Chapter 164 - The Greatness of Sāṃvaureśvara (sāṃvaura-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Thereafter, a person should go to the excellent Sāṃvaura Tīrtha where Bhānu (Sun-god) is present and is adored by Suras and Asuras.

Those who have become lame, those whose noses and nails are defective, those whose limbs are split due to itches, scabies etc., those whose wounds are infested with flies and worms, those bereaved of mothers and fathers, abandoned by brothers and wives, those helpless creatures defective in limbs who suffer a great deal of misery, do find this deity, the Lord of Sāṃvaura, the source of origin of the universe, very helpful. This deity stationed on the banks of Narmadā is destroyer of miseries of the worlds and quells pains.

Listen to the meritorious benefit of a person who regularly bathes in the Tīrtha there for a month and continuously worships Lord Bhāskara.

O son of Kuntī, the benefit that one derives by taking the holy dip in the four seas, viz. northern, eastern, western and southern seas, is derived by taking holy bath there in this Tīrtha.

Merely by taking the bath in Sāṃvaura all the sins acquired during childhood, youth and old age get destroyed.

8-13. Undoubtedly one obtains that benefit which is usually obtained by fasting on the seventh lunar day and keeping awake at night. O excellent king, by bathing in that Tīrtha one obtains the benefit of offering Arghya with red sandal-paste.

The waters of Narmadā are beautiful and destructive of all sins, especially of the section looked at by the noble-souled Sāṃvaura deity.

Those who take bath and visit the excellent Lord of Devas, Sāṃvaura, are blessed ones. They are great souls. Their life is an ideal one. By resorting to Sāṃvaura for seven births, one can permanently avoid ailments, poverty and separation from beloved ones. A devotee shall stay in Suryaloka [Sūryaloka?] until the destruction of all living beings.