Chapter 36 - Greatness of Prācī Sarasvatī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Devī said:

1-2. It has been said by you that Prācī Sarasvatī is difficult of access everywhere, especially in Kurukṣetra, Prabhāsa and Puṣkara. How did this river destructive of all sins reach Prabhāsa and halt there eventually? O Lord Maheśāna, describe fully the greatness that is destructive of sins, of that Prācī, if I am your beloved.

Īśvara said:

3. O fair lady, you have said pertinently. Prācī is difficult of access everywhere, in Kurukṣetra, and Puṣkara and more so in the holy spot of Prabhāsa.

4. O great goddess, O goddess of Devas, no one devoid of merit obtains in Prabhāsa, Prācī the destroyer of sins and capable of rooting out (adverse) Karmas.

5. It is the truth, (I repeat) it is true that men who drink the water of Prācī Sarasvatī should never be thought of as mere men, O lady of excellent countenance.

6. Blessed indeed are those sages and meritorious ascetics who drink the waters of the Sarasvatī everyday.

7. They are gods. They are not human beings, but gods who drink the waters of the three rivers, namely Gaṅgā, Candrabhāgā (Chinab) and the divine Sarasvatī.

8. This can be after taking food or while abstaining from food. It may be by day or at night; In Prācī Sarasvatī there is no time restriction (for drinking water).

9. Even those animals that drink Prācī Sarasvatī always will go to Svarga as in the case of excellent Brāhmaṇas (who do so) through Yajñas.

10. In the case of laymen, that excellent holy place serves the purpose of fulfilling all desires. There, Prācī Sarasvatī is on a par with Cintāmaṇi (the fabulous philosopher’s stone yielding everything wished for).

11. Just as the Kāmadhuk (wish-yielding) cows accord the benefit of achieving all desires, so also the divine Prācī Sarasvatī through heavenly pleasures and absolute salvation.

12. What else can. be regarded as superior to this (holy spot) where eighty-eight thousand sages of sublimated sexuality have stayed on, renouncing the idea of leaving for other holy spots?

IB. It is the place where Maṅkaṇaka attained Siddhi. He observed restrictions and self-control in Prācīna (a holy spot on the Prācī river). O lady of excellent countenance, I performed the expiatory rite for (the sin of) Brāhmaṇa-slaughter in that place.

14. When the Mahābhārata war concluded, Kirīṭin (Arjuna) performed expiatory rite on being directed by Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa). He performed the rite in that Tīrtha, the highly meritorious Tīrtha situated on the banks of Prācī.

15. Among all the Tīrthas of the three worlds, that Tīrtha is remembered as the most excellent. It destroys the sins of living beings. It generates (confers) merits and it accords meritorious renown.

Sūta said:

16. On this being told thus, the goddess spoke to Śaṅkara, the benefactor of the worlds: “O Lord, how did Pārtha (Arjuna), the conqueror of the cities of the enemies, undergo the expiation? How did the sin caused by the killing of the kinsmen get dissolved?”

17. On being asked thus, Nīlalohita, the Lord of the universe, spoke of the manner in which he realized the expiation as obtaining there.

Īśvara said:

18. O fair lady, listen with attention to the story that ḍestroys sins. By listening to this devoutly, a man becomes one of purified soul.

19. O goddess, he who is called Kirīṭin and Śvetavāhana (i.e. Arjuna) conquered all the Kauravas and slaughtered horses and elephants.

20. Thereafter, with the help of Bhīma he got Suyodhana (killed). This Nara along with Nārāyaṇa set off homewards from the battlefield and reached the abode.

21-23a. With a desire to meet the son of Dharma, the delighted Arjuna bowed down to him and stood ready with palms joined in reverence. On coming to know that both of them, Nara and Nārāyaṇa were coming, King Yudhiṣṭhira spoke to the sentries at the entrance gate: “You who are at the gate should prevent these two from entering. Nara and Nārāyaṇa are cruel. They are smeared with the mire of sins”.

23b. They said, “It will be so”. When the two came near the gate, they were told thus:

24. “The king does not wish to see both of you because you are guilty of misconduct.” Nara himself who was standing there asked the sentry:

25. “What is the reason? Why does our king not wish to see both of us (who are) completely under his control?” Then the King who was bowed to, said to the sentry standing before:

26. He also spoke to Nara who was dauntless of even hell and who was accompanied by Nārāyaṇa: “Since all the kinsmen including Duryodhana and all the kings on a par with the parents were killed by you, you have incurred sins.”

