Chapter 59 - Vidura Builds the Lord’s Temple

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-2. Formerly, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Ravi, Śiva and Viṣṇu were installed by Vidura in that holy place. A man who worships them with great devotion attains the highest region, very difficult to be achieved even by Yajñas.

3. Formerly, O Brāhmaṇas, while Vidura was staying at Hastināpura he was visited in his house by Gālava, a tiger among sages. He (Gālava) was asked:

4. “Of what sort is the ultimate goal in the other world of one who has no son? Kindly be gracious to me and tell me even as I ask you this.”

Gālava said:

5-6. There is no salvation unto one who has no son. On death he does not go to heaven if he has none of these twelve (types of sons): (1) Aurasa (bosom-born), (2) Kṣetraja (son born to his wife), (3) Krayakrīta (one who is bought on payment), (4) Pālita (one who is brought up), (5) Paunarbhava (widow’s son after remarriage), (6) Datta (adopted), (7) Kuṇḍa (son born in adultery), (8) Gola (widow's bastard), (9) Kānīna (son of an unmarried woman), (10) Sahoḍha (son of a woman pregnant at the time of marriage), (11) Aśvattha (banyan tree) (see verse 12 below), (12) Brahmavṛkṣaka (religious fig tree).

7. If men do not have any one of these, they will have to stay surely in the Naraka named Puṃ.

Sūta said:

8. On hearing the words of the noble-souled Gālava, Vidura became extremely distressed because he had no sons.

9-11. Vidura was dejected and Gālava said to him: “Do not grieve over it. At my instance make the tree named Viṣṇu (i.e. Aśvattha) your son quickly. Thereby you will obtain the entire benefit of having a son. Go to the holy place on the top of the mountain Raktaśṛṅga, to the holy spot named Hāṭakeśvara that is the cause of (i.e. which gives) all prosperity and auspicious well-being.”

On hearing his words Vidura instantly started:

12. With great joy he went to the place indicated by Gālava. There he planted an Aśvattha tree and consecrated it as his son.

13. He became contented with that sort of marital rite. Thereafter he went round that holy place like engaged in pilgrimage.

14. He had heard the glorification of various wonderful holy spots connected with noble-souled saintly kings. Now he travelled and visited the different deities of those holy Spots.

15. He visited the glorified shrines of the noble-souled, elderly member of the Kuru clan (i.e. Bhīṣma) and intended to build places to the deities.

16. Then he installed the Liṅga of Maheśvara beneath the Vaṭa (holy fig tree). He then installed Viṣṇu beneath the Aśvattha tree.

17. After consecrating the deities he pleaded to the Brāhmaṇas: “These three deities have been installed by me in your holy place. All the affairs (services) of these should be considered and managed by you all.”

The Brāhmaṇas said:

18-19. We shall perform all the rites such as the Yātrā (religious procession) etc. of these deities. Our sons, grandsons and others hailing from our families shall continue to perform all the requisite rites. Do go back home.

20. Thereupon Vidura joyously went back to his city and was contented. Those Brāhmaṇas too carried out the requests made by him.

21. A man who worships Bhāskara (the Sun-god) there on the seventh lunar day in the month of Māgha coinciding with a Sunday attains the greatest goal.

22. Or he should worship Śiva on a Monday particularly coinciding with the eighth lunar day in the bright half of the month. He should worship Viṣṇu with full faith at the time of Śayana (Āṣāḍha) and Bodhana (Kārttika) (on the eleventh days in the bright half of Āṣāḍha and Kārttika).

23. Hence with all endeavour that splendid trio of deities should be worshipped particularly by men desirous of attaining the goal of heaven.

24. Hundreds and thousands of sages of esteemed vows have attained Siddhi there formerly by propitiating Vidureśvara.

25. Thereupon, realizing that the Liṅga is the bestower of Siddhi, the Chastiser of Pāka (i.e. Indra) filled it with dust particles so that none will come to know of it.

26. Once thereafter Vidura happened to come there. On seeing that the Liṅga had vanished ḥe felt very miserable.

27-28. At the same time an unembodied voice spoke: “O Vidura, do not feel sorry now. Yonder there appears a sapling of Vaṭa tree. The divine Droṇī (tank) beneath it has been filled up with dust particles by the Lord of Suras.”

29. Thereupon he brought much wealth from Hastināpura and renovated the entire place working day and night untiringly.

30. Then he saw the deities and was delighted very much. He built palaces befitting them and well constructed.

31-33. The great sage built a palace as lofty as the peak of Kailāsa for the Sun-god. He observed that Maheśvara had got entangled with the hanging roots of the Vaṭa tree. So he did not build a palace lest the Liṅga should be displaced. He built a big chamber befitting Vāsudeva. With great delight he offered means of sustenance to the Brāhmaṇas. He took leave of the Brāhmaṇas then and went to his hermitage.