Chapter 175 - The Greatness of Kapileśvara (kapila-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-6. On the northern bank of Narmadā, in the middle of the region called Bhṛgukṣetra, Kapileśvara Tīrtha is well-known as particularly destructive of sins.

The eternal Lord who is cited in the Purāṇa as Vāsudeva, the Lord of the universe, incarnated as Kapila.

There is a Pātāla (nether world) named Sutala. Beneath it is Nitala. Gabhastiga is lower down. Then Andhatāmisra is beneath it. There is the great seventh nether world where the ancient Lord Parameśvara resides.

He is Brahmā. He is Mahādeva. He is the Garuḍa-emblemed Lord (Viṣṇu). He stays there adored by Suras and Siddhas and expounders of Brahman.

O great king, even as Kapila, the preceptor of the universe, stayed there, the sons of Sagara perished in a moment in front of him.

7-11. On seeing them reduced to ashes, Kapila, the excellent sage, was extremely distressed. He thought that he had incurred sin.

‘When the mind has been freed from all sensuous objects and when every contact has been eschewed, it is improper on my part to have destroyed sixty thousand men.

A thing done cannot be undone. I shall, therefore, go to the Kapila Tīrtha that is destructive of all sins and get rid of my sins.’

Thereafter, Kapila, the excellent sage, left Pātāla, settled on the banks of Narmadā and performed a great penance.

Having become extremely disgusted (with worldly affairs), he adored the immutable Rudra by means of different kinds of vows and restraints, holy ablutions, Dāna, Japa etc.

12-19. He who takes his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and worships Parameśvara, shall undoubtedly obtain the merit of gifting a thousand cows.

On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha, a person should take his holy bath as per religious formalities there and make gifts devoutly to a deserving Brāhmaṇa, be it very little or much. The benefit has been mentioned as everlasting by Śiva Parameṣṭhin (the Supreme Absolute).

Whether a man or a woman, one should take one’s holy bath on a fourth or ninth lunar day coinciding with a Tuesday. With devotion, he should observe fast. For seven births he (or she) always obtains exquisite beauty, unparalleled prosperity, conjugal felicity and good progeny again and again. On new-moon day and full-moon day, one should offer balls of rice after taking holy ablution. The Pitṛs become pleased with him for twelve years and go to heaven.

If with great devotion anyone offers splendid light, O great king, the splendour of his body becomes very great.

In regard to the creatures that die there in the Tīrtha, their departure to Śivamandira (palace of Śiva) shall be without a return from there.