Chapter 234 - Greatness Of Daśāśvamedha (Tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the Tīrtha named Daśāśvamedhika. It is destructive of major sins and is well-known all over the three worlds.

Considering this Kṣetra as very excellent, Bharata came here formerly and performed ten horse-sacrifices, O fair lady.

O fair lady, the Thousand-eyed Lord was pleased by imbibing Soma there. Wretched ones were pleased due to the foodstuffs and beverages and the twice-born ones were pleased with the monetary gifts. All the Devas who were delighted spoke to king Bharata: “O mighty one, we have been gratified by means of your Yajñas. O great king, choose your boon whatever you have in your mind.”

The king said:

5. Let a man who comes here and devoutly takes his holy bath obtain the splendid benefit of ten horse-sacrifices.

The Devas said:

6. Due to one’s faith one will attain the benefit of ten horse-sacrifices. This Tīrtha will become famous after the name Daśāśvamedhika all over the earth. O great king, no doubt need be entertained in this respect.

Īśvara said.:

7. Ever since then that Tīrtha, the destroyer of all sins, came to be well-known as Daśāśvamedhika.

8. The Aśvamedhika Kṣetra extends east to west from Gomukha. Learned men know that the holy spot of Śiva is in between.

9. It is divine and destructive of all sins. It is like a flight of stairs uṇto heaven. It is glorified as the abode of one and a quarter crores of Tīrthas.

10-12. If life is given up there, one rejoices in the world of Śiva. Sinful ones, worms, birds and animals and all brutish beings too go to the greatest abode where Lord Maheśvara dwells.

By offering libation of gingelly seeds mixed with water, all the Pitṛs on mother’s side and father’s side become pleased till all living beings get annihilated.

There, innumerable excellent Yajñas were performed earlier by Brahmā.

13. By performing a Yajña there, Śakra obtained the king-ship of Devas.

One hundred Yajñas were formerly performed by Kārtavīrya there.

14. Thus, O my beloved, that excellent spot within the Kṣetra is very excellent. It accords freedom from rebirth unto all creatures that die there.

15. He who has purified his soul and performs the rite of Vṛṣotsarga (setting a bull free) is honoured in heaven for as many years as there are hairs on the body of the bull.