Chapter 22 - Brahmā Praises Kāśī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śivaśarmā said:

1. O Gaṇas, I have become contented and pleased on listening to this story of Dhruva. It is very charming and destructive of great sins. It causes one to wonder and produces merit.

Agastya said:

2. Even as the Brāhmaṇa said this, the aerial chariot of a speed rivalling that of the wind, reached Maharloka, more miraculous than the heavenly world.

3. Then on seeing that region enveloped in refulgence all round, the Brāhmaṇa said to the Gaṇas again, “What a charming world is this!”

4-6. Then they said to the Brāhmaṇa: “O highly intelligent one, listen. This is that Maharloka which is more wonderful and mysterious than the heavenly world. People who have dispelled their sins by their austerities live here for one Kalpa. By meditating on Viṣṇu, all their miseries have subsided. Excellent Suras practising the great Yoga (of the identity of the Supreme Soul with the individual soul) see this region full of refulgence by means of genuine meditation and they stay here.”

Agastya said:

7. O dear one, even as the attendants of the Lord said this, the aerial chariot took them to Janaloka within half a moment.

8. It is there that the sinless mental sons of Brahmā, leading Yogins (like) Sanandana and others, who have sublimated their sex-instinct (ūrdhvaretasaḥ) dwell.

9. There are other Yogins too residing here. They are extremely pure. They never waver from celibacy. They are free from all Dvandvas (opposing pairs) like heat and cold.

10. Tapoloka which is beyond Janaloka was brought within their view by that aerial chariot that was proceeding at a speed equalling that of the mind.

11. Vairajas (created by Hiraṇyagarbha) (a class of Devas) free from thirst (or fire ending the world), reside there. They have their minds directed and their actions dedicated to Vāsudeva.

12. Those who have conquered their sense-organs and have propitiated Govinda through their penance, attain this Tapoloka and stay there free from all ambitions and desires.

13-21. Those who have pursued the following kinds of austerities in the world, live in Tapoloka and have the same span of life as Brahmā: those who sustain themselves by means of pieces of grains lying scattered on the ground; those who use their teeth alone as the mortar for cleansing husks; sages and devotees using stone for breaking the grains; those who eat only decaying leaves scattered on the ground; those who perfom penance in the midst of five fires during summer; those who lie on bare rough ground during rainy season; those who spend half of Hemanta and Śiśira (i.e., winter) staying in water during the nights; those ascetics who drink only the drops of water from the tips of Kuśa grass when thirsty; those who when very hungry take in only wind; those who touch the ground with the tips of their toes while performing penance; those who keep their hands lifted up; those who keep looking at the Sun; those who stand motionlessly on a single foot; those who never breathe during the day (i.e., practice Kumbhaka type of breath control—Comm.); who exhale (breath) throughout the month (Comm.); those who have taken the vow of fasting for a whole month; those who have similar vows for four months altogether; those who drink water at the end of every season (i.e., two months); those who observe fast for a period of six months; those who wink their eyes once in a year; those who quench their thirst with rain water; those who resemble posts and give the deer the pleasure of scratching when their bodies itch; those who have nests of birds within the forest-like growth of matted hairs; those round whose limbs anthill has grown; those who are mere skeletons with sinews tying the bones together; those whose bodies are entwined all round by spreading creepers; those round whose limbs even plants grow and remain there for a long period. Those ascetics who have subjected their bodies to various sorts of torture stay here without any fear from anywhere.

22. Even as that meritorious soul (i.e., Śivaśarmā) was listening to these words issuing from the mouths of those two attendants, the excessively refulgent Satyaloka came within his view.

23. Those two attendants then hurriedly got down from the aerial chariot and, along with Śivaśarmā, bowed down to the Creator of all the worlds.

Brahmā said:

24. O attendants, this Brāhmaṇa is intelligent and a master of Vedas and Vedāṅgas. He is proficient in the practice of the code of conduct laid down in Smṛtis. He is averse to sinful activities.

25. O Brāhmaṇa of great intellect, I know you, O Śivaśarman, O dear one, you have done well in abandoning your life in a holy spot.

26. Whatever is seen by you will quickly pass off. I am creating them again and again after Pralaya (annihilation).

27. I am creating everything upto Vairāja and Hara annihilates them at every step. Nothing need be said about men who are insignificant like mosquitos and mortal by nature.

