Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 26
Sourceनारदउवाच-। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र कुरुक्षेत्रमभिष्टुतम् । पापेभ्यो विप्रमुच्यंते तद्गताः सर्वजंतवः १। कुरुक्षेत्रं गमिष्यामि कुरुक्षेत्रे वसाम्यहम् । य एवं सततं ब्रूयात्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते २। तत्र मासं वसेद्धीरः सरस्वत्यां नराधिप । यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा यत्र ब्रह्मर्षिचारणाः ३। गंधर्वाप्सरसो यक्षाः पन्नगाश्च महीपते । ब्रह्मक्षेत्रं महापुण्यमभिगच्छंति भारत ४। मनसाप्यभिकामस्य कुरुक्षेत्रे युधिष्ठिर । पापानि विप्रणश्यंति ब्रह्मलोकं च गच्छति ५। गत्वा हि श्रद्धया युक्तः कुरुक्षेत्रं कुरूद्वह । वाजपेयाश्वमेध्याभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः ६। ततो मत्तर्णकं राजन्द्वारपालं महाबलम् । यं वै समभिवाद्यैव गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ७। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ विष्णोः स्थानमनुत्तमम् । सततं नाम राजेंद्र यत्र सन्निहितो हरिः ८। तत्र स्नात्वा च दृष्ट्वा च त्रिलोकप्रभवं हरिम् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति ९। ततः पारिप्लवं गच्छेत्तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः १०। पृथिव्यां तीर्थमासाद्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततः शाल्विकिनीं गत्वा तीर्थसेवी नराधिप ११। दशाश्वमेधिके स्नात्वा तदेव लभते फलम् । सर्पनीविं समासाद्य नागानां तीर्थमुत्तमम् १२। अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति नागलोकं च गच्छति । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ द्वारपालमतर्णकम् १३। तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततःपंचनदंगत्वानियतोनियताशनः १४। कोटितीर्थमुपस्पृश्य हयमेधफलं लभेत् । अश्विनीतीर्थमागम्य रूपवानभिजायते १५। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ वाराहं तीर्थमुत्तमम् । विष्णुर्वाराहरूपेण पुरा यत्र स्थितोऽभवत् १६। तत्र स्थित्वा नरव्याघ्र अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । ततो जयिन्यां राजेंद्र सोमतीर्थं समाविशेत् १७। स्नात्वा फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयस्य मानवः । एकहंसे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् १८। कृतशौचं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी कुरूद्वह । पुंडरीकमवाप्नोति कृतशौचो भवेच्च सः १९। ततो मुंजावटं नाम महादेवस्य धीमतः । तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात् २०। तत्रैव च महाराज जयां लोकपरिश्रुताम् । स्नात्वाभिगम्य राजेंद्र सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात् २१। कुरुक्षेत्रस्य तद्द्वारं विश्रुतं भरतर्षभ । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य तीर्थसेवी समावृतः २२। संस्मृते पुष्कराणां तु स्नात्वार्च्य पितृदेवताः । जामदग्न्येन रामेण आहूते वै महात्मना २३। कृतकृत्यो भवेद्राजन्नश्वमेधं च विंदति । ततो रामह्रदं गच्छेत्तीर्थसेवी नराधिप २४। यत्र रामेण राजेंद्र तरसा दीप्ततेजसा । क्षत्रमुत्सार्य वीर्येण ह्रदाः पंच निषेविताः । पूरयित्वा नरव्याघ्र रुधिरेणेति नः श्रुतम् २५। पितरस्तर्पिताः सर्वे तथैव प्रपितामहाः । ततस्ते पितरः प्रीताः राममूचुर्महीपते २६। रामराम महाभाग प्रीताः स्म तव भार्गव । अनया पितृभक्त्या च विक्रमेण च तेऽनघ २७। वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते किमिच्छसि महामते । एवमुक्तः स राजेंद्र रामः प्रवदतां वरः २८। अब्रवीत्प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं पितॄन्स गगने स्थितान् । भवंतो यदि मे प्रीता यद्यनुग्राह्यता मयि २९। पितृप्रसादादिच्छेयं तपसाप्यायनं पुनः । यच्च रोषाभिभूतेन क्षत्रमुत्सादितं मया ३०। ततश्च पापान्मुच्येयं युष्माकं तेजसा ह्यहम् । ह्रदाश्च तीर्थभूता मे भवेयुर्भुवि विश्रुताः ३१। एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं रामस्य पितरस्तदा । प्रत्यूचुः परमप्रीता रामं तोषसमन्विताः ३२। तपस्ते वर्द्धतां भूयः पितृभक्त्या विशेषतः । यच्च रोषाभिभूतेन क्षत्रमुत्सादितं त्वया ३३। ततश्च पापान्मुक्तस्त्वं निहतास्ते स्वकर्म्मणा । ह्रदाश्च तव तीर्थत्वं गमिष्यंति न संशयः ३४। ह्रदेष्वेतेषु यः स्नात्वा पितॄन्संतर्पयिष्यति । पितरस्तस्य वै प्रीता दास्यंति भुवि दुर्ल्लभम् ३५। ईप्सितं मनसः कामं स्वर्गलोकं सशाश्वतम् । एवं दत्त्वा वरं राजन्रामस्य पितरस्तदा । आमंत्र्य भार्गवं प्रीतास्तत्रैवांतर्दधुस्ततः ३६। एवं रामह्रदाः पुण्या भार्गवस्य महात्मनः । स्नात्वा ह्रदेषु रामस्य ब्रह्मचारी शुभव्रतः ३७। राममभ्यर्च्य राजेंद्र लभेद्बहुसुवर्णकम् । वंशमूलं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी कुरूद्वह ३८। स्ववंशमुद्धरेद्राजन्स्नात्वा वै वंशमूलके । कायशोधनमासाद्य तीर्थं भरतसत्तम ३९। शरीरशुद्धिमाप्नोति स्नातस्तस्मिन्न संशयः । शुद्धदेहस्तु संयाति शुभाँल्लोकाननुत्तमान् ४०। