Chapter 7 - Eminence of Cakratīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Prahlāda said:

1. Then O best of Brāhmaṇas! go to that particular ocean bearing the discus of Viṣṇu in a part of its body. A sight of the mark of Viṣṇu’s discus on the stones here brings in liberation for one.

2. Those who happen to worship the lord of the universe, i.e. Jagannātha accompanied by earnest feelings can expect to have a sight of Janārdana forever without blinkling of their eyelids.

3. The God Viṣṇu as Kṛṣṇa directly looks upon everyone from here. Having a mark of discus of the God on its body, this centre of pilgrimage is the best among pilgrimages as far as having a look of the supreme Hari (an epithet of Viṣṇu) is concerned.

4. It has the highest reputation in the three worlds extending over both the animate and the inanimate. It is considered greater than Prayāga as a holy place and as a liberator.

5. The gods as well as the embodied beings certainly worship this discus marked here in the body for six months.

6. Just by having a look of this, a human being gets free from sins in whatever circumstances the same may have been committed. It is due to this that it is counted as the best among the centres of pilgrimage.

7. After coming there, O best of Brāhmaṇas! wash your feet as well as hands. Thereafter, pay your salutation falling flat on the ground.

8. After paying your homage, collect five gems in your hands as well as other things like flowers, unbroken grains, incense, fruits, gold and the sandalwood meant for offerings in the ritual of worship.

9. After through with the things to be offered in worship, go to the western side of the ocean and then facing it, utter mantra (i.e. the sacred prayer as per Vedic hymns) as follows:

10. Om namaḥ Viṣṇu rupayaḥ, Viṣṇu Cakraya te namaḥ.

grahanārghya mayā dattam sarva kāma prado bhava.”

This means “homage to you the discus of Viṣṇu and representing the form of Viṣṇu. Please accept the offerings of mine given as a matter of worship. Let this cause fulfillment of all my desires.”

11. Then O Brāhmaṇas! saying, “O fire! O resplendent! O Mruda [Mṛḍa?]! (an epithet of Śiva), O Rudra! (again an epithet of Śiva) O bearer of the seed of progeny! (i.e. Retodha [Retodhā/Retodhas?]) and O the paramount and eternal Lord Viṣṇu,” enter into the master of rivers, i.e. the ocean for a bath.

12. Take a portion of earth trickling down from the hands of gods raise the same to your heads and then take your bath as per laid down procedure.

13. Then offer libations to forefathers, gods and men in the same stated order. Then after washing things, do the sacrifices to fire with ghee and due devotion.

14. O best of Brāhmaṇas! the fruits that are obtainable after conducting of thousands of sacrificial fire involving sacrifice of horses, have been stated to accrue by just having a bath at Cakratīrtha.

15. O best of Brāhmaṇas! the fruit as has been stated to result by the worship of Mādhava (i.e. an epithet of Kṛṣṇa) at Prayāga in the month of Māgha, i.e. February, results through a bath only at Cakratīrtha.

16. Do the śrāddha ceremony in honour of forefathers there with due regard. Make donations of gold as well as of silver to the universal gods and forefathers respectively.

17. Offer food to the afflicted and the tormented. Endow them with clothes and ornaments as well. Give presents to the poor, the blind and the miserly as per your own ability.

18. ö virtuous Brāhmaṇas! in Cakratīrtha—the leading centre of pilgrimage, the Lord of the world can be gratified by donations of weaved material studded with gems.

19. Donating a cart yoked with oxen to be driven and complete in all respects is gratifying for Viṣṇu.

20. One may offer a well-disciplined, well-trained horse with good conduct after duly adorning it and along with one’s donations to a Brāhmaṇa.

21. O best Brāhmaṇas! by doing so a man becomes accomplished in doing that which is worth doing. His forefathers extending over three generations of his clan attain liberation by this.

22-23. Those who might have reached the womb of ghostly spirits or those who might have got the life of worms/insects onto themselves or even those who might be getting themselves roasted in the hell so defined as dreadful—they all get contentment by the influence of Cakratīrtha. The fruits of śrāddha at Gayā can equally be held here, the best of Brāhmaṇas, through a conduct of śrāddha.

24. The fate that awaits devoted allegiance to one’s mother or the regular conducting of sacrificial fires can be gained through a bath at Cakratīrtha.

25. O the master Brāhmaṇas! the best results of śrāddha can be had here on the new moon day. Similarly, the śrāddha conducted on a day of solar eclipse is specially remembered for bestowing one with the results obtainable following similar rites at Kurukṣetra. The activities like śrāddha, the religious ritual of taking a bath here, making charities and offering of libations of water in memory of forefathers have been recommended on such occasions.

26. The Cakratīrtha is the best one, the excellent one. Never think of actions anywhere else oṃer than here.

27. O Brāhmaṇas! the Cakratīrtha always remains holy and there can be no doubt about this. Man comes here to conduct śrāddha in memory of his forefathers.

28. O the best Brāhmaṇas! come to Cakratīrtha for the purpose of worshipping Madhusūdana (an epithet of Kṛṣṇa). The master Brāhmaṇas, by saluting him here, one can get closer to Viṣṇu.

29. Sins are earned through words or through deeds committed intentionally. But all such sins get destroyed by only a bath here and nowhere else. There can be no doubt about this.