28. Out of the four categories of living beings (e.g. the egg-born, the sweat-born etc.) for men there is one good advantage in Bhāratavarṣa, a great land of religious rituals (the advantage is mentioned in v 35).

29-35. After conquering the fickle sense-organs along with the mind, after eschewing greed which pervades all inherent qualities; after dispelling thoughtfully lust that destroys the whole of righteousness, that removes collection of wealth and that brings about greying of hairs and old age; after courageously overcoming the enemy in the form of anger that removes power of penance, reputation, glory and even the body and that leads one along the path of darkness; after abandoning forever arrogance that accords the sole basis for erring, that is the sole refuge of all faults and that turns back all riches; after eschewing egotism that causes dishonour everywhere and that makes one endeavour to defame and blame even good persons; after giving up delusion that causes the growth of excessive hatred, that benumbs intellect and renders it powerless, that utterly blinds the people and that guides one to ‘eternal darkness’ (a hell of that name viz., Andhatāmisra) people can climb the steps of Dharma (righteousness) that is laid down by Śrutis, Smṛtis and Purāṇas and that is followed by great men and then they come here with care. (This is the advantage mentioned in v 28 above, that human beings can get.)

36. O Brāhmaṇa, all the heaven-dwellers desire and seek the land of pious rites (Kannabhūmi), because therein all these people enjoy what is earned by them at different lower and higher levels.

37. Nowhere in the entire ‘Cosmic Egg’ is there a land on a par with Āryāvarta, a city similar to Kāśī and a Liṅga equal to Viśveśvara.

38. There are many types of Svargas free from non-happiness (i.e., are full of happiness). All of them are the sole outcome of merits (achieved). They are endowed with all kinds of riches and prosperities.

39. (It is the belief) that there is nothing in the entire ‘Cosmic Egg’ more charming than the heavenly world. All people endeavour to attain Svarga through penance, gifts, holy vows and other things.

40. “The nether regions are better and more charming than even Svarloka.” So said Nārada in the open assembly of heaven-dwellers, when he returned from Pātālas.

41. With which can Pātāla be compared, where the jewels set in the ornaments on the limbs of Nāgas are highly refulgent, splendid and very pleasing?

42. Pātāla that is resplendent with the damsels of Daityas and Dānavas, delights everyone. Who is not delighted with it, even if he be a man devoid of attachment?

43. During day-time rays of the Sun merely spread lustre there and not fierce heat. During night rays of the moon spread only light and do not increase chillness.

44. (Hence) the time that passess off is not known by Danujas and others (i.e., they are not aware of it).

The forests and rivers are very charming, The lakes contain excellent waters.

45-47. The following things are enjoyed by the denizens of the nether regions: sweet chirping sounds of the male cuckoo, good garments, clean clothes, very charming ornaments, sweet scents and unguents, the sounds of flute, lute etc. that captivate the ears. These and other excellent things worthy of being enjoyed are duly enjoyed by the Dānavas, Daityas and Serpents residing in the interior of Pātāla. The great Liṅga called Hāṭakeśa bestows all cherished desires.

48. O Brāhmaṇa, the continent called Ilāvṛta that is stationed nestling within the ridges of Meru (surrounded by its peaks) is more charming than Pātāla.

49. O Brāhmaṇa, there meritorious persons are always enjoying all pleasures. Fawn-eyed damsels are ever youthful there.

50. This is called Bhogabhūmi (‘Place of enjoyment’) acquired and enjoyed by people like you by exchanging their merits in view of their having abandoned their bodies in the holy spots on the earth.

51. They are no speakers of falsehood. They are not devoid of sons, wives etc. They used to spend their happiness, span of life and hoarded wealth for the sake of helping others.

52. There are many islands and continents stationed within oceans. But nowhere on the whole surface of the earth is there a continent like Jaṃbūdvīpa.

53. There are the nine Varṣas and among them Bhārata is the most excellent This is called Karmabhūmi (‘Land of righteous acts’). It is inaccessible even to Devas.

54. The eight (Varṣas) including Kiṃpuruṣa and others are the places worthy of being enjoyed by Devas. The heaven-dwellers arrive there from Svargaloka and sport about.

55. The chief of them, Bhāratavarṣa, is nine thousand Yojanas (Yojan = 12 Kms.) in extent. It is situated to the south of Meru.