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभम् । लोका यत्रोद्धृताः पूर्वं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ४१। लोकोद्धारं समासाद्य तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । स्नात्वा तीर्थवरे राजन्लोकानुद्धरते स्वकान् ४२। श्रीतीर्थं च समासाद्य विंदते श्रियमुत्तमाम् । कपिलातीर्थमासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः ४३। तत्र स्नात्वार्चयित्वा च देवानिह पितॄंस्तथा । कपिलानां सहस्रस्य फलं विंदति मानवः ४४। सूर्यतीर्थं समासाद्य स्नात्वा नियतमानसः । अर्चयित्वा पितॄन्देवानुपवासपरायणः ४५। अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति सूर्यलोकं च गच्छति । गवांभवनमासाद्य तीर्थसेवी यथाक्रमम् ४६। तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वाणो गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । गंगातीर्थं समासाद्य तीर्थसेवी नराधिप ४७। केव्यास्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा लभते वीर्यमुत्तमम् (केव्या पाठभेदाः – कन्या, कोट्या, कोत्या, कोन्या)। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र द्वारपालं लवर्णकम् ४८। तस्य तीर्थे सरस्वत्यां यथेंद्रस्य महात्मनः । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् ४९। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ ब्रह्मावर्तं नराधिप । ब्रह्मावर्ते नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नुयात् ५०। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ सुतीर्थकमनुत्तमम् । यत्र सन्निहिता नित्यं पितरो दैवतैः सह ५१। तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत पितृदेवार्चने रतः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति पितृलोकं च गच्छति ५२। ततोऽन्यतीर्थं धर्मज्ञ समासाद्य यथाक्रमम् । काशीश्वरस्य तीर्थेषु स्नात्वा भरतसत्तम ५३। सर्वव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मलोके महीयते । मातृतीर्थं च तत्रैव यत्र स्नातस्य पार्थिव ५४। प्रजा विवर्द्धते राजन्स्वर्गतिं समवाप्नुयात् । ततः शीतवनं गच्छेन्नियतो नियताशनः ५५। तीर्थं तत्र महाराज महदन्यत्र दुर्लभम् । पुनाति दर्शनादेव दंडेनैकं नराधिप ५६। केशानावप्य वै तस्मिन्पूतो भवति भारत । तत्र तीर्थवरं चान्यत्स्नात लोकार्तिहं स्मृतम् ५७। तत्र विप्रा नरव्याघ्र विद्वांसस्तत्र तत्पराः । गतिं गच्छंति परमां स्नात्वा भरतसत्तम ५८। स्वर्णलोमापनयने तीर्थे भरतसत्तम । प्राणायामैर्निर्हरंति स्वलोमानि द्विजोत्तमाः ५९। पूतात्मानश्च राजेन्द्र प्रयांति परमां गतिम् । दशाश्वमेधिके चैव तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महीपते ६०। तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र गच्छंति परमां गतिम् । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र मानुषं लोकविश्रुतम् ६१। तत्र कृष्णामृगा राजन्व्याधेन शरपीडिताः । विगाह्य तस्मिन्सरसि मानुषत्वमुपागताः ६२। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा स्वर्गलोके महीयते ६३। मानुषस्य तु पूर्वेण क्रोशमात्रं महीपते । आपगा नाम विख्याता नदी सिद्धनिषेविता ६४। श्यामाक भोजनं तत्र यः प्रयच्छति मानवः । देवान्पितॄन्समुद्दिश्य तस्य धर्मफलं महत् ६५। एकस्मिन्भोजिते विप्रे कोटिर्भवति भोजिता । तत्र स्नात्वार्चयित्वा च दैवतानि पितॄंस्तथा ६६। उषित्वा रजनीमेकामग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । ततो गच्छेत धर्म्मज्ञ ब्रह्मणः स्थानमुत्तमम् ६७। ब्रह्मानुस्वरमित्येवं प्रकाशं भुवि भारत । तत्र सप्तर्षिकुंडेषु स्नातस्य भरतर्षभ ६८। केदारे चैव राजेंद्र कपिलस्य महात्मनः । ब्रह्माणमभिगम्याथ शुचिः प्रयतमानसः ६९। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा ब्रह्मलोकं प्रपद्यते । कपिष्ठलस्य केदारं समासाद्य सुदुर्लभम् ७०। अंतर्धानमवाप्नोति तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषः । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र सर्वकं लोकविश्रुतम् ७१। कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यामभिगम्य वृषध्वजं । लभते सर्वकामान्हि स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति । तिस्रःकोट्यश्च तीर्थानां प्रवरं कुरुनंदन ७२। रुद्रकोटी तथा कूपे ह्रदेषु च समंतकः । इलास्पदं च तत्रैव तीर्थं भरतसत्तम ७३। तत्र स्नात्वार्चयित्वा च दैवतानि पितॄनपि । न दुर्गतिमवाप्नोति वाजपेयं च विंदति ७४। किंदाने च नरः स्नात्वा किंजपे च महीपते । अप्रमेयमवाप्नोति दानं यज्ञं तथैव च । कलश्यां वार्य्युपस्पृश्य श्रद्दधानो जितेंद्रियः ७५। अग्निष्टोमस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः । सरकस्य तु पूर्वेण नारदस्य महात्मनः ७६। कुरुश्रेष्ठ शुभं तीर्थं रामजन्मेति विश्रुतम् । तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा प्राणांश्चोत्सृज्य भारत ७७। नारदेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो लोकानाप्नोति दुर्ल्लभान् । शुक्लपक्षे दशम्यां तु पुंडरीकं समाविशेत् ७८। तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्पुंडरीकफलं लभेत् । ततस्त्रिविष्टपं गच्छेत्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ७९। तत्र वैतरणी पुण्या नदी पापप्रमोचनी । तत्र स्नात्वार्चयित्वा च शूलपाणिं वृषध्वजम् ८०। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा गच्छेत परमां गतिम् । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र फलकीवनमुत्तमम् ८१। तत्र देवाः सदा राजन्फलकीवनमाश्रिताः । तपश्चरंति विपुलं बहुवर्षसहस्रकम् ८२। दृषत्पाने नरः स्नात्वा तर्पयित्वा च देवताः । अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं विंदति मानवः ८३। तीर्थे च सर्वदेवानां स्नात्वा भरतसत्तम । गोसहस्रस्य राजेंद्र फलमाप्नोति मानवः ८४। पाणिख्याते नरः स्नात्वा तर्पयित्वा च देवताः । अवाप्नुते राजसूयमृषिलोकं च गच्छति ८५। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ मिश्रकं लोकविश्रुतम् । तत्र तीर्थानि राजेंद्र मिश्रितानि महात्मना ८६। व्यासेन नृपशार्दूल द्विजार्थमिति नः श्रुतम् । सर्वतीर्थेषु स स्नाति मिश्रके स्नाति यो नरः ८७। ततो व्यासवनं गच्छेन्नियतो नियताशनः । मनोजवे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ८८। गत्वा मधुवनीं चापि देव्याः स्थानं नरः शुचिः । तत्र स्नात्वार्चयेद्देवान्पितॄंश्च नियतः शुचिः ८९। सदेव्या समनुज्ञातो गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । कौशिक्याः संगमे यस्तु दृषद्वत्याश्च भारत ९०। स्नातो वै नियताहारः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । ततो व्यासस्थली नाम यत्र व्यासेन धीमता ९१। पुत्रशोकाभितप्तेन देहत्यागाय निश्चयः । कृतो देवैश्च राजेंद्र पुनरुत्थापितस्तथा ९२। अभिगम्य स्थलद्यं तस्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ऋणांतं कूपमासाद्य तिलप्रस्थं प्रदाय च ९३। गच्छेत परमां सिद्धिमृणैर्मुक्तो नरेश्वर । वेदीतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ९४। अहश्च सुदिनश्चैव द्वे तीर्थे नृप दुर्लभे । तयोः स्नात्वा नरः श्रेष्ठ सूर्यलोकमवाप्नुयात् ९५। मृगधूमं ततो गच्छेत्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तत्र रुद्रपदे स्नात्वा समभ्यर्च्य च मानवः ९६। शूलपाणिं महात्मानमश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ९७। अथ वामनकं गत्वा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तत्र विष्णुपदे स्नात्वा समभ्यर्च्य च वामनम् ९८। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । कुलंपुने नरः स्नात्वा पुनाति स्वकुलं नरः ९९। पवनस्य ह्रदं गत्वा मरुतां तीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र वायुलोके महीयते १००। अमराणां ह्रदे स्नात्वा समभ्यर्च्यामराधिपम् । अमराणां प्रभावेण स्वर्गलोके महीयते १०१। शालिहोत्रस्य राजेंद्र शालिसूर्ये यथाविधि । स्नात्वा नरवरश्रेष्ठ गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् १०२। श्रीकुंजं च सरस्वत्यां तीर्थं भरतसत्तम । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् १०३। ततो नैमिषिकुंजं च समासाद्य सुदुर्लभम् । ऋषयः किल राजेंद्र नैमिषेयास्तपोधनाः १०४। तीर्थयात्रां पुरस्कृत्य कुरुक्षेत्रे गताः पुरा । ततः कुंजः सरस्वत्यां कृतो भरतसत्तम १०५। ऋषीणामवकाशः स्याद्यथा तुष्टिकरो महान् । तस्मिन्कुंजे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् १०६। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे षड्विंशोऽध्यायः २६ । । ।
nāradauvāca-| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra kurukṣetramabhiṣṭutam | pāpebhyo vipramucyaṃte tadgatāḥ sarvajaṃtavaḥ 1| kurukṣetraṃ gamiṣyāmi kurukṣetre vasāmyaham | ya evaṃ satataṃ brūyātsarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 2| tatra māsaṃ vaseddhīraḥ sarasvatyāṃ narādhipa | yatra brahmādayo devā yatra brahmarṣicāraṇāḥ 3| gaṃdharvāpsaraso yakṣāḥ pannagāśca mahīpate | brahmakṣetraṃ mahāpuṇyamabhigacchaṃti bhārata 4| manasāpyabhikāmasya kurukṣetre yudhiṣṭhira | pāpāni vipraṇaśyaṃti brahmalokaṃ ca gacchati 5| gatvā hi śraddhayā yuktaḥ kurukṣetraṃ kurūdvaha | vājapeyāśvamedhyābhyāṃ phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ 6| tato mattarṇakaṃ rājandvārapālaṃ mahābalam | yaṃ vai samabhivādyaiva gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 7| tato gaccheta dharmajña viṣṇoḥ sthānamanuttamam | satataṃ nāma rājeṃdra yatra sannihito hariḥ 8| tatra snātvā ca dṛṣṭvā ca trilokaprabhavaṃ harim | aśvamedhamavāpnoti viṣṇulokaṃ ca gacchati 9| tataḥ pāriplavaṃ gacchettīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam | agniṣṭomātirātrābhyāṃ phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ 10| pṛthivyāṃ tīrthamāsādya gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | tataḥ śālvikinīṃ gatvā tīrthasevī narādhipa 11| daśāśvamedhike snātvā tadeva labhate phalam | sarpanīviṃ samāsādya nāgānāṃ tīrthamuttamam 12| agniṣṭomamavāpnoti nāgalokaṃ ca gacchati | tato gaccheta dharmajña dvārapālamatarṇakam 13| tatroṣya rajanīmekāṃ gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | tataḥpaṃcanadaṃgatvāniyatoniyatāśanaḥ 