Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 38
Sourceनारद उवाच- वाराणस्याश्च माहात्म्यं तस्यां तीर्थानि च प्रभो । कथितानि समासेन तीर्थान्यन्यानि संशृणु १। ततो गयां समासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति गमनादेव भारत २। यत्राक्षय्यवटो नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । पितॄणां तत्र वै दत्तमक्षयं भवति प्रभो ३। महानद्यामुपस्पृश्य तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः । अक्षयान्प्राप्नुयाल्लोकान्कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत् ४। ततो ब्रह्मसरो गच्छेद्ब्रह्मारण्योपसेवितम् । पुंडरीकमवाप्नोति प्रभातमिव शर्वरी ५। सरसि ब्रह्मणा तत्र यूपश्रेष्ठः समुच्छ्रितः । यूपं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा वाजपेयफलं लभेत् ६। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र धेनुकं लोकविश्रुतम् । एकारात्रोषितो राजन्प्रयच्छेत्तिलधेनुकाम् ७। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा सोमलोकं व्रजेद्ध्रुवम् । तत्र चिह्नं महाराज अद्यापि हि न संशयः ८। कपिला सहवत्सा वै पर्वते विचरत्युतः । सवत्सायाः पदान्यस्या दृश्यंतेऽद्यापि भारत ९। तेषूपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र पदेषु नृपसत्तम । यत्किंचिदशुभं पापं तत्प्रणश्यति भारत १०। ततो गृध्रवटं गच्छेत्स्थानं देवस्य शूलिनः । स्नायात्तु भस्मना तत्र संगम्य वृषभध्वजम् ११। ब्राह्मणेन भवेच्चीर्णं व्रतं द्वादशवार्षिकम् । इतरेषां तु वर्णानां सर्वपापं प्रणश्यति १२। गच्छेत तत उद्यंतं पर्वतं गीतनादितम् । सावित्रं तु पदं तत्र दृश्यते भरतर्षभ १३। तत्र संध्यामुपासीत ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः । उपास्ताहि भवेत्संध्या तेन द्वादशवार्षिकी १४। योनिद्वारं च तत्रैव विश्रुतं भरतर्षभ । तत्राभिगम्य मुच्येत पुरुषो योनिसंकटात् १५। शुक्लकृष्णावुभौ पक्षौ गयायां यो वसेन्नरः । पुनात्यासप्तमं राजन्कुलं नास्त्यत्र संशयः १६। एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्यप्येको गयां व्रजेत् । यजेत वाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् १७। ततः फल्गुं व्रजेद्राजंस्तीर्थसेवी नराधिप । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति सिद्धिं च परमां व्रजेत् १८। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र धर्मपृष्ठं समाहितः । यत्र धर्मो महाराज नित्यमास्ते युधिष्ठिर १९। धर्म्मं तत्राभिसंगम्य वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र ब्रह्मणस्तीर्थमुत्तमम् २०। तत्राभिगम्य ब्रह्माणमर्चयेन्नियतव्रतः । राजसूयाश्वमेधाभ्यां फलं प्राप्नोति भारत २१। ततो राजगृहं गच्छेत्तीर्थसेवी नराधिप । उपस्पृश्य ततस्तत्र कक्षीवानिव मोदते २२। यक्षिण्या नैत्यकं तत्र प्रागग्निपुरुषः शुचिः । यक्षिण्यास्तु प्रसादेन मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया २३। मणिनागं ततो गच्छेद्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । नैत्यकं भुंजते यस्तु मणिनागस्य मानवः २४। दष्टस्याशीविषेणास्य न विषं क्रमते नृप । तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते २५। ततो गच्छेत ब्रह्मर्षेर्गौतमस्य वनं नृप । अहल्याया ह्रदे स्नात्वा व्रजेत परमां गतिम् २६। अभिगम्य श्रियं राजन्विंदते श्रियमुत्तमाम् । तत्रोदपानो धर्म्मज्ञ त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः २७। तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत वाजिमेधमवाप्नुयात् । जनकस्य तु राजर्षेः कूपस्त्रिदशपूजितः २८। तत्राभिषेकं कृत्वा च विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । ततोऽविनाशनं गच्छेत्सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् २९। वाजिमेधमवाप्नोति