Chapter 229 - The Benefit of Listening to this Purāṇa

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-8. Thus, O king, the Purāṇa, the scriptural text of piety and holy rites has been recounted to you as narrated by Vāyu in the celestial assembly, thanks to the pleasure of Śiva.

There are sixty crore sixty thousand Tīrthas in the beginning, middle and the end of Narmadā at every step.

The Saṃhitā consisting of twelve thousand verses^[1] was heard by me even as the Lord of Devas narrated it. It has now been-recounted to you.

While I was staying on Mountain Amarakaṇṭaka, O king, I was asked by you. Everything has been succinctly recounted to you now.

Listen to the meritorious activity of Narmadā. It gives the same benefit as listening to the recitation of all the Vedas along with the six Aṅgas in the Pada and Krama manner.

It may even be more. When the narrative of the divine river is heard, one attains the same benefit as is gained by a person by performing a twelve-year Satra (sacrifice lasting twelve years).

By taking the holy bath once in Narmadā, one attains the same benefit as is obtained by the holy bath taken in all the Tīrthas including the ocean. The narrative of the activity of Narmadā is auspicious at the beginning, middle and end.

9-15. Listen to the meritorious benefit accruing unto a man who hears the splendid story of Narmaḍā. He attains Śiva’s holy region and becomes an attendant of Rudra and rejoices along with him surrounded by Rudrakanyās.

If the pious text of the narrative, the most excellent one among all scriptural texts, is kept in the house of anyone belonging to any of the four castes,^[2] O descendant of Bharata, whether he is in a city or a village, country, rural area or in a big land, he is Brahmā, Śiva himself and Lord Janārdana.

There are three good causes in the world, of which the path of Dharma is the most excellent. It is the weighty scriptural text of Devas too. It is the great cause of Siddhi. O son of Kuntī, I heard it directly from the mouth of Īśvara and recounted to you.

All the meritorious Tīrthas situated on the southern or northern bank (of Narmaḍā) have been particularly described according to their importance. One who visits, touches, glorifies and listens to them, is liberated from all sins and goes to Rudraloka.

16-24. If this Purāṇa uttered by Śiva is listened to always, a Brāhmaṇa becomes a knower of the Vedic lore, a Kṣatriya becomes victorious, a Vaiśya earns much wealth and a Śūdra becomes righteous.

On hearing this a woman attains conjugal felicity, progeny, wealth and heavenly pleasures.

A Brāhmaṇa-slayer, a drink-addict, a thief and a defiler of preceptor’s bed etc., become rid of sins on listening to the greatness of Narmadā.

A sinner creating dissension, an ungrateful one, a servant guilty of the breach of master’s trust, a cow-slayer, one who administers poison and one who sells his daughter—all these undoubtedly are rid of sins after listening to it.

O king, those devotees of purified souls, who always listen to it and adore it, are blessed. It is as though Devas, preceptors, Narmadā and Lord Maheśvara—all these are adored by them.

Hence this scripture becomes a bestower of benefits, when assiduously adored with great devotion through sweet scents, flowers and ornaments.

One who gets the entire auspicious story of Narmadā written and makes a gift of it to a Brāhmaṇa attains that benefit which accrues from holy baths and Dāna performed in all the Tīrthas of Narmadā. There is no doubt about it.

25-28. This Purāṇa narrated by Rudra is a bestower of great meritorious benefits, heavenly pleasures, progeny, wealth, fame and glory. It is destructive of all sins, O son of Kuntī, and dispels misery and evil dreams.

It is a bestower of all Siddhis of cherished desires and wealth on those who read and listen.

May there be peace! May there be welfare! May all the people be free from ailments! Hail unto cows and Brāhmaṇas! May piety be our resort, O son of Dharma!

Revā is the destroyer of Narakas. It sanctifies the whole universe through the Tīrthas thereof. O son of Kuntī, may Narmadā be a bestower of piety and all-round welfare on you always!

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

VV 3-4 state that this Purāṇa (Revā Khaṇḍa) consists of 12,000 verses and was narrated on Mt. Amanrakaṇṭaka.

[2]:

This generous ourlook [outlook?] is noteworthy.