56. There too the region between Himālaya and Vindhya is the greatest bestower of merit. The region called Antarvedī between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā is the most excellent of all.

57. Kurukṣetra is superior to all the other holy spots. There too the Naimiṣa forest is the most excellent means of achieving heaven.

58. On the entire earth Tīrtharāja Prāyāga is the most excellent one among all the holy places, even greater than Naimiṣāraṇya.

59. It is the bestower of heaven. It is the bestower of salvation. It is the bestower of all the cherished desires. That great holy place Prayāga is called Tīrtharāja.

60-61. O Brāhmaṇa, all the Yāgas were held in the balance by me for weighing. That holy place is the most excellent one among all holy places. It is the most charming and desirable because it fulfils all desires. That holy place too is held in the balance. On finding the holy place better and more excellent than all the Yagas well endowed with Dakṣiṇās etc., it was named Prayāga by Hari, Hara and others.

62. By remembering merely the name of Prayāga thrice (a day), no sin can stay anywhere in the body of the person remembering.

63. There are many Tīrthas saving people from sins. They are not capable of giving anything more than redemption from the sins committed.

64. The heap of sins committed in the course of the numerous previous births cannot be removed adequately by holy vows, Dānas, Japas and penances.

65. Like a tree assailed by wind that mass of sins begins to tremble in the limbs of that man of auspicious nativity, who has intended to go to Tīrtharāja.

66. Then it begins to set out and go to another place from the body of the man who has traversed half the distance and who has resolved firmly in the mind to go to Prayāga.

67. If fortunately the Tīrtharāja comes within the vision of that noble soul, that collection of sins begins to flee like darkness at sunrise.

68. In the body consisting of the seven Dhātus (constituent elements) the sins collect together in the hairs. On being shaved they clear out.

69. After becoming free of sins thus, the devotee should take his holy bath in the Sitāsita (i.e. the confluence of the white Gaṅgā and the black Yamunā.) Thus he achieves whatever he desires and not otherwise.

70. He attains enorṃous quantity of merits and meritorious enjoyment of pleasures as desired. Due to that merit he attains heaven. If he is devoid of desires, be attains salvation.

71. If anyone takes the holy dip eschewing other desires but desiring salvation, he too attains salvation from the Tīrtharāja, the bestower of all desires.

72. It is certain that in the great Varṣa named Bhārata, if anyone leaves off the Tīrtharāja and desires anything from elsewhere, he shall not attain his desire.

73. O Brāhmaṇa, I do not know of any distinction between Satyaloka and Prayāga. Those who perform excellent rites there become the residents of my world.

74-75. No other holy place should be resorted to by men desirous of (visiting) holy places.

O excellent Brāhmaṇa, the difference between Prayāga, the Tīrtharāja, and other places in the world is like the difference between a king and a servant of another man. Only an example (of comparison) is cited between Prayāga and other holy spots.

76. If anyone casts off his life here in this holy spot somehow, he does not incur the sin of suicide. He shall achieve everything desired.

77. If, O Brāhmaṇa, the bones of any fortunate man remain here, he will never have even an iota of sorrow in any of his births.

78. Prayāga should be duly resorted to, certainly in accordance with the injunctions of a Brāhmaṇa, by a person desirous of performing expiatory rites for the sins of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter etc.

79. O eminent Brāhmaṇa, why say more? The holy spot Sitāsita (Prayāga), the most excellent one in the entire world, should be resorted to by one desirous of acquiring great rise in prosperity.

80. By terminating the mortal body at Kāśī, one gets salvation without effort more than from even Prayāga, the lord of all Tīrthas, in all the world.

81. Undoubtedly Avimukta is more charming than even Prayāga, because Viśveśvara is directly presiding over it.

82. Nothing anywhere in the entire Cosmic Sphere is more charming than Avimukta, the great holy spot presided over by Viśveśa.

83. This holy spot Avimukta is away from the middle of the Cosmic Egg to the extent of five Krośas (1 Krośa = 3 Kms.), though it is in the centre of the Cosmic Egg.

84. As and when the water of the vast ocean rises up (at the time of Pralaya), the Lord lifts up the holy spot from the Pralaya water-level.

85. O Brāhmaṇa, this holy spot rests on the tip of the trident of Lord Śiva in the intermediate region without touching the ground. Men of deluded intellect do not perceive it.