सोमलोकं च गच्छति । गंडकीं च समासाद्य सर्वतीर्थजलोद्भवाम् ३०। वाजपेयमवाप्नोति सूर्यलोकं च गच्छति । ततो ध्रुवस्य धर्मज्ञ समाविश्य तपोवनम् ३१। गुह्यकेषु महाभाग मोदते नात्र संशयः । कर्मदां तु समासाद्य नदीं सिद्धनिषेविताम् ३२। पुंडरीकमवाप्नोति सोमलोकं च गच्छति । ततो विशालामासाद्य नदीं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुताम् ३३। अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति । अथ माहेश्वरीं धारां समासाद्य नराधिप ३४। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत् । दिवौकसां पुष्करिणीं समासाद्य नरः शुचिः ३५। न दुर्गतिमवाप्नोति वाजपेयं च विंदति । अथ माहेशपदं गच्छेद्ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः ३६। माहेश्वरपदे स्नात्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् । तत्र कोटिस्तु तीर्थानां विश्रुता भरतर्षभ ३७। कूर्मरूपेण राजेंद्र असुरेण दुरात्मना । ह्रियमाणा हृता राजन्विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ३८। तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत तीर्थकोट्यां नराधिप । पुंडरीकमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति ३९। ततो गच्छेन्नरश्रेष्ठ स्थानं नारायणस्य च । सदा सन्निहितो यत्र हरिर्वसति भारत ४०। यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । आदित्यावसवोरुद्रा जनार्दनमुपासते ४१। शालग्राम इति ख्यातो विष्णोरद्भुतकर्मणः । अभिगम्य त्रिलोकेशं वरदं विष्णुमच्युतम् ४२। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति । तत्रोदपानो धर्मज्ञ सर्वपापप्रमोचनः ४३। समुद्रास्तत्रचत्वारः कूपे सन्निहिताः सदा । तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र न दुर्गतिमवाप्नुयात् ४४। अभिगम्य महादेवं वरदं विष्णुमव्ययम् । विराजते यथा सोम ऋणैर्मुक्तो युधिष्ठिर ४५। जातिस्मरं उपस्पृश्य शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । जातिस्मरत्वं प्राप्नोति स्नात्वा तत्र न संशयः ४६। वटेश्वरपुरं गत्वा अर्चयित्वा च केशवम् । ईप्सिताँल्लभते लोकानुपवासान्न संशयः ४७। ततस्तु वामनं गत्वा सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । अभिवाद्य हरिं देवं न दुर्गतिमवाप्नुयात् ४८। भरतस्याश्रमं गत्वा सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् । कौशिकीं तत्र सेवेत महापातकनाशिनीम् ४९। राजसूयस्य यज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोतिमानवः । ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ चंपकारण्यमुत्तमम् ५०। तत्रोष्य रजनीमेकां गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । अथ गोविंदमासाद्य तीर्थं परमसम्मतम् ५१। उपोष्य रजनीमेकामग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् । तत्र विश्वेश्वरं दृष्ट्वा देव्या सह महाद्युतिम् ५२। मित्रावरुणयोर्लोकान्प्राप्नुयाद्भरतर्षभ । त्रिरात्रोपोषितस्तत्र अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् ५३। कन्यावसथमासाद्य नियतो नियताशनः (आवसथ्य)। मनोः प्रजापतेर्लोकानाप्नोति भरतर्षभ ५४। कन्यायां ये प्रयच्छंति दानमण्वपि भारत । तदक्षयमिति प्राहुरृषयः संशितव्रताः ५५। निष्ठावासं समासाद्य त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति विष्णुलोकं च गच्छति ५६। ये तु दानं प्रयच्छंति निष्ठायाः संगमे नराः । ते यांति नरशार्दूल ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम् ५७। तत्राश्रमो वसिष्ठस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वाणो वाजपेयमवाप्नुयात् ५८। देवकूटं समासाद्य देवर्षिगणसेवितम् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत् ५९। