Chapter 51 - The Genesis of the Name Amṛtodbhavā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sanatkumāra said:

1. Listen, O highly intelligent Vyāsa, to the excellent greatness of Śiprā and how it came to be well-known as Amṛtodbhavā in the nether worlds dear to Nāgas.

2. Once Rudra, being hungry, came to Bhogavati (city of Nāgas) in the world of Nāgas with a skull in his hand for the sake of begging alms.

3. At every house he repeated the piteous words “Do give me alms.” Alms were not given by anyone to the hungry Dhūrjaṭi.

4. Then the Trident-bearing Lord became very angry. His eyes turned red as he became more and more afflicted with hunger. After wandering over the entire city, he slowly came out of it.

5-6. Lord Saṃbhu, the source of origin of all souls, went to the place where there were twenty-one deep pits (Kuṇḍas) of Pīyūṣa (Nectar) by way of according protection to the Nāga Loka. Śaṅkara quaffed off the entire quantity of Pīyūṣa through his eyes.

7. After making the pits of Pīyūṣa empty, he stood up. Then the entire world of Nāgas trembled.

8-11. “Whose act is this? What has happened? Why has the Nectar disappeared from here?” Saying thus all the Nāgas with Vāsuki as their leader came out of the city suspecting a grave act of omission. “What shall we do? Where shall we go? Who has committed this cruel joke? Who has become so infuriated as to take away our excellent Amṛta which is our very sustenance. O serpents, how can we live now?” After saying thus all the serpents along with their children, womenfolk and possessions sought refuge in Hari. They were in great mental suspicion and fear.

12-19. By way of blessing them, an unembodied voice spoke thus: “O ye all serpents, may this be heeded to. Wanton insult to the Lord has been committed by you all. Śaṃbhu afflicted with hunger came to every house for the sake of alms. In full knowledge, he visited at the time set apart for guests. He came as a mendicant with a skull in his hand. Alms were not given to the Pināka-bearing Lord by anyone in Bhogavatī. Then the Lord, the personification of piety, went out (despite) his hunger. Therefore, O excellent serpents, the entire quantity of Nectar in the pitchers has become lost. Go ye all from the nether worlds to the excellent Mahākālavana. There is the most excellent river well-known by the name Śiprā. It sanctifies the three worlds and bestows all the desired benefits. A mere sight thereof destroys all sins. All of you must go there and perform the holy rite of ablution in accordance with the injunctions. Resort to the Lord of Devas. Then perform the worship. By resorting to the Lord of Devas and by taking bath in the waters of Śipra. you will get the Nectar immediately as before.” After addressing those serpents thus, it vanished there itself.

20-29. O Vyāsa, on hearing the divine voice all of a sudden, the serpents said, “So be it.” On hearing the voice uttered by the Lord, the witness of the whole world, the serpents got ready and went to Mahākālavana, along with the children, womenfolk and old people.

There they saw the river respectfully bowed to by all the three worlds. It was filled with flowers strewn everywhere. The trees nearby had plenty of shade. Aquatic birds like Swans and Kāraṇḍavas (were seen) everywhere. It was full of jewels and adorned with clusters of lotuses.

Brāhmaṇas (were seen) both at dawn and dusk seated (on the banks) engaged in the twilight prayers. So also the illustrious sages headed by Bhṛgu and Aṅgiras, Gandharvas, Nārada and other, celestial sages, Vasus, Adityas, Aśvins, Maruts, Rudras, Sādhyas, Devas and Pitṛs of pure mental predilections resorted to Śiprā at twilight with great concentration for the sake of adoration.

Wives of the sages, highly fortunate groups of Devas and Apsaras maidens, noble and chaste ladies were also present there along with their husbands. Engaged in adoration were the people of all castes and stages of life. They were of good conduct. Saintly kings traversing the path of salvation, Siddhas, Yogeśvaras, calm and quiescent ascetics of severe holy vows and restraints, pilgrims from the different parts of the world had all gathered there, both men and women. They were seated on the banks of Śiprā.