14| koṭitīrthamupaspṛśya hayamedhaphalaṃ labhet | aśvinītīrthamāgamya rūpavānabhijāyate 15| tato gaccheta dharmajña vārāhaṃ tīrthamuttamam | viṣṇurvārāharūpeṇa purā yatra sthito'bhavat 16| tatra sthitvā naravyāghra agniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet | tato jayinyāṃ rājeṃdra somatīrthaṃ samāviśet 17| snātvā phalamavāpnoti rājasūyasya mānavaḥ | ekahaṃse naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 18| kṛtaśaucaṃ samāsādya tīrthasevī kurūdvaha | puṃḍarīkamavāpnoti kṛtaśauco bhavecca saḥ 19| tato muṃjāvaṭaṃ nāma mahādevasya dhīmataḥ | tatroṣya rajanīmekāṃ gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt 20| tatraiva ca mahārāja jayāṃ lokapariśrutām | snātvābhigamya rājeṃdra sarvakāmamavāpnuyāt 21| kurukṣetrasya taddvāraṃ viśrutaṃ bharatarṣabha | pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya tīrthasevī samāvṛtaḥ 22| saṃsmṛte puṣkarāṇāṃ tu snātvārcya pitṛdevatāḥ | jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa āhūte vai mahātmanā 23| kṛtakṛtyo bhavedrājannaśvamedhaṃ ca viṃdati | tato rāmahradaṃ gacchettīrthasevī narādhipa 24| yatra rāmeṇa rājeṃdra tarasā dīptatejasā | kṣatramutsārya vīryeṇa hradāḥ paṃca niṣevitāḥ | pūrayitvā naravyāghra rudhireṇeti naḥ śrutam 25| pitarastarpitāḥ sarve tathaiva prapitāmahāḥ | tataste pitaraḥ prītāḥ rāmamūcurmahīpate 26| rāmarāma mahābhāga prītāḥ sma tava bhārgava | anayā pitṛbhaktyā ca vikrameṇa ca te'nagha 27| varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te kimicchasi mahāmate | evamuktaḥ sa rājeṃdra rāmaḥ pravadatāṃ varaḥ 28| abravītprāṃjalirvākyaṃ pitṝnsa gagane sthitān | bhavaṃto yadi me prītā yadyanugrāhyatā mayi 29| pitṛprasādādiccheyaṃ tapasāpyāyanaṃ punaḥ | yacca roṣābhibhūtena kṣatramutsāditaṃ mayā 30| tataśca pāpānmucyeyaṃ yuṣmākaṃ tejasā hyaham | hradāśca tīrthabhūtā me bhaveyurbhuvi viśrutāḥ 31| etacchrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ rāmasya pitarastadā | pratyūcuḥ paramaprītā rāmaṃ toṣasamanvitāḥ 32| tapaste varddhatāṃ bhūyaḥ pitṛbhaktyā viśeṣataḥ | yacca roṣābhibhūtena kṣatramutsāditaṃ tvayā 33| tataśca pāpānmuktastvaṃ nihatāste svakarmmaṇā | hradāśca tava tīrthatvaṃ gamiṣyaṃti na saṃśayaḥ 34| hradeṣveteṣu yaḥ snātvā pitṝnsaṃtarpayiṣyati | pitarastasya vai prītā dāsyaṃti bhuvi durllabham 35| īpsitaṃ manasaḥ kāmaṃ svargalokaṃ saśāśvatam | evaṃ dattvā varaṃ rājanrāmasya pitarastadā | āmaṃtrya bhārgavaṃ prītāstatraivāṃtardadhustataḥ 36| evaṃ rāmahradāḥ puṇyā bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ | snātvā hradeṣu rāmasya brahmacārī śubhavrataḥ 37| rāmamabhyarcya rājeṃdra labhedbahusuvarṇakam | vaṃśamūlaṃ samāsādya tīrthasevī kurūdvaha 38| svavaṃśamuddharedrājansnātvā vai vaṃśamūlake | kāyaśodhanamāsādya tīrthaṃ bharatasattama 39| śarīraśuddhimāpnoti snātastasminna saṃśayaḥ | śuddhadehastu saṃyāti śubhā~llokānanuttamān 40| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra tīrthaṃ trailokyadurlabham | lokā yatroddhṛtāḥ pūrvaṃ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā 41| lokoddhāraṃ samāsādya tīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam | snātvā tīrthavare rājanlokānuddharate svakān 42| śrītīrthaṃ ca samāsādya viṃdate śriyamuttamām | kapilātīrthamāsādya brahmacārī samāhitaḥ 43| tatra snātvārcayitvā ca devāniha pitṝṃstathā | kapilānāṃ sahasrasya phalaṃ viṃdati mānavaḥ 44| sūryatīrthaṃ samāsādya snātvā niyatamānasaḥ | arcayitvā pitṝndevānupavāsaparāyaṇaḥ 45| agniṣṭomamavāpnoti sūryalokaṃ ca gacchati | gavāṃbhavanamāsādya tīrthasevī yathākramam 46| tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvāṇo gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | gaṃgātīrthaṃ samāsādya tīrthasevī narādhipa 47| kevyāstīrthe naraḥ snātvā labhate vīryamuttamam (kevyā pāṭhabhedāḥ – kanyā, koṭyā, kotyā, konyā)| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra dvārapālaṃ lavarṇakam 48| tasya tīrthe sarasvatyāṃ yatheṃdrasya mahātmanaḥ | tatra snātvā naro rājannagniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet 49| tato gaccheta dharmajña brahmāvartaṃ narādhipa | brahmāvarte naraḥ snātvā brahmalokamavāpnuyāt 50| tato gaccheta dharmajña sutīrthakamanuttamam | yatra sannihitā nityaṃ pitaro daivataiḥ saha 51| tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvīta pitṛdevārcane rataḥ | aśvamedhamavāpnoti pitṛlokaṃ ca gacchati 52| tato'nyatīrthaṃ dharmajña samāsādya yathākramam | kāśīśvarasya tīrtheṣu snātvā