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र कौशिकस्य मुनेर्ह्रदम् । तत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप विश्वामित्रोऽथ कौशिकः ६०। यत्र मासं वसेद्धीरः कौशिक्यां भरतर्षभ । अश्वमेधस्य यत्पुण्यं तन्मासेनाधिगच्छति ६१। सर्वतीर्थवरं चैव यो वसेत महाह्रदम् । न दुर्गतिमवाप्नोति विंद्याद्बहुसुवर्णकम् ६२। कुमारमभिगम्याथ वीराश्रमनिवासिनम् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति शक्रलोकं स गच्छति ६३। नंदिन्यां च समासाद्य कूपं त्रिदशसेवितम् । नरमेधस्य यत्पुण्यं तत्प्राप्नोति कुरूद्वह ६४। कालिकासंगमे स्नात्वा कौशिक्यारुणयोर्यतः । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो विद्वान्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ६५। उर्वशीतीर्थमासाद्य तथा सोमाश्रमं बुधः । कुंभकर्णाश्रमे स्नात्वा पूज्यते भुवि मानवः ६६। तथा कोकामुखे स्नात्वा ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः । जातिस्मरत्वं प्राप्नोति दृष्टमेतत्पुरातनैः ६७। सकृन्नदीं समासाद्य कृतार्थो भवति द्विजः । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति ६८। ऋषभद्वीपमासाद्य सेव्य क्रौंचनिषूदनम् । सरस्वत्यामुपस्पृश्य विमानस्थो विराजते ६९। औद्यानकं महाराज तीर्थं मुनिनिषेवितम् । तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वीत सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ७०। ब्रह्मतीर्थं समासाद्य पुण्यं ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितम् । वाजपेयमवाप्नोति नरो नास्त्यत्र संशयः ७१। ततश्चंपां समासाद्य भागीरथ्यां कृतोदकः । दंडार्पणं समासाद्य गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ७२। लाविढिकां ततो गच्छेत्पुण्यां पुण्यनिषेविताम् । वाजपेयमवाप्नोति विमानस्थश्च पूज्यते ७३।
nārada uvāca- vārāṇasyāśca māhātmyaṃ tasyāṃ tīrthāni ca prabho | kathitāni samāsena tīrthānyanyāni saṃśṛṇu 1| tato gayāṃ samāsādya brahmacārī samāhitaḥ | aśvamedhamavāpnoti gamanādeva bhārata 2| yatrākṣayyavaṭo nāma triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | pitṝṇāṃ tatra vai dattamakṣayaṃ bhavati prabho 3| mahānadyāmupaspṛśya tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ | akṣayānprāpnuyāllokānkulaṃ caiva samuddharet 4| tato brahmasaro gacchedbrahmāraṇyopasevitam | puṃḍarīkamavāpnoti prabhātamiva śarvarī 5| sarasi brahmaṇā tatra yūpaśreṣṭhaḥ samucchritaḥ | yūpaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā vājapeyaphalaṃ labhet 6| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra dhenukaṃ lokaviśrutam | ekārātroṣito rājanprayacchettiladhenukām 7| sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā somalokaṃ vrajeddhruvam | tatra cihnaṃ mahārāja adyāpi hi na saṃśayaḥ 8| kapilā sahavatsā vai parvate vicaratyutaḥ | savatsāyāḥ padānyasyā dṛśyaṃte'dyāpi bhārata 9| teṣūpaspṛśya rājeṃdra padeṣu nṛpasattama | yatkiṃcidaśubhaṃ pāpaṃ tatpraṇaśyati bhārata 10| tato gṛdhravaṭaṃ gacchetsthānaṃ devasya śūlinaḥ | snāyāttu bhasmanā tatra saṃgamya vṛṣabhadhvajam 11| brāhmaṇena bhaveccīrṇaṃ vrataṃ dvādaśavārṣikam | itareṣāṃ tu varṇānāṃ sarvapāpaṃ praṇaśyati 12| gaccheta tata udyaṃtaṃ parvataṃ gītanāditam | sāvitraṃ tu padaṃ tatra dṛśyate bharatarṣabha 13| tatra saṃdhyāmupāsīta brāhmaṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ | upāstāhi bhavetsaṃdhyā tena dvādaśavārṣikī 14| yonidvāraṃ ca tatraiva viśrutaṃ bharatarṣabha | tatrābhigamya mucyeta puruṣo yonisaṃkaṭāt 15| śuklakṛṣṇāvubhau