Chapter 47 - Description of Uttarārka

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The site of Uttarārka is near Bakaria Kuṇḍa (‘Uttarārka Kuṇḍa’ in the Text), just south of today’s Grand Trunk Road. The original temple was destroyed by Muslims and its ruins were transformed into Muslim structures. M.A. Sherring discovered here a Sun disc with relief carvings of the Sun, thus confirming the site of this Sun-god. (BCL 179)

Skanda said:

1. There is an excellent Kuṇḍa (holy pool) in the northern side, named Ārka. The Sun established himself there with the name of Uttarārka.

2. Scorching (dispelling) the cluster of miseries and making good people flourish, Uttarārka, the Sun of great splendour, ever protects Kāśī.

3. O holy sage of excellent vows, please listen to the historical event that happened there. There was a certain Brāhmaṇa named Priyavrata born of the family of Atri.

4. He was in Kāśī, ever devoted to guests and doing only what is splendid. His wife named Śubhavratā was extremely charming.

5. She was ever engaged in serving her husband. She was skilful in domestic works. He begot of her a daughter of excellent features.

6. She was born in the first quarter of the constellation Mūla while Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) was in the Kendra (fourth, seventh or tenth zodiacal position from the Lagna). Like the Moon in the bright half, she grew up day by day.

7. She was beautiful in form. Her behaviour was modest. She delighted her parents by doing what was pleasing to them. She was very clever in keeping household articles and utensils clean.

8. As the girl was growing up in the parental abode, the worry of her father too increased day by day.

9-10. He began to think thus: ‘To whom is this beautiful girl of excellent features to be given? Where is that excellent bridegroom befitting her to be obtained by me? He should be endowed with nobility of faith, youth, good habits, learning, comely features and adequate wealth. To whom should she be given so that she may be happy?’

11. As he worried thus his fever became excessively terrible. The fever named worry in the case of men does not subside through medicines.

12 As a result of that constellation Mūla and that of the fever called worry, the Brāhmaṇa met with his death forsaking everything such as the house etc.

13. When the father of the girl died, the mother too named Śubhavratā followed her husband leaving behind her virgin daughter.

14. This is the eternal duty of a chaste wife who is expected to follow righteous conduct, that she should remain with her husband living or not living.

15. Neither the progeny nor her own mother nor father nor other kinsmen accord protection to a woman. It is the service alone rendered to the feet of her husband that protects a woman.

16-21. The girl though endowed with excellent features became highly miserable, when her parents died. All the funeral rites were completed and the tenth day ceremonies too were concluded. Bereft of a gurdian [guardian?] and meeting with wretchedness, she became extremely worried: ‘I am alone without my father and mother. How can I cross the ocean of worldly existence that is excessively difficult to cross? Womanhood comes into clash with everything. I have not been given over to anyone by my parents. Having not been handed over by them, how can I woo another bridegroom? What if he is neither meritorious nor of good habits, despite being wooed by me? Though he may be independent, what will happen when he is wooed?’ That girl richly endowed with the qualities of beauty, munificence etc., was pressingly approached frequently by many young men. Yet the girl did not give to anyone free access to her mind.

22. She had witnessed the death of her parents. Remembering their excessive fondness, she cursed her own self and cursed the entire world.

23-24a. “Where have my parents gone, the parents who gave birth to me and protected me? Fie upon the transience of the embodied ones! Alas! Even my body is only a part of my parents. Just as my parents have gone, this too may go away.”

24b-25. On deciding thus that girl performed a very severe penance sustaining steadfast celibacy in close vicinity of Lord Uttarārka. She conquered the sense-organs and the mind and stabilised the mind.

26. While she was performing penance, a very tiny kid used to come there everyday and stand still in front of her.

27. In the evening it used to eat some grass or leaves and drink the water from that pool. Then it used to go back to the abode of its master.

28. Thus five or six years passed off. Once the Lord, sportingly wandering about, along with the Goddess came there.

29. Sthāṇu saw Sulakṣaṇā performing penance near Uttarārka, steady like a pillar and grown emaciated due to the penance.

30. Thereupon Lord Śaṃbhu was requested by the Daughter of the Mountain moved with pity, “Kindly bless this beautiful girl devoid of kinsmen by bestowing on her a boon.”