bharatasattama 53| sarvavyādhivinirmukto brahmaloke mahīyate | mātṛtīrthaṃ ca tatraiva yatra snātasya pārthiva 54| prajā vivarddhate rājansvargatiṃ samavāpnuyāt | tataḥ śītavanaṃ gacchenniyato niyatāśanaḥ 55| tīrthaṃ tatra mahārāja mahadanyatra durlabham | punāti darśanādeva daṃḍenaikaṃ narādhipa 56| keśānāvapya vai tasminpūto bhavati bhārata | tatra tīrthavaraṃ cānyatsnāta lokārtihaṃ smṛtam 57| tatra viprā naravyāghra vidvāṃsastatra tatparāḥ | gatiṃ gacchaṃti paramāṃ snātvā bharatasattama 58| svarṇalomāpanayane tīrthe bharatasattama | prāṇāyāmairnirharaṃti svalomāni dvijottamāḥ 59| pūtātmānaśca rājendra prayāṃti paramāṃ gatim | daśāśvamedhike caiva tasmiṃstīrthe mahīpate 60| tatra snātvā naravyāghra gacchaṃti paramāṃ gatim | tato gaccheta rājeṃdra mānuṣaṃ lokaviśrutam 61| tatra kṛṣṇāmṛgā rājanvyādhena śarapīḍitāḥ | vigāhya tasminsarasi mānuṣatvamupāgatāḥ 62| tasmiṃstīrthe naraḥ snātvā brahmacārī samāhitaḥ | sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā svargaloke mahīyate 63| mānuṣasya tu pūrveṇa krośamātraṃ mahīpate | āpagā nāma vikhyātā nadī siddhaniṣevitā 64| śyāmāka bhojanaṃ tatra yaḥ prayacchati mānavaḥ | devānpitṝnsamuddiśya tasya dharmaphalaṃ mahat 65| ekasminbhojite vipre koṭirbhavati bhojitā | tatra snātvārcayitvā ca daivatāni pitṝṃstathā 66| uṣitvā rajanīmekāmagniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet | tato gaccheta dharmmajña brahmaṇaḥ sthānamuttamam 67| brahmānusvaramityevaṃ prakāśaṃ bhuvi bhārata | tatra saptarṣikuṃḍeṣu snātasya bharatarṣabha 68| kedāre caiva rājeṃdra kapilasya mahātmanaḥ | brahmāṇamabhigamyātha śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ 69| sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā brahmalokaṃ prapadyate | kapiṣṭhalasya kedāraṃ samāsādya sudurlabham 70| aṃtardhānamavāpnoti tapasā dagdhakilbiṣaḥ | tato gaccheta rājeṃdra sarvakaṃ lokaviśrutam 71| kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāmabhigamya vṛṣadhvajaṃ | labhate sarvakāmānhi svargalokaṃ ca gacchati | tisraḥkoṭyaśca tīrthānāṃ pravaraṃ kurunaṃdana 72| rudrakoṭī tathā kūpe hradeṣu ca samaṃtakaḥ | ilāspadaṃ ca tatraiva tīrthaṃ bharatasattama 73| tatra snātvārcayitvā ca daivatāni pitṝnapi | na durgatimavāpnoti vājapeyaṃ ca viṃdati 74| kiṃdāne ca naraḥ snātvā kiṃjape ca mahīpate | aprameyamavāpnoti dānaṃ yajñaṃ tathaiva ca | kalaśyāṃ vāryyupaspṛśya śraddadhāno jiteṃdriyaḥ 75| agniṣṭomasya yajñasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ | sarakasya tu pūrveṇa nāradasya mahātmanaḥ 76| kuruśreṣṭha śubhaṃ tīrthaṃ rāmajanmeti viśrutam | tatra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā prāṇāṃścotsṛjya bhārata 77| nāradenābhyanujñāto lokānāpnoti durllabhān | śuklapakṣe daśamyāṃ tu puṃḍarīkaṃ samāviśet 78| tatra snātvā naro rājanpuṃḍarīkaphalaṃ labhet | tatastriviṣṭapaṃ gacchettriṣu lokeṣu viśrutam 79| tatra vaitaraṇī puṇyā nadī pāpapramocanī | tatra snātvārcayitvā ca śūlapāṇiṃ vṛṣadhvajam 80| sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā gaccheta paramāṃ gatim | tato gaccheta rājeṃdra phalakīvanamuttamam 81| tatra devāḥ sadā rājanphalakīvanamāśritāḥ | tapaścaraṃti vipulaṃ bahuvarṣasahasrakam 82| dṛṣatpāne naraḥ snātvā tarpayitvā ca devatāḥ | agniṣṭomātirātrābhyāṃ phalaṃ viṃdati mānavaḥ 83| tīrthe ca sarvadevānāṃ snātvā bharatasattama | gosahasrasya rājeṃdra phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ 84| pāṇikhyāte naraḥ snātvā tarpayitvā ca devatāḥ | avāpnute rājasūyamṛṣilokaṃ ca gacchati 85| tato gaccheta dharmajña miśrakaṃ lokaviśrutam | tatra tīrthāni rājeṃdra miśritāni mahātmanā 86| vyāsena nṛpaśārdūla dvijārthamiti naḥ śrutam | sarvatīrtheṣu sa snāti miśrake snāti yo naraḥ 87| tato vyāsavanaṃ gacchenniyato niyatāśanaḥ | manojave naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 88| gatvā madhuvanīṃ cāpi devyāḥ sthānaṃ naraḥ śuciḥ | tatra snātvārcayeddevānpitṝṃśca niyataḥ śuciḥ 89| sadevyā samanujñāto gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | kauśikyāḥ saṃgame yastu dṛṣadvatyāśca bhārata 90| snāto vai niyatāhāraḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | tato vyāsasthalī nāma yatra vyāsena dhīmatā 91| putraśokābhitaptena dehatyāgāya niścayaḥ | kṛto devaiśca rājeṃdra punarutthāpitastathā 92| abhigamya sthaladyaṃ tasya gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | ṛṇāṃtaṃ kūpamāsādya tilaprasthaṃ pradāya ca 93| gaccheta paramāṃ siddhimṛṇairmukto nareśvara | vedītīrthe naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 94| ahaśca sudinaścaiva dve tīrthe nṛpa durlabhe | tayoḥ snātvā naraḥ śreṣṭha sūryalokamavāpnuyāt 95| mṛgadhūmaṃ tato gacchettriṣu lokeṣu viśrutam | tatra rudrapade snātvā samabhyarcya ca mānavaḥ 96| śūlapāṇiṃ mahātmānamaśvamedhaphalaṃ labhet | koṭitīrthe naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 97| atha vāmanakaṃ gatvā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam | tatra viṣṇupade snātvā samabhyarcya ca vāmanam 98| sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā viṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt | kulaṃpune naraḥ snātvā punāti svakulaṃ naraḥ 99| pavanasya hradaṃ gatvā marutāṃ tīrthamuttamam | tatra snātvā naravyāghra vāyuloke mahīyate 100| amarāṇāṃ hrade snātvā samabhyarcyāmarādhipam | amarāṇāṃ prabhāveṇa svargaloke mahīyate 101| śālihotrasya rājeṃdra śālisūrye yathāvidhi | snātvā naravaraśreṣṭha gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 102| śrīkuṃjaṃ ca sarasvatyāṃ tīrthaṃ bharatasattama | tatra snātvā naro rājannagniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet 103| tato naimiṣikuṃjaṃ ca samāsādya sudurlabham | ṛṣayaḥ kila rājeṃdra naimiṣeyāstapodhanāḥ 104| tīrthayātrāṃ puraskṛtya kurukṣetre gatāḥ purā | tataḥ kuṃjaḥ sarasvatyāṃ kṛto bharatasattama 105| ṛṣīṇāmavakāśaḥ syādyathā tuṣṭikaro mahān | tasminkuṃje naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 106| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe ṣaḍviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 26 | | |
English translation
Nārada said :
1-6. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to Kurukṣetra praised (by all). All creatures who have gone there have been freed from their sins. He, who always says “I shall go to Kurukṣetra, I shall stay at Kurukṣetra”. is absolved of all sins. O king, a wise man should live there for a month, to which very meritorious ( Brahmakṣetra ) gods like Brahmā , brāhmaṇic sages, cāraṇas , gandharvas , celestial nymphs, yakṣas and pannagas go, O descendant of Bharata . O Yudhiṣṭhira , the sins of him who even mentally longs for Kurukṣetra, perish, and he goes to Brahmā’s heaven. O you, who are perpetuating the Kuru family, a man going to Kurukṣetra with faith, obtains the fruit of Vājapeya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
7. Then he (should go) to the very powerful doorkeeper Mattakarṇa, O king. Having just saluted him, he would get the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows (to a brāhmaṇa ).
8-9. Thence, O pious one, he should go the excellent place of Viṣṇu , where, O lord of kings, Viṣṇu is always present. Having bathed there and having seen Viṣṇu, the origin of the three worlds, he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to Viṣṇu’s heaven.
10-13a. Thence a man should go to the holy place (called) Pāriplava which is well-known in the three worlds. (By going there) he obtains (the fruit of) Āgniṣṭoma and Atirātra sacrifices. A man would obtain the fruit (of the gift) of a thousand cows by reaching (this) holy place on the earth. Thence O king, a man visiting holy places, should go to (the holy place) called Śālvikinī. Having bathed at Daśāśvamedhika he obtains the same fruit. Having reached Sarpanīvi, the best holy place of nāgas , he obtains (the fruit of) an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, and goes to the world of nāgas.
13b-15. Then O pious one, he should go to the doorkeeper Atarṇaka. Having stayed there for a night, he would obtain the fruit (of donation) of a thousand cows. Then, being controlled and having his diet restrained, he, having gone to Pañcanada and having bathed at Koṭitīrtha , would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice. Having visited the Aśvinī - tīrtha , he is born handsome.
16-19. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the best sacred place Varāha where formerly Viṣṇu dwelt in the form of a boar. O best of men, having stayed there he would obtain the fruit of Agniṣṭoma. Then O lord of kings, he should go to the Somatīrtha at Ujjayinī . Having bathed (there), a man obtains the fruit of a Rājasūya (sacrifice). A man, having bathed at Ekahaṃsa , would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows. Having reached Kṛtaśauca , the pilgrim would obtain (the fruit of) Puṇḍarīka , and would become one who has purified himself.