pakṣau gayāyāṃ yo vasennaraḥ | punātyāsaptamaṃ rājankulaṃ nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ 16| eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yadyapyeko gayāṃ vrajet | yajeta vāśvamedhena nīlaṃ vā vṛṣamutsṛjet 17| tataḥ phalguṃ vrajedrājaṃstīrthasevī narādhipa | aśvamedhamavāpnoti siddhiṃ ca paramāṃ vrajet 18| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra dharmapṛṣṭhaṃ samāhitaḥ | yatra dharmo mahārāja nityamāste yudhiṣṭhira 19| dharmmaṃ tatrābhisaṃgamya vājimedhaphalaṃ labhet | tato gaccheta rājeṃdra brahmaṇastīrthamuttamam 20| tatrābhigamya brahmāṇamarcayenniyatavrataḥ | rājasūyāśvamedhābhyāṃ phalaṃ prāpnoti bhārata 21| tato rājagṛhaṃ gacchettīrthasevī narādhipa | upaspṛśya tatastatra kakṣīvāniva modate 22| yakṣiṇyā naityakaṃ tatra prāgagnipuruṣaḥ śuciḥ | yakṣiṇyāstu prasādena mucyate brahmahatyayā 23| maṇināgaṃ tato gacchedgosahasraphalaṃ labhet | naityakaṃ bhuṃjate yastu maṇināgasya mānavaḥ 24| daṣṭasyāśīviṣeṇāsya na viṣaṃ kramate nṛpa | tatroṣya rajanīmekāṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 25| tato gaccheta brahmarṣergautamasya vanaṃ nṛpa | ahalyāyā hrade snātvā vrajeta paramāṃ gatim 26| abhigamya śriyaṃ rājanviṃdate śriyamuttamām | tatrodapāno dharmmajña triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ 27| tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvīta vājimedhamavāpnuyāt | janakasya tu rājarṣeḥ kūpastridaśapūjitaḥ 28| tatrābhiṣekaṃ kṛtvā ca viṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt | tato'vināśanaṃ gacchetsarvapāpapramocanam 29| vājimedhamavāpnoti somalokaṃ ca gacchati | gaṃḍakīṃ ca samāsādya sarvatīrthajalodbhavām 30| vājapeyamavāpnoti sūryalokaṃ ca gacchati | tato dhruvasya dharmajña samāviśya tapovanam 31| guhyakeṣu mahābhāga modate nātra saṃśayaḥ | karmadāṃ tu samāsādya nadīṃ siddhaniṣevitām 32| puṃḍarīkamavāpnoti somalokaṃ ca gacchati | tato viśālāmāsādya nadīṃ trailokyaviśrutām 33| agniṣṭomamavāpnoti svargalokaṃ ca gacchati | atha māheśvarīṃ dhārāṃ samāsādya narādhipa 34| aśvamedhamavāpnoti kulaṃ caiva samuddharet | divaukasāṃ puṣkariṇīṃ samāsādya naraḥ śuciḥ 35| na durgatimavāpnoti vājapeyaṃ ca viṃdati | atha māheśapadaṃ gacchedbrahmacārī samāhitaḥ 36| māheśvarapade snātvā vājimedhaphalaṃ labhet | tatra koṭistu tīrthānāṃ viśrutā bharatarṣabha 37| kūrmarūpeṇa rājeṃdra asureṇa durātmanā | hriyamāṇā hṛtā rājanviṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā 38| tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvīta tīrthakoṭyāṃ narādhipa | puṃḍarīkamavāpnoti viṣṇulokaṃ ca gacchati 39| tato gacchennaraśreṣṭha sthānaṃ nārāyaṇasya ca | sadā sannihito yatra harirvasati bhārata 40| yatra brahmādayo devā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | ādityāvasavorudrā janārdanamupāsate 41| śālagrāma iti khyāto viṣṇoradbhutakarmaṇaḥ | abhigamya trilokeśaṃ varadaṃ viṣṇumacyutam 42| aśvamedhamavāpnoti viṣṇulokaṃ ca gacchati | tatrodapāno dharmajña sarvapāpapramocanaḥ 43| samudrāstatracatvāraḥ kūpe sannihitāḥ sadā | tatropaspṛśya rājeṃdra na durgatimavāpnuyāt 44| abhigamya mahādevaṃ varadaṃ viṣṇumavyayam | virājate yathā soma ṛṇairmukto yudhiṣṭhira 45| jātismaraṃ upaspṛśya śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ | jātismaratvaṃ prāpnoti snātvā tatra na saṃśayaḥ 46| vaṭeśvarapuraṃ gatvā arcayitvā ca keśavam | īpsitā~llabhate lokānupavāsānna saṃśayaḥ 47| tatastu vāmanaṃ gatvā sarvapāpapraṇāśanam | abhivādya hariṃ devaṃ na durgatimavāpnuyāt 48| bharatasyāśramaṃ gatvā sarvapāpapramocanam | kauśikīṃ tatra seveta mahāpātakanāśinīm 49| rājasūyasya yajñasya phalaṃ prāpnotimānavaḥ | tato gaccheta dharmajña caṃpakāraṇyamuttamam 50| tatroṣya rajanīmekāṃ gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | atha goviṃdamāsādya tīrthaṃ paramasammatam 51| upoṣya rajanīmekāmagniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet | tatra viśveśvaraṃ dṛṣṭvā devyā saha mahādyutim 52| mitrāvaruṇayorlokānprāpnuyādbharatarṣabha | trirātropoṣitastatra agniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet 53| kanyāvasathamāsādya niyato niyatāśanaḥ (āvasathya)| manoḥ prajāpaterlokānāpnoti bharatarṣabha 54| kanyāyāṃ ye prayacchaṃti dānamaṇvapi bhārata | tadakṣayamiti prāhurṛṣayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ 55| niṣṭhāvāsaṃ samāsādya triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam | aśvamedhamavāpnoti viṣṇulokaṃ ca gacchati 56| ye tu dānaṃ prayacchaṃti niṣṭhāyāḥ saṃgame narāḥ | te yāṃti naraśārdūla brahmalokamanāmayam 57| tatrāśramo vasiṣṭhasya triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvāṇo vājapeyamavāpnuyāt 58| devakūṭaṃ samāsādya devarṣigaṇasevitam | aśvamedhamavāpnoti kulaṃ caiva samuddharet 59| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra kauśikasya munerhradam | tatra siddhiṃ parāṃ prāpa viśvāmitro'tha kauśikaḥ 60| yatra māsaṃ vaseddhīraḥ kauśikyāṃ bharatarṣabha | aśvamedhasya yatpuṇyaṃ tanmāsenādhigacchati 61| sarvatīrthavaraṃ caiva yo vaseta mahāhradam | na durgatimavāpnoti viṃdyādbahusuvarṇakam 62| kumāramabhigamyātha vīrāśramanivāsinam | aśvamedhamavāpnoti śakralokaṃ sa gacchati 63| naṃdinyāṃ ca samāsādya kūpaṃ tridaśasevitam | naramedhasya yatpuṇyaṃ tatprāpnoti kurūdvaha 64| kālikāsaṃgame snātvā kauśikyāruṇayoryataḥ | trirātropoṣito vidvānsarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 65| urvaśītīrthamāsādya tathā somāśramaṃ budhaḥ | kuṃbhakarṇāśrame snātvā pūjyate bhuvi mānavaḥ 66| tathā kokāmukhe snātvā brahmacārī samāhitaḥ | jātismaratvaṃ prāpnoti dṛṣṭametatpurātanaiḥ 67| sakṛnnadīṃ samāsādya kṛtārtho bhavati dvijaḥ | sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā svargalokaṃ ca gacchati 68| ṛṣabhadvīpamāsādya sevya krauṃcaniṣūdanam | sarasvatyāmupaspṛśya vimānastho virājate 69| audyānakaṃ mahārāja tīrthaṃ muniniṣevitam | tatrābhiṣekaṃ kurvīta sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 70| brahmatīrthaṃ samāsādya puṇyaṃ brahmarṣisevitam | vājapeyamavāpnoti naro nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ 71| tataścaṃpāṃ samāsādya bhāgīrathyāṃ kṛtodakaḥ | daṃḍārpaṇaṃ samāsādya gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 72| lāviḍhikāṃ tato gacchetpuṇyāṃ puṇyaniṣevitām | vājapeyamavāpnoti vimānasthaśca pūjyate 73|
English translation
Nārada said :
1. O lord, I have described to you in brief the greatness of Vārāṇasi , and the holy places (situated) in it. (Now) listen to (the description of) other holy places.