30-34. There they performed various religious rites and offered great gifts (of all kinds). On seeing the nectarine river honoured and respected by the three worlds of such nature, O Vyāsa, all the Nāgas were extremely delighted. After performing the routine rites of holy bath, making gifts etc., the excellent serpents approached Mahādeva. All the devout, excellent serpents adored in accordance with the Vedic injunction, Mahādeva with the holy ablution of five Aṅgas (salient features), the application of the holy unguent Yakṣakardama, the offer of garlands of unfaded lotus flowers, different kinds of flowers, raw rice-grains, holy clothes, sandal-paste and other unguents, sweet scents, incense, lights, Naivedyas, betel leaves, monetary gifts, waving of lights with camphor pieces etc. Then the Uragas desirous of Sudhā began their prayer:

The Serpents said: [Prayer by the Serpents]:

35. Obeisance to the Supreme Infinite One. O Lord of everything, obeisance, obeisance. O Moon-crested Supreme Ātman with matted hairs, obeisance to you. O Bull-emblemed One, obeisance to you, O holder of the excellent trident.

36. Obeisance to the Three-eyed Lord, to you wearing the coronet of matted hairs. O Lord with serpent Śeṣa as a garland, obeisance to you whose limbs have been smeared with ash of funeral pyres from cremation ground.

37. Obeisance to you, O Lord wearing the elephant hide; obeisance, obeisance to Giriśa (Lord of the mountain). O destroyer of the Tripuras, obeisance to you. O slayer of Smara, obeisance to you.

38. O Mṛgavyādha (hunter of deer), obeisance to you. Obeisance, obeisance to Ghasmara (the annihilator). Obeisance to you, O Śaṅkarātman (Identical with Śaṅkara), O Lord, O bestower of all desired benefits.

39. O witness of everything, obeisance to you, O multi-shaped one immanent in all living beings. Obeisance to you, the supporter of all, to the Lord holding all Śaktis.

40. Obeisance to you having all pleasures, O Lord, O source of origin of all seeds. O Lord of divine laughter, obeisance to you. Obeisance to the Lord flowing with Amṛta (Nectar).

41. Obeisance to you who are desirous of what is desirable, bestower of the boon of all desires. Obeisance to Śiva, the quiescent. Obeisance to the Lord of Paśus (beings bound by the bond of Karmas).

42. Obeisance to Mṛḍa with control over the sense-organs, of the quiescent form.

43. On being propitiated thus by Nāgas the Bull-emblemed holy Lord appeared with a beaming face and said to the serpents:

Śrī Mahādeva said:

44. Listen ye all, O serpents. I shall tell you the fact. Formerly I had been to the world of Nāgas for begging everyday alms.

45. I wandered from house to house in Bhogavatī excessively hungry, holding the skull in the hand and wearing the excellent bark garment (though) in rags.

46. Though I sought alms, I did not get it and so returned home. As a result of this sinful act, the Sudhā vanished from your place.

47. Due to the presence of a slight merit you all have been fortunate enough to come to the excellent Mahākālavana after leaving Nāgālaya.

48. Accompanied by your womenfolk, children and old people you have seen Śiprā, the most excellent one of the rivers, by the mere sight whereof I became free from sins formerly.

49. Of what sort (greatness) is the Puṇya (merit) arising from the holy ablution in Śiprā, I am incompetent to tell fully. O serpents, by visiting it, one becomes Śaṃbhu instantly.

50. Since the holy ablution has been performed by all the excellent serpents, a great merit has accrued. By the power of that merit, let there be Sudhā in every house.

51-56. Take the sacred waters of Śiprā and sprinkle the Kuṇḍas therewith. Thereby all the twenty-one Kuṇḍas shall be filled with Amṛta permanently, O excellent Pannagas (serpents).

Saying “So be it” all of them took the waters of Siprā in their hands, bowed down to Maheśvara and went to their own world. Thereafer, O Vyāsa, the river Śiprā became reputed as Amṛtodbhavā not only in the Nāgaloka but also in all the worlds.

If men on the earth perform bath etc., in that river, they will never incur any sin, adversity or wretchedness. They will never be separated from their sons, wives and others. Their friends will not be adverse. They will have neither sickness nor poverty.

By reading or by listening to the story that is meritorious, destructive of sins and according the boon of all desired benefits a devotee will obtain the benefit of the gift of a thousand cows.