20-24a. Then he (should go) to the holy place called Muñjāvaṭa of the wise Mahādeva . Having lived there for a night he would obtain the position of the head of Śiva ’s attendants. Then, O great king, having bathed and gone to Jayā well-known in the world, he would obtain all desired objects. O best among Bharatas , that is a well-known gate to Kurukṣetra. The pilgrim turning to the right, and having returned, having bathed at Saṃsmṛta of the Puṣkaras , should worship the deities in the form of manes. ( Paraśu -) Rāma , the noble son of Jamadagni , invoked them (here) only. O king, the man would have accomplished his object, and would obtain (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice.
24b-38a. O king, thence the pilgrim should go to Rāmahrada where, O lord of kings, Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma ), of a blazing lustre having powerfully and speedily expelled the kṣatriyas , resorted to the five deep lakes after filling them with blood. This is what we have heard, O best among men. He offered oblations to his forefathers, and also his great grandsires. Then, O king, the forefathers, being pleased, said to Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma): “O Rāma, Bhārgava , we are highly pleased with you by your devotion to your forefathers and your valour. Wellbeing to you. Ask for a boon. O you highly intelligent one, what do you desire?” O lord of kings, that Rāma, best among speakers, who was thus addressed (by his forefathers), said, with the palms of his hands joined, (these) words to the forefathers who remained in the sky: “If you are pleased with me, if you favour me, then I desire the increase in my penance; and by your lustre I may be freed from the sin that I, overcome by anger, (committed by having) destroyed the kṣatriyas, and the lakes which have become sacred to me should be well-known on the earth.” Hearing these good words of Rāma (i.e. Paraśurāma), his forefathers, extremely pleased and full of great joy said to him: “Due especially to your devotion to your forefathers, may your penance increase again. You are freed from the sin that you, overcome by anger, killed the kṣatriyas. They were killed due to their own (mis-) deeds. The lakes will undoubtedly be the holy places (named) after you. The manes of him who, after bathing in these lakes, will offer oblations to his manes, will be pleased with him, and will grant him his desired object and eternal (residence) in heaven.” O king, the manes of Paraśurāma, being pleased and having granted him such a boon and taking leave of Bhārgava, vanished there only. Thus the lakes are sacred to the noble Bhārgava i.e. Paraśurāma. A man of self-control and good vows, after bathing in the lakes of (i.e. sacred to) Paraśurāma, and worshipping him, would obtain much gold.
38b-40. Then, O you who perpetuate the Kuru family, a pilgrim, having reached Vaṃśamūla, would liberate his family by bathing at Vaṃśamūlaka . O best among Bharatas, having reached Kāyaśodhana , a man who has bathed there, obtains the purity of his body; there is no doubt about it. And with his body purified he goes to pious, excellent worlds.
41-44. O lord of kings, thence a man should go to the holy place rare in the three worlds, where formerly the mighty Viṣṇu liberated people. O king, having reached (that) holy place (called) Lokoddhāra , well-known in the three worlds, and having bathed there, he liberates his own people. Having reached Śrītīrtha , he obtains excellent wealth. A man being restrained and calm, having reached Kapilātīrtha , and having bathed there and worshipped deities and manes, obtains the fruit of (having donated) a thousand tawny cows (to a brāhmaṇa).
45-46a. Going to Sūryatīrtha and with his mind controlled he should bathe there, and devoutly observing a fast he should worship (his) manes and deities. (By doing so) he obtains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice and goes to the Sun’s world.
46b-47a. A pilgrim who, after reaching Gavāṃtīrtha according to the (proper) order, bathes there, would obtain the fruit of (having presented) a thousand cows.
47b-49. O king, a pilgrim (then), after reaching Gaṅgātīrtha and bathing at the Kanyātīrtha , obtains excellent power. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to the doorkeeper (called) Lavarṇaka. O king, having bathed there at the holy place (in the stream of) Sarasvatī as in that of the noble Indra , a man would obtain the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
50-55a. Then, O pious king, he should go to (the holy place called) Brahmāvarta . He having bathed at Brahmāvarta would obtain (i.e. go to) Brahmā’s heaven. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the excellent (holy place called) Sutīrthaka where gods are always present with the manes. Engaged in worshipping manes and deities he should bathe there. (By doing so) he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to the world of manes. Then, O best of Bharatas, going to another holy place in order and having bathed in the sacred places of Kāśīśvara, he, being free from all diseases, is honoured in Brahmā’s world. O king, Mātṛtīrtha is just there, having bathed where his progeny increases (in number), and, O king, he would obtain a position in heaven.
55b-61a. Then being controlled and with his diet restrained, he should go to Śītavana . O great king, there is a great holy place which is difficult to be found elsewhere. By merely seeing it and by restraint, O king, he is purified. O descendant of Bharata, having offered his hair at that (holy place), he is purified. Then there is another holy place known as Snātalokārtiha. O you best among men, O you best of the Bharatas, learned brāhmaṇas , highly devoted to it, having bathed there, obtain the best position (i.e. salvation). O best of Bharatas, at the holy place (called) Svarṇalomāpanayana, best brāhmaṇas cast off their hair after controlling their breath. Then, with their souls purified, O lord of kings, they go to the highest position (i.e. get salvation). O king, having bathed at Daśāśvamedhika (situated) at that holy place only, O tiger (i.e. best) among men, men with their souls purified go to the highest position (i.e. obtain salvation).
