Chapter 20 - Description of Dharā Kṣetra

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1. Henceforth I shall describe a holy shrine of Śiva than which there is nothing more excellent. It is at this place that Lord Śaṅkara took another birth.

2. Śaṅkara, the three-eyed lord of the chiefs of Devas, was pinned down by the Daughter of the Mountain (i.e. Pārvatī), O blessed one, and thrown down on the earth,

3. Outwitted and stupefied, he could not distinguish between night and day. The Three-eyed Lord became insentient, neither a man, nor a woman nor a neuter (eunuch).

4. At that time, when he was pinned down, it became as if it was the end of the Kalpa. It was all of a sudden that the transfixation was done by Pārvatī.

Yudhiṣṭhira asked:

5-6. The words uttered by you (just now) are extraordinarily surprising. How is it that he who is the chief among all Devas and Yogins, was pinned down by Pārvatī? How can Śiva be devoid of activity? Let the reason thereof be narrated. It produces great curiosity in me.

Vyāsa replied:

7-8. O king! A mass of Mantras (Magic spells) was revealed by Śaṅkara to Pārvatī. They belonged to the subsidiary branches (Upavedas) of Atharva Veda. The six varieties (classes) of these Mantras are well-known as follows: Śākinī, Ḍākinī, Kākinī, Hākinī, Ekinī and Lākinī.

9-10. (Defective Text) After picking out the Bījas (certain syllables called ‘Seeds’ of the Mantras) from them, a garland was wreathed. It was divulged by Śaṃbhu to Pārvatī, O excellent king.

If the Mantroddhāra (‘drawing out (?) of the Mantra’) is made with them (those ‘seeds’), it shall be eightfold. O sinless one, that Śākinī is a highly wicked woman. She must be won over.

Pārvatī said:

11. Six varieties (of the powers of Mantras) have been revealed by you, O Lord. These Śaktis (powers) of six varieties with Yogic garlands are unapproachable (beyond comprehension), O Lord. What is mentioned as sixfold is mysterious and secret. Narrate it to me clearly.

Śrī Mahādeva said:

12. O great goddess! It cannot be probed by (and divulged to) Devas, Asuras and human beings.

Pārvatī said:

13-15. Obeisance to you, the omniformed (Lord). Bow to you, O bull-emblemed one. Hail to you, the Lord of sages with matted hair! Salute to you, O blue-throated one. Obeisance to you, O ocean of mercy. Bow to you of the form of Kāla (Time or Death).

With these many tender words, the Daughter of the Mountain (Pārvatī) propitiated that ocean of mercy. She prostrated before him like a staff. She caught hold of his pair of feet.

The merciful Lord spoke to her:

16. “Why do you eulogize, O fair lady? Ask for what is desired in the mind by you.”

Pārvatī said:

17. If I am your (real) beloved, narrate to me in detail, leaving no scope for doubt, the procedure of the withdrawal (of the Mantra) along with the Dhyāna (mental representation of the deity of the Mantra).

Śrī Rudra said:

18. O goddess! The result of the combination (of the mantrabījas) should not be divulged by you. I shall tell the whole truth including the Mantra-Kūṭa aṇd the like (the esoteric aspect of the occult spell).

19. Of all the Kūṭas, O excellent-faced one, Māyā is the seed. The middle letter (syllable) of all is brightened by Bindu (dot) and Nāda (sound) etc.

20-23.^[1] The Bīja of Vahni (Fire) is accompanied by (the seed of) Vāta (Wind) and the Bīja of Kūrma (tortoise). The Bīja with the Sun as source, is born of the Śakti Bīja. This Kūṭa is the first Bīja and the second one is considered to be that of Vibhu (the lord). The third one, the Bīja of Fire is conjoined with Bindu (dot) (Anusvāra) and Indu (moon). The fourth is joined with Śeṣa (the Serpent king or the remaining part). So also the Brahmabīja and the sage. The fifth one is Kālabīja (the seed of time). The sixth is Pārthivabījaka (the seed of the earth). In the seventh and the eighth, the exterior is accompanied by Nṛsiṃha. In the ninth and the tenth is the second and first Aṣṭakūṭaka (eight knotty esoteric points).

