Chapter 110 - Greatness of Sixty-eight Tīrthas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Devī said:

1-2. O most excellent one among Suras, men on the earth are not able at all to take their baths in these Tīrthas even if they be long-lived. Hence tell me the most important ones out of these Tīrthas so that a man taking his holy bath in them perfectly can attain the benefit of all of them.

Īśvara said:

3. O fair lady, among these, eight Tīrthas are the most excellent ones. If people take their bath in them, they will attain the benefit of all.

4. They are: Naimiṣa, Kedāra, Puṣkara, Kṛmi (Kuru?)-Jāṅgala, Vārāṇasī, Kurukṣetra, Prabhāsa and Hāṭakeśvara.

5. One who takes his holy bath in all these eight perfectly and faithfully gets the benefit of taking the holy bath in all the sixty-eight Tīrthas. The truth has been mentioned by me.

Śrī Devī said:

6. O Mahādeva, holy bath in Kali age will take place with very great difficulty. Hence tell me the most important Tīrtha from among these.

7. O Three-eyed Lord of Devas, if I am your favourite, devout beloved behaving in accordance with your mental inclination, mention the most important of all these eight.

Īśvara said:

8. O goddess of Devas, that holy spot named Hāṭakeśvara is the most excellent of all these eight Tīrthas.

9. At my bidding, all the holy places are present here. So also the other Tīrthas even when Kali age has arrived.

10. Hence, with all efforts that holy spot should be resorted to by men who wish for salvation. The truth has been said by me.

Sūta said:

11. Thus, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, everything connected with the sixty-eight Kṣetras along with the names and the deities has been narrated to you.

12-13. This is the secret narrated to Pārvatī by the Lord. I have joyously detailed them to you entirely. He who reads this and listens to this with devotion regarding the sixty-eight Kṣetras attains the merit of bath therein.