Chapter 123 - Glory of Śukla Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The Tīrtha (that is water in it) turned everything placed inside it white and hence is called ‘Śukla Tīrtha’.

Sūta said:

1-3. Further, there is another excellent Tīrtha there named Śuklatīrtha. It is known even today by means of the white Darbha grass, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.

Formerly, there was a washerman named Śuddhaka in Camatkārapura. He was an expert in the use of darts. He was accompanied by his sons and grandsons. He was chief of all washermen. He used to wash the garments of important Brāhmaṇas.

4. Once upon a time though he had mental concentration he put the garments of the leading Brāhmaṇas in the cauldron of indigo and became aware of it only later.

5. Moody in mind, the terrified washerman called his wife and sons and spoke to them in secret:

6-7. “Many costly garments of noble-souled Brāhmaṇas were put in the indigo cauldron by mistake. Undoubtedly, they may imprison or even kill us. Hence, we shall go elsewhere tonight itself.”

8. After deciding thus, he took all essential things from the house, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, and prepared to set off along with his wife like fugitive.

9-10. In the meanwhile, his daughter went to a fisherman’s daughter who was her friend and said: “O fair lady, if any misdemeanour has been committed by me, let it be excused. While playing with you I might have committed some mistake knowingly or unknowingly. It might have been due to my childishness or over-friendliness. Or perhaps due to anger or keen jealousy.”

11. On hearing these words all of a sudden, her eyes became dimmed with tears. She said: “What is this, O fair lady? Why do you tell me like this?”

The friend said:

12. O lady of excellent eyes, very costly garments of Brāhmaṇas were put in the indigo solution by my father by mistake.

13. On coming to know of this in the morning, they are sure to fine him or give him some other terrible punishment.

Thinking about this, my father has set off now.

14. O uncensured (praise-worthy) one, I have come to you to meet you. I shall go away on being permitted by you. Hence I may be allowed to go.

15. On hearing her words, she spoke with a pleasant face: “If this is the case, O lotus-eyed one, you need not go anywhere.

16. Hurry up and prevent your father from going away. Tell him not to go. To the north-east of this place, there is a water-pond.

17. Once a net of very dark fibres and hair was cast into it by my father. Immediately it turned white.

18. He was surprised. Out of curiosity, he himself took his bath there. He was dark-complexioned before. He turned into a white-complexioned one.

19. His hairs too suddenly became white causing disgust to women onlookers. Ever since then no one consciously goes there.

20. So, let your father wash those clothes there itself soon. O splendid girḥ they will become quite pure (white).”

21. The girl thereupon hurried back to her father and with the face beaming with pleasure and eagerness repeated those words:

22-23. “I have been informed by my friend that there is a water-pond not far off. Whatever is nonwhite and put therein becomes white. So go to that pond in the morning and wash these clothes, there. They will undoubtedly become white.”

The washerman said:

24. Dear daughter, this is simply impossible that the indigo-colour of a cloth can disappear. It has been said by old people.

25. “There is only one tenacious grip: that of Vajralepa (hard cement-like adhesive), of a fool, of women, of a crab, of a fish, of blue indigo and of a drunkard."

The girl said:

26. Go there taking all the clothes with you. If they turn white come back.

27. You can come back home or go away to distant quarters from that place along with all of us. This is what I think.

28. On hearing her words, the kinsmen and servants repeatedly said: “Well said!" All of them went away during the night itself.

29. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, they still had a great doubt. Hence, they went away with all their valuables and possessions. They kept the fisherman’s daughter in front of them as their guide.

30. The fisherman’s girl showed them the water pond overgrown and densely covered with many creepers. It was impenetrable to all embodied beings.

31. The washerman entered the pond with all the garments, O Brāhmaṇas and washed them.

32. All those excellent garments originally dark-coloured turned entirely crystal-white instantly.

33. Then he became glad and exclaimed, “Excellent!” He embraced his daughter and respectfully said to the daughter:

34. “We shall return all the excellent garments to the leading Brāhmaṇas in due order.”

35. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, he went back to his abode joyously and gave back all those garments (to the respective Brāhmaṇas).

36. On seeing the whiteness of the garments and on finding that the washerman himself had been turned all white, the Brāhmaṇas became surprised.

37. They asked him, “What is this wonderful unprecedented change? What has happened to the garments and also (to you)? Speak out if you think (you know the cause).”

The washerman said:

38. O Brāhmaṇas, these garments were put in indigo solution by me by mistake. All the excellent garments were rendered useless.

39. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, a great fear caught hold of me. As soon as night fell, I moved out into the wide world along with my family.

40. Then this daughter of ours went to her friend, the fisherman’s daughter. She was extremely miserable and was eager to see her again.

41. She understood everything that caused sorrow (panic) to me. She stood as a guide and showed us the water-pond.

42. As soon as these garments were put in it, they turned into these bright colours causing surprise (to us).

43. Further my dark hair became white as soon as I took bath. Everything has thus been clearly explained by me.

44-45. On hearing this, the Brāhmaṇas became curious. They went there in order to test it themselves. Thousands of dark-coloured objects like hair etc. were put in it. Everything turned white losing its (original) dirty colour.

46. Then those who had their hair particularly white due to old age took bath with perfect faith. Young men of righteous behaviour too (took bath).

47. Then they attained purity and were equipped with refulgence and vigour. Thanks to its power, they attained the great goal.

48. Then Vāsava observed that the Śuklatīrtha was the bestower of salvation. Afraid of (its misuse by) human beings, he filled it up with dust particles.

49. Even today whatever grows there like grass etc. becomes bright (white), thanks to the power of that water.

50. One who is endowed with faith and performs Śrāddha with the white Kuśa grasses growing there, redeems all the Pitṛs even though they have fallen into Naraka.

51. An excellent man who applies over his body the mud taken out of the Tīrtha and takes the holy bath attains the benefit of all the Tīrthas.

52. O Brāhmaṇas, a man who offers libation devoutly by means of those Darbhas and gingelly seeds grown naturally in the forest propitiates grandfathers.

53. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, what could be attained by a horse-sacrifice, through Gayā Śrāddha or by loosening a blue bull is attained here also.

The sages said:

54. How did this Śuklatīrtha come into being here, O Sūtanandana? Explain it in detail. We are very eager.

Sūta said:

55-56. Śvetadvīpa was brought here by the powerful Viṣṇu. He was afraid of Kali and thought it would lose its whiteness. Śvetadvīpa will not attain dark colour though contacted by Kali Kāla. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, it was for that purpose that it was placed here.