Chapter 133 - The Glory of Kaubera and other Tīrthas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Thereafter, O king, a person should go to the great group of four Tīrthas, a mere visit to which brings about the destruction of all sins. They are Kaubera, Vāruṇa, Yāmya and Vāyavya. It was here that the highly intelligent and powerful Guardians of Quarters became Siddhas.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

What for, O sinless one, was penance performed by the Guardians of Quarters formerly on the bank of Narmadā? It behoves you to narrate this to me.

Mārkaṇḍeya said:

Inasmuch as the world (worldly existence) is weak, feeble and unstable like a drop of water hanging from a blade of grass, all people crave for a stable base. All the four types of living beings whether mobile or immobile are fickle, free of essence like the core of a plantain tree and unreal like mirage. That being the case, Dharma is mother, Dharma is father, Dharma is kinsman as well as friend. Dharma alone is the support of all living beings in all the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings.

After realizing this all the Guardians of Quarters waited for an opportunity and performed an unparalleled penance taking in wind alone as their food.

8-17. When half of Kṛtayuga passed off, Mahādeva was pleased. O great king, Parameśvara granted them an open choice of a boon saying, “Whoever wishes for anything, whatever he may desire, I shall grant it.”

Thus in accordance with the Yuga, the mighty Guardians of Quarters were asked to choose. On hearing these words of Śiva, the Guardians of worlds intending to do what is good for the world requested the Lord for an excellent boon.

Kubera said:

O Mahādeva, if you are pleased, if a boon has to be granted to me, let me be the Lord of Yakṣas and Dhanaḍa, the bestower of wealth.

Then Yama engaged in controlling (all) said to the Lord of Devas: “O Lord, let me be the chief of all living beings.”

After bowing down to Maheśvara, Varuṇa said thereafter: “Let me sport about in the Varuṇa world accompanied by the groups of aquatic beings.”

After bowing down to Maheśvara, Vāyu asked immediately, O descendant of Bharata. It was the ability to spread all over the three worlds that he requested for.

After granting the cherished desire to all the Guardians of the worlds, Śaṅkara vanished along with Umā. When Lord Maheśvara had vanished, they remained in their respective places. Installation of the Lord was carried out by them severally after their own names. Kubera installed Kubereśa, Yama Yameśvara, Varuṇa Varuṇeśa and Vāta Vāteśvara, O king.

18-27. With different kinds of auspicious Mantras duly chanted, they offered libations after worshipping the Lord of all in accordance with the injunctions.

All of them like the Lords of all, invited Brāhmaṇas who had fully subdued the sense-organs and mind, who had subdued anger, who granted freedom from fear unto all living beings, who were clever in the Vedic lore and were masters of all scriptural texts, and who were embellished with Ṛk, Yajus, Sāman and Atharva Vedas.

They said, “We shall give four types of Dānas unto ye all. Accept.” After saying this they did the excellent Bhūmidāna (gift of plots of land) unto all those Brāhmaṇas.

(The Brāhmaṇas said,) “Your Dāna will last as long as the Moon and the Sun shine and as long as the Earth exists. There shall be no enemy.”

Whether it is a king or someone on a par with a king, if one loses what is given by the Guardians of the worlds, he is deluded. What is in store for him may be listened.

O descendant of Bharata, Dhanada will dry up the assets of that sinner; Varuṇa will make his body dried up. Wind-god will make his lineage dried up (extinct). His life becomes defunct. Yama, the great controller of all, takes away his life quickly. Hutabhuk (Fire-god) reduces him to ashes and goes away, O descendant of Bharata.

Hence, O Yudhiṣṭhira, all kings should have devotion to Brāhmaṇas if they wish their own welfare.

King is a tree. Brāhmaṇas are like the root thereof. Attendants are the leaves and ministers its branches. Hence the root should be protected with effort. If the root is well preserved the tree does not die.

28-38. A person making gifts of land dwells in heaven for sixty-thousand years. One who seizes it or slights or denigrates others shall stay in Naraka for as many years.

Land given by one’s own people or others should be well-protected. Whoever has the land has the fruit (benefit) thereof.

Those kings who remember the command of the deities and preserve the earth shall always reside in heaven. O Yudhiṣṭhira, land given by one’s own people or others should be well-protected by a king. Protection of land is better than the gifting thereof.

If kings are scrupulously engaged in the protection of the subjects, their longevity, fame, strength, wealth and progeny shall be everlasting certainly.

After saying thus to the excellent Brāhmaṇas (?) all the Guardians of the worlds adored them duly and sent them off after bowing down duly.

After the leading Brāhmaṇas had gone the Guardians of the worlds took their holy bath and performed Homa. Being hungry they wandered here and there for alms. Their bodies were reduced to mere bones and skin, with their hands holding the alms bowl. They did not get even a moiety of half of a morsel. They set out from the city and after angrily cursing the Brāhmaṇa(?), O Yudhiṣṭhira: like “You shall be poor always and also fools”, they went home.

Ever since then all the Brāhmaṇas were deprived of their wealth. As a result of the curse those in the northern region became miserable.

Śaṅkara said thus: “The wealth of father is not always enjoyed by sons, nor that of sons and gurdians [guardians?] by father for all the period.” Kāla alone enjoys (eats up) all.

39-48. A man who takes his holy bath in the Kubereśa Tīrtha and worships Śiva with scents, incense and prostrations shall derive the benefit of a horse-sacrifice.

One who takes his holy bath in Yama Tīrtha and visits Yameśvara shall be liberated from all sins incurred in the course of seven births.

Listen to the meritorious benefit of a person who takes his holy bath on a full-moon and a new-moon day and performs Pitṛtarpaṇa (offering libations to Pitṛs). Pitṛs and Pitāmahas become well-pleased. Prapitāmahas (great-grandfathers) remain sporting about in heaven for twelve years.

A man who takes his holy bath in Varuṇeśa Tīrtha and worships Maheśvara obtains the excellent benefit of a Vājapeya Yajña. On death after a long time he goes to the world where Jaleśvara (Varuṇa) is present by means of a (special) vehicle. He will be sung about by groups of celestial damsels.

A man who takes his holy bath in Vāteśvara Tīrtha and worships Maheśvara becomes blessed and contented by seeing the Guardians of the worlds.

Of what avail to him are many Yajñas with plenty of Dakṣiṇā or Dāna, if he takes his holy bath in all the four Tīrthas and obtains the benefit of the birth.

They are blessed, they are noble souls, their birth and life is well-lived who stay in Kaurilī (?Kauberī) always after inviting the Guardians of the worlds.

This narrative is destructive of sins. It is meritorious, conducive to wealth and capable of augmenting the span of life. The sins of those who read and listen to it shall be dispelled entirely.