31. On hearing the words of Śarvāṇī, Śarva, the storehouse of mercy, Hara, the bestower of boons, spoke to her, as she remained in her state of meditation with closed eyes.

32. “O Sulakṣaṇā! I am pleased. O girl of excellent vows, choose your boon. You are fatigued due to the penance of long duration. What is your desire?”

33. On hearing the words of Śaṃbhu shedding nectar from the mouth that suppressed excessive distress, she opened her eyes.

34. On directly perceiving in front of her the Three-eyed Lord eager to bestow boons and the Goddess stationed to his left side, she joined her palms in reverence and bowed down.

35. Even as that girl of charming waist thought thus, ‘What shall I choose?’ the tiny goat kid was seen in front by her.

36-37. ‘Which man does not live in this world of creatures for his own sake? But he who lives for the sake of rendering help to others, lives really. For many years I have been attended to by this (kid) who is a witness of my penance and holy rites. Hence I shall request the Lord of the universe for some boon on its behalf.’

38-39. After considering this in her mind Sulakṣaṇā said to the Three-eyed Lord: “O Mahādeva, O storehouse of mercy, if a boon is to be given to me, then at the outset may this poor insignificant kid of a goat be blessed. She has the same lovely devotion to me but does not know how to speak it out, being an animal itself.”

40. On hearing these words of Sulakṣaṇā, showing (eagerness for) helping others, Īśa, the destroyer of the distress of those who bow down to him, became all the more pleased.

41. Then the Lord of the Devas said: “O Goddess, O Daughter of the Lord of mountains, see this. The intellect of good persons is of this nature—it is all the more powerful with (the readiness of) helping others.

42. Those who endeavour for helping others in all earnestness are the blessed ones, in all the worlds. They are the supports of all kinds of piety.

43. The gathering together of all the worldly objects does not last long. O my beloved, ony one thing—rendering help to others, lasts for a long time.

44. This Sulakṣaṇā is blessed and capable of obliging others. O my beloved Goddess, tell me, what boon should be given to her? What should be given to this kid?”

The Goddess said:

45. O Creator of all creators! O omniscient one! O destroyer of the distress of those who bow down to you! May this Sulakṣaṇā of excellent conduct and splendid effort be my companion.

46-52. May this Sulakṣaṇā be one of my companions like Jayā, Vijayā, Jayantikā, Śubhā, Nandā, Sunandā, Kaumudī, Ūrmilā, Caṃpakamālā, Malayavāsinī, Karpūralatikā, the splendid Gandhadharā, Aśokā, Viśokā, Malayagandhinī, Candananiḥśvāsā, the excellent Mṛgamadā, Kokilālāpā, Madhurabhāṣiṇī, Gadyapadyanidhi, Anuktajñā, Dṛgañcalā, Iṅgitajñā, Kṛtamanorathā and Gānacittaharā. Since she is a celibate ever since childhood, she will become my greatest favourite. Let her be so in this same body with divine limbs and ornaments, divine garments, divine unguents and endowed with divine knowledge. Let her be near me forever, holding the moving chowries.

53. Let this kid be born as the princess of the king of Kāśī. After enjoying the pleasures here, she will attain the excellent salvation.

54. This kid has bathed in this Arkakuṇḍa on the Sunday in the Puṣya month (December-January) before sunrise without being afflicted in the mind by chillness.

55. O Lord Viśveśvara, by your power of besotwing boons, let this (kid) be a princess of splendid vision due to merit.

56. Let this Arkakuṇḍa be also known by another name Barkari Kuṇḍa^[1]. Its idol (image) should be worshipped by men here.

57. The annual pilgrimage of Lord Uttarārka should be performed on a Sunday in the month of Puṣya by devotees desirous of the benefit of Kāśī

58. After carrrying out everything mentioned by Mṛḍānī, the all-powerful omnipresent Lord Viśvanātha unexpectedly entered his own palace.

Skanda said:

59. O Brāhmaṇa of great fortune, the greatness of Lolārka and Uttarārka has been described to you. Now listen to the legend of Sāṃbāditya.

60. On hearing the excellent meritorious narrative of Lolārka and Uttarārka, no man will be afflicted with diseases or poverty.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The name indicates Muslim influence. These verses are probably later additions to explain how the ancient Arka-Kuṇḍa came to be designated as Bakariā-Kuṇḍa.