Chapter 143 - The Greatness of Yojaneśvara (yojana-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-8. Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the excellent Yojaneśvara Tīrtha where, in a former Kalpa, the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa became Siddhas.

It was after performing a penance there at that Tīrtha that both of them, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, of noble souls, gained victory in the battle between Devas and Dānavas.

Again, when Tretā Yuga arrived, Lords Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa took their bath in that Tīrtha. Thereby the invincible demon Rāvaṇa could be killed.

Again after the advent of Kali^[1] age (sic) Lords Balarāma and Keśava were born in the family of Vasudeva. They performed formidable deeds. Balarāma and Keśava killed Naraka, Kālanemi, Kaṃsa, Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, Śiśupāla and Jarāsandha^[2] (sic).

That Lord will kill in the battle Karṇa, Duryodhana and others with Bhīṣma and Droṇa as their leaders.

They will engage themselves in fighting in Kurukṣetra, the sacred battlefield, making Bhīma and Arjuna, the disciples of each, as instruments.

They will go to that Tīrtha again and perform a severe penance. After devoutly honouring Brāhmaṇas, they will return to Dvārakā once again.

9-17. If a person takes his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and worships Balarāma and Keśava, it is as though the Supreme Lord, the sustainer of the universe, endowed with the three Guṇas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) is honoured by him.

A man who observes fast, keeps awake at night and sings his splendid story, becomes absolved of all sins.

As many trees men see there in that Tīrtha so many sins such as those of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter etc. become dissolved (at once).

Those who get up in the morning and see Balarāma and Keśava, become by that very act of seeing, similar to the Discusbearing Lord of Devas.

Those who bow down to Hari, Lord Nārāyaṇa, worthy of being adored by the whole universe become themselves worthy of adoration and obeisance. Their life is well-lived.

Whatever is performed in that Tīrtha by way of Dāna, Snāna and adoration of the deity, the fruit thereof becomes everlasting.

It is (traditionally stated) that gold is the first progeny of Agni. The earth (plot of land) belongs to Viṣṇu and cows are the children of Sun-god. If a person makes a gift of a cow, a piece of gold or plot of land, it is as though all the three worlds have been gifted by him.

Thus the entire excellence and greatness of the Tīrtha, its great efficacy past, present and future has been recounted to you.

By listening to this and by narrating this to righteous persons, one is rid of all sins. No hesitation or worry in this regard (is needed).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Kali Age began after Kṛṣṇa’s death. Hence he belongs to Dvāpara Age.

[2]:

Bhīma killed Jarāsandha (Mahābhārata, Sabhā 24.7).