86. There is perpetual Kṛtayuga here. There is great festivity here forever. There is no defect or adverse condition in the hermitage of Viśveśvara, caused by the rise or setting of the Planets.

87. There is perpetual Saumyāyana (the gentle transit i.e. the northern transit of the Sun) there; there is auspiciousness forever, where Viśveśvara is stationed.

88. O Brāhmaṇa, Kāśī should not be considered on a par with the thousands of cities that exist on the surface of the earth. It is superior to (higher than) the fourteen worlds.

89. O eminent Brāhmaṇa, fourteen worlds have been created by me. But the creator of this city is Lord Viśveśvara himself.

90. Formerly Yama performed a very severe penance for a long time. He acquired authority over all the three worlds, excepting the city of Vārāṇasī.

91. All the activities of the entire world consisting of mobile and immobile beings are within the ambit of the knowledge (i.e., record) of Citragupta and not so in the case of the residents of Kāśī.

92. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, the messengers of Yama have no right of entry anywhere within the city of Kāśī. The Gaṇas of Rudra stand guard there.

93. Viśveśa himself is the controller of those who give up their bodies at Kāśī. Kālabhairava is the chastiser of those who commit sins there.

94. No sin should be committed there. Torture from Rudras is highly terrible. Oh, the state of being a Rudrapiśāca is extremely unbearable, more than the sufferings in hell.

95. If the mind is bent upon committing a sin, may it be comfortably perpetrated elsewhere. The earth is very vast.

96. Even a lustful creature avoids its mother. Kāśī alone is to be avoided by a committer of sin if he seeks salvation.

97. Kāśī should not be resorted to by a person habituated to scandalise others, and by one who desires adultery with another man’s wife. Where is Kāśī and where is that hell? (What a great difference between the two!)

98. Those who always seek wealth here through Pratigraha (accepting monetary gifts), or others’ wealth through fraudulent means, should keep away from Kāśī. Kāśī should not be resorted to by those men.

99. All activities causing affliction to others should always be avoided at Kāśī. If that is persisted in, of what avail is the residence at Kāśī of the evil-minded one?

100. If the people adore other deities abandoning devotion to Viśveśvara, they should not at all reside here. It is the capital city of the Lord wielding Pināka.

101. Avimukta should not be resorted to, O Brāhmaṇa, by those men who seek wealth and those who seek sexual enjoyment, because this is the holy spot of salvation.

102. Vārāṇasī should not be resorted to by those who are engaged in censuring Śiva, those who ridicule the Vedas and those who are against the conduct of life laid down in the Vedas.

103. Kāśī is not conducive to the spiritual achievement of those who think of harassing others, those who are jealous of others and those who torment others.

104. Even the talk of salvation is irrelevant in the case of those of evil action and mentality who do not praise Kāśī (even) in their minds.

105. Without knowledge there is no salvation anywhere in the world, and that knowledge cannot be got through vows and rites including Cāndrāyaṇa.

106-109. Knowledge is not properly gained by any of these means: through gifts, of which Tulāpuruṣa (that is making gifts of things equal in weight to the donor) is the chief one even if they are done with faith, even if they are made in accordance with the injunctions, even if they are made over to the deserving persons at the proper place and time. (Knowledge is not obtained) through activities of restraint such as vow of celibacy etc., through worships etc., through severe austerities causing emaciation of the body, O excellent Brāhmaṇa.

(It cannot be gained) through the Japas of great Mantras imparted by preceptors, through study of the Vedas as laid down, nor through scrupulous maintenance of the holy fire.

Knowledge is not obtained through service done to preceptors, through Śrāddhas or through the adoration of the deities, nor through different kinds of pilgrimages.

110. Without Yoga there is no knowledge and Yoga is meditation on Tattvārtha i.e., the nature of reality, in accordance with the teachings of the preceptor and repeated practice.

111. There are many obstacles such as Siddhis like Sudūraśravaṇa etc. (ability to hear what is far off—Yogic Siddhis obstruct the ultimate knowledge). Hence knowledge is not acquired in a single birth through Yoga.

112. (But) O righteous one, without penance, Japa and other things, without Yoga, salvation is obtained at Kāśī here itself in a single birth.

113. Merit has been acquired by you of pure mind and intellect at Kāśī. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, the ultimate benefit of that merit is indeed very great.

114. After saying this Brahmā stopped even as the attendants were listening. That Śivaśarman of a noble mind also became very glad.