61b-67a. O lord of kings, he should go to (the holy place called) Mānuṣa , well known in the world. O king, there a black deer tormented by a hunter with arrows, plunged into that lake and obtained manhood. A man, being restrained and calm, having bathed at the holy place, has his soul purified from all sins, and is honoured in heaven. O king, to the east of (the holy place called) Mānuṣa, at a distance of a krośa (i.e. two miles) there is a well-known river called Āpagā , which is resorted to by siddhas . One who gives there the meal of Śyāmāka rice dedicating it to the deities and manes, obtains a great fruit of his piety. If (only) one brāhmaṇa is fed, a crore brāhmaṇas are fed. Having bathed there and worshipped the deities and also the manes, and having stayed there for a night, one would obtain the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
67b-71a. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the best place of Brahmā, known in the world as Brahmānusvara, O descendant of Bharata. O you best among the Bharatas, he who being pure and with his mind controlled, bathes there at the holy pools of the seven sages, and O lord of kings, at Kedāra and at the holy place of the noble Kapila , goes to Brahmā, and with his soul purified of all sins, goes to Brahmā’s heaven. Having reached Kapiṣṭhala’s (place called) Kedāra, difficult to reach, he, with his sins burnt by penance, acquires (the art of) becoming invisible.
71b-79a. Thence, O lord of kings, a man should go to (the holy place called) Sarvaka , well-known in the world. Having gone to the bull-bannered one (i.e. Śiva) on the fourteenth day of the dark half, he gets all his desired objects and goes to heaven. O descendant of Kuru, there are three crores of holy places. At the pond there is Rudrakoṭi ; in the lakes there is Samantaka. O best of Bharatas, there only is the holy place Ilāspada . Having bathed and worshipped deities and manes there, one does not meet with calamities and obtains the (fruit of) Vājapeya sacrifice. O king, having bathed at Kiṃdāna and also at Kiṃjapa, a man obtains immeasurable (fruit of) gifts and sacrifice. One having faith and his senses under control having bathed at Kalaśī , obtains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice. To the east of Saraka there is an auspicious place known as Rāmajanma, O greatest among Kurus , which is sacred to Nārada . O descendant of Bharata, one who having bathed there casts his life, being permitted by Nārada, obtains worlds difficult to obtain. One should enter (i.e. go to) Puṇḍarīka on the tenth of the bright half (of a month). Having bathed there, O king, he would obtain the fruit of Puṇḍarīka.
79b-85. Thence he should go to Triviṣṭapa , well-known in the three worlds. There is the auspicious river Vaitaraṇī which frees (a man) from sins. Having bathed there and worshipped (Śiva) holding the trident in his hand and having the bull as his banner, and (thus) with his soul purified from all sins, he would go to the highest position (i.e. salvation). Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to the excellent Phalakivana . Gods have always resorted to that Phalikivana, and practised penance for many thousand years. One having bathed at Dṛṣatpāna and having offered oblations to the deities, obtains the fruit of Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra sacrifices. O lord of kings, having bathed at the place sacred to all gods, one obtains the fruit of (giving away) a thousand cows. A man having bathed at (the holy place called) Pāṇikhyāta, and having offered oblations to the deities, obtains (the fruit of) Rājasūya, and also goes to the world of sages.
86-87. Thence, O pious one, one should go to (the holy place called) Miśraka which is well-known in the world. O lord of kings, we have heard that the noble Vyāsa has brought together the holy places at that place for brāhmaṇas. One who bathes at Miśraka has well bathed at all holy places.
88-95. Thence being controlled and having his food controlled he should go to Vyāsavana (the grove sacred to Vyāsa). Having bathed at Manojava one would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. Having gone to Madhuvanī, the place of the goddess, one with purity (of mind) and self-control should worship the deities and the manes. Being allowed by the goddess he would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. O descendant of Bharata, he who has bathed at the confluence of Kauśikī and Dṛṣadvatī and has his diet restrained, is absolved of all sins. Then there is the holy place called Vyāsasthalī where Vyāsa tormented by the grief due to (the death of) his son, had decided to end his life, and was again roused to action by gods, O lord of kings. Having gone (i.e. if a man goes) to that place, he would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. O lord of men, having reached (the holy) lake of Ṛṇānta and having offered there sesamum of the measure of a prastha (to the manes) he would, after being freed from debts, get a great success. Having bathed at the Veditīrtha, a man would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. O king, the two holy places Aha and Sudina are difficult to reach. A man having bathed at them would obtain (i.e., go to) the Sun’s heaven.
96-106. Thence he should go to (the holy place called) Mṛgadhūma , well-known in the three worlds. Having bathed there at Rudrapada and having worshipped the noble trident-holder (i.e., Śiva), a man would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice. A man having bathed at Koṭitīrtha would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows. Then having gone to (the holy place called) Vāmanaka which is well-known in the three worlds, and there bathing and having properly worshipped Vāmana , one with his soul purified of all sins, would obtain Viṣṇu’s heaven. A man having bathed at Kulampuna purifies his own family. Having gone to the pool of Pavana , the excellent holy place of the Maruts and having bathed there, a man is honoured in the world of Vāyu , O best of men. A man, having bathed at the pool of the immortal ones (i.e., gods), and having worshipped the lord of gods, is honoured in heaven due to the prowess of the gods. O lord of kings, having duly bathed at Śālisūrya of Śālihotra , he would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows, O best among men. O best among the Bharatas, there is a holy place on (the bank of) the Sarasvatī (called) Śrīkuñja . O king, a man having bathed there, would obtain the fruit of Agniṣṭoma. Then having reached (i.e., he should go to) Naimiṣakuñja , very difficult to reach. O lord of kings, it is said that sages of the Naimiṣa (forest) with penance as their wealth formerly set upon a pilgrimage and went to Kurukṣetra. Then an arbour was made on (the bank of) the Sarasvatī. It is a great place of the sages, which gives great joy. Having bathed in the arbour, a man would obtain the fruit of (having given) a thousand cows.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 22877, revision 402974 (2024-06-12T22:55:06Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365245.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.