Chapter 16 - The Efficacy of the River Nīlagandhavatī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sanatkumāra said:

1. Now I shall describe another Tīrtha more excellent than the other Tīrthas. O excellent sage, it has been established as the greatest Tīrtha (by the Lord) under his own name.

2-3. Once upon a time, O Vyāsa, Maheśvara took some water from his head by means of a Kapāla for washing it. After washing (the skull) he poured down the water on the ground. An excellent Tīrtha came into being there; the meritorious river named Gandhavatī well-known all over the three worlds (flowed) there.

4. In an instant it became filled with the blood of Brahmā. The bath therein is always praiseworthy as told by the Lord himself.

5-12. If one performs Śrāddha and offers libations of water to the Manes there, they attain everlasting satisfaction. The Pitṛs in aerial forms stay on its southern bank, O tiger among sages. They think about those born of their Gotra: ‘When will my son or great-grandson or any of the progeny come here and offer at least once balls of rice mixed with honey of the Kṣaudra variety and gingelly seeds or wheat-cake or milk-pudding or Śyāmāka or Nīvāra rice?’ By the offer of that ball of rice the satisfaction shall be everlasting.

If a person takes the holy bath and offers a ball of rice on the lunar festival-day, the Pitṛs will become satisfied for twelve years.

Heavenly pleasures are everlasting unto those learned men and Brāhmaṇas who come here and propitiate the Pitṛs. Even if a speck of gold is given as charity there, it is everlasting (in benefit). This has been spoken by the Self-born Brahmā. That satisfaction cannot arise at Gaṅgādvāra, Prayāga, Kurukṣetra, Puṣkara, Vārāṇasī and Gayā. The delighted Pitṛs will grant the men all desired boons.

13. Everyone attains that desire with the view whereof he has performed Śrāddha here. If he dies, he attains the greatest goal.

14-16. O Vyāsa, the ninth and the eighth lunar days, the new-moon and the full-moon as well as the days of the transit of the Sun from one zodiac to another (are the auspicious days).

One performing Śrāddha with great faith, propitiates the entire world, Brahmā, Indra, Rudra and other Devas, Sun, Fire, Brahmā and other deities, Viśvedevas, along with Gandharvas and Yakṣas, human beings and animals, reptiles, Pitṛs and whatever is there which exists on the earth.

17-20. The groups of Pitṛs attain satisfaction if the Śrāddha

is performed in the dark half of every month on the fifteenth day, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, when the moon wanes, when there is Maitrayoga, when the Moon is in Viśākhā or Rohiṇī Asterism—Śrāddha should be devoutly performed at the time of the Asterism of Ajaikapāt of Indra (i.e. Pūrvābhādrapadā) by a person desirous of the satisfaction of the Pitṛs. The Pitṛs will become pleased thereby. “They are blessed, they are considerate towards us—these born in our family. Those who perform Śrāddha, those who offer rice-balls will give us everlasting pleasure through that offer of rice-balls.”

21-22. After coming here and taking the holy bath in the meritorious waters, a man attains all those desires along with the departed Pitṛs. He is surrounded by the Devas and becomes Siddha. They bestow the following desired things upon men: a pure mind and wealth, auspicious time, the (knowledge of) injunctions laid down, and greatest devotion.