24. O lady, of excellent conduct! In Rudrākṣa their Bīja is the reverse. In the fourteenth one the purpose of the Caturthī (dative case) is joined to the Bīja of Pṛthvī (earth).

25-27. (Defective Text) Some of the remaining mystic syllables have been preserved, O daughter of Menakā (Menā).

O king, when that wife of Śiva fell down on the earth, she was consoled by Rāma (?). The destroyer of the three Puras (Śiva) said laughingly, “O fair lady, since you have borne difficulties, you will have the power of killing, deluding, controlling, attracting and agitating. Whatever is desired will be achieved.”

28. On hearing this, the goddess with a mischievous heart, smiled brightly. The remaining intricate, knotty things, the Vīra ones, were told to her by Śaṃbhu.

29. The Ocean of Sympathy said, “Win them over in accordance with the procedure.” From Kailāsa Hara went quickly to Dharmāraṇya.

30-36. On coming to know, the goddess went to the place where the Bull-bannered One was. Presently he fell on the earth in Dharmāraṇya, O excellent king, (so also fell) the matted hair, the moon, the serpents, the bull, the trident and other weapons, the garland of skulls, the loin cloth and the skull of Brahmā. The attendants, the spirits and the ghosts went everywhere in all the ten directions. Lord Maheśvara realized that he had lost consciousness. The Gaṇas (attendants), Kūṭas and others were born of sweat. Having produced five Kūṭas from it, you gave it to Śūlin (Trident-bearing Lord)(?).

O great king, those Sādhakas (aspirants) were engaged in Japa and Homa. Having ghosts for seats all of them were stationed above Kālakūṭa (?). They discussed mutually as to how the Pināka-bearing One could be released. Thereupon, Gaurī was overwhelmed with troubles and very much agitated due to the fear of fire. Śiva was honoured by them. Gaurī became ashamed and stood with face downwards. Staying there, she performed a penance carrying out the order of Śaṅkara.

37. With face turned down, she inhaled smoke in performing the penance called Pañcāgni (‘five fires’, with four in the four positions around and the sun above). The Bull-emblemed Lord was eulogized by the Kūṭa syllables and he was pleased with them.

38. O king, this is the Dharākṣetra (shrine of the Earth). It destroys sins and yields all desired objectives. In this spot there shines the splendid (lake) Devamajjanaka (‘Divine Ablution’).

39. A person gets rid of all sins, O king, on drinking the water and taking bath there on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Āśvina (September-October).

40-42. If the devotee undertakes fast in accordance with the injunctions and worships the Lord of Devas, none of these malignant spirits affects adversely: Śākinī, Ḍākinī, Vetālas (vampires), Pitṛs, Planets, Meteors etc. O excellent-faced lady, this is verily the truth, the truth.

By performing the rite of Rudrajapa with all ancillaries there, the devotee gets rid of all sins.

O king, it is the truth, the truth that the three types of ailments perish. All these things have been narrated by me. Listen to Devamajjanaka.

43-44. A man who narrates and a man who listens, obtain that benefit which accrues by performing thousands of horse-sacrifices with plenty of monetary gifts.

One without a son begets sons; the poor obtains wealth. There is no doubt about this that he obtains long life, health and prosperity.

45-47. By remembering and glorifying (the deity), O king, all the three types of sins arising from mental, verbal and physical activities, perish.

He who listens to its greatness, O dear one, shall become endowed with all happiness. It is conducive to wealth, fame and longevity. It grants happiness and progeny.

By listening to it, O king, all that merit is acquired that comes from visiting all holy spots, making all types of gifts and performing all sorts of sacrifices.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These are esoteric terms of Tantraśāstra.