to Hari. Thus they became joyous.

65. By taking bath here, drinking the water and worshipping Janārdana, one enjoys happiness in this world and attains the greatest region in the end.

66. To meritorious persons a fiery refulgence is visible here in the middle of the water. On seeing this one does not stay further within any womb (i.e. gets Mokṣa).

67. If sinners of impure parentage, whose minds and activities are those of heretics, come here, the waters generally do not fall on their heads.

68. Good people who remain pure, worship Janārdana and fast for three days with great devotion to the Lord, see the Siddhas.

69-70. Those who are fickle-minded and covetous, who do not speak the truth there, who fraudulently take away the wealth and wives of other people and ridicule others, who are clad in dirty clothes, who are not calm, who are not pure, who have abandoned good holy rites and whose minds also are impure, never attain any benefit here.

71-72. The few calm and quiet Sādhakas (aspirants) who take the path enjoined in the Vedas (attain happiness). Their Japas, penances, Homas, charitable gifts, holy rites, pious observances etc. pursued in accordance with their capacity bestow everlasting benefits.

73. Even the least bit of auspicious rites performed by embodied beings may yield a great result and even excellent salvation.

74. Is it necessary to recount more about the benefits of a place where (even) Devas go seeking benefit? After Hari’s worship those people who sought pleasing things became joyous and are engaged in the path leading to heaven.

75. (This is a holy spot) where there are no persons who create obstacles to holy rites. Afraid of Hari, they (? holy rites) become fructified. Those who possess the power of discrimination enjoy the benefit. All good souls engaged in the path of duty (enjoy the benefit).

76. Those who read, teach and recite (this sacred treatise) that has been revealed, that has reference to the holy Tīrtha, become adorned with devotional feelings. They go to the auspicious region of Hari.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This revulet is a tributary of Alakanandā. It is different from the Vedic Sarasvatī rising in Sirmur hill in Sewalik range or that near Somanātha (Gujarat) or Harakhaiti in East Afghanistan. (De 180-81).