27. When this was spoken, he (Nara) looked at the face of Hari. Hari said, “What has been uttered by the king is the truth.”

28-29. When this was uttered, Nara spoke to Janārdana once again: “O Kṛṣṇa, say, how are we going to get free from the sin? O Kṛṣṇa, tell me clearly how I will get purified through the holy bath in a Tīrtha viz. Gaṅgā etc. which is destructive of sins.”

Kṛṣṇa said:

30. O Kaunteya, do not go to Gayā. Do not go to Puṣkara. O most excellent one among the scions of the family of Kuru, go to that place where Prācī Sarasvatī flows.

31. Brāhmaṇa-slayers, those who imbibe liquor as well as other sinners, become rid of the sins by taking the holy bath at the place where Prācī Sarasvatī flows.

32. On being told thus by Nārāyaṇa, Nara, immediately in compliance of his words, reached the excellent Prācīna Tīrtha accompanied by him.

33. He observed fast for three nights and took his holy ablution thrice a day with full self-control. Thereby he got rid of the sins accumulated earlier.

34. On realizing that he had become pure, King Dharmaputra, accompanied by his brothers came there to see the leading Nara.

35. Then Dharmaputra saw him in front bowing down. With a delighted soul, he embraced him and enquired after his health.

36. Nara endowed with many good qualities, was surrounded by the group of elders. He was embraced by his delighted brothers Bhīma and others.

37. Such is that great Tīrtha called Prācīna. It is the purifier of men and others through regular holy ablution.

38. Even one who is a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, but takes his bath in this Tīrtha and observes fast for three nights, becomes rid of that sin. He rejoices in heaven like Rudra.

39. O goddess, O beautiful woman, I reside along with you in this great ancient holy spot Prabhāsa.

40. He who casts off his body, O beautiful lady, in the holy spot Prācīna on the northern bank of Sarasvatī, does not come here again.

41. If he takes his plunge he will get the full benefit of a horse-sacrifice. He should get his body dried up by means of restraints and fasts.

42-43. There are ascetics of various kinds: some take in only water; some take in only air; others have leaves for diet. They observe many restraints such as always lying down on the dry bare ground. If the people who reside in the hermitage of Maṅki, meet with death, they are no longer men. They are Devas. I speak the truth.

44. In this Tīrtha, if anyone offers a bit of gold with great faith to a leading Brāhmaṇa, he will obtain the benefit thereof on a par with Meru.

45. Men who perform Śrāddha in this Tīrtha will certainly go to heaven in the company of twenty-one generations.

46. Those propitiated with a single rice-ball in this Tīrtha that is a favourite of the Pitṛs, will go to Brahmaloka like those who perform Gayāśrāddha.

47. Holy bath on the fourteenth day in the dark half is always laid down. If a devotee offers balls of Piṇyāka or Iṅgudaka, the Pitṛs are eternally satisfied. The devotee goes to Pitṛloka.

48. If they offer much rice (food), they go along the path to salvation.

49. He who offers excellent curds there to a Brāhmaṇa, reaches Agniloka and enjoys splendid pleasures.

50. He who devoutly offers a woollen blanket to an excellent Brāhmaṇa attains great Siddhi very difficult for others to acquire.

51. If men enter the waters here for getting rid of dirt, one can easily predict the benefit acquired on a par with the gift of cows.

52. A man who takes the holy bath with ardent fervour, shall be rid of all sins and will be honoured in Brahmaloka.

53. The Pitṛs detained in Narakas can be redeemed by an excellent son by means of libations and offerings of rice-balls. They go to Svarga.

54. If anyone who has gone to Prācī Sarasvatī turns to Himālaya, he forsakes what he has in his hand and begins to lick with the elbow (obscure).

55. He who casts away his life thinking of anything whatever before death, obtains it entirely, thanks to the greatness of the Tīrtha.

56-58. Another thing, O goddess. This has been said by Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma) to Yudhiṣṭhira: “It is true that we are born of Gaṅgā, O Yudhiṣṭhira, but out of all the rivers in the world, Sarasvatī is the greatest and the most meritorious of all of them. Sarasvatī is the most meritorious of all the rivers. Sarasvatī always accords happiness to all the people. After reaching Sarasvatī, even a most miserable man never grieves here or hereafter.