2-4. O descendant of Bharata , a man being restrained and calm, having gone to Gayā , obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice merely by going there. There is (a place) named Akṣayavaṭa known in the three worlds. O lord, oblations offered to the manes at that place become inexhaustible. Having bathed in the Mahānadī he should offer oblations to manes and deities. (By doing so) he would obtain (i.e. go to) the imperishable worlds and would liberate his family.
5-6. Then he should go to Brahmasaras served by (i.e. in) Brahmāraṇya. (Thereby) he obtains (the fruit of) Puṇḍarīka (sacrifice) as the night obtains the dawn. Brahmā has raised (i.e. put up) the best sacrificial post in the lake. By circumambulating the sacrificial post he would obtain the fruit of a Vājapeya sacrifice.
7-10. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to Dhenuka , well-known in the world. Living there even for a night and offering a sesamum-cow he with his soul purified of all sins, would certainly go to Soma ’s world. There is, O great king, even now the mark: A tawny cow along with her calf still roams over the mountain. The foot-prints of the cow with her calf are seen even now. Having bathed in (the water collected at) those foot-prints, O lord of kings, O best king, little sin that is (left) perishes, O descendant of Bharata.
11-12. Thence he should go to Gṛdhravaṭa , the place of the god, viz. the trident-holder (i.e. Śiva ). He should bathe there and (apply) ashes after meeting (i.e. visiting) the bull-bannered god. A brāhmaṇa , thereby, would have observed a vow for twelve years. All the sin of other castes perishes.
13-18. Thence he should go to the high mountain resounding with music. O best among the Bharatas , the place sacred to Sāvitrī is seen there. A brāhmaṇa with a severe vow should offer the sandhyā (-prayer) there. By (doing) that he would have offered the sandhyā(-prayer) for twelve years. O best of Bharatas, Yonidvāra is there only. Having gone there a man is freed from the danger of (being conceived in) a womb. O king, a man who would live in Gayā for both the bright and dark fortnights (of a month), purifies his family up to the seventh (descendant). There is no doubt about this. Many sons would be desired by him (i.e. he would have many sons) even if he would go to Gayā all alone. He might perform a horse sacrifice or give a dark blue bull. Then O king, O lord of men, a pilgrim should go to Phalgu . (By doing so) he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and would reach (i.e. get) the highest well-being.
19-20a. Thence, being tranquil he should, O lord of kings, go to Dharmapṛṣṭha where, O Yudhiṣṭhira , Dharma (i.e. Righteousness) always lives. Having seen Dharma, he would obtain (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice.
20b-23. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to the excellent holy place of Brahmā. Having gone there and having been settled in a vow he should worship Brahmā. O descendant of Bharata, (thereby) he obtains the fruit of Rājasūya and horse sacrifices. Thence, O king, a pilgrim should go to Rājagṛha . Having bathed there he rejoices like Kakṣīvat . [1] The food is (there) regularly offered to Yakṣiṇī . The sacred Fire-Man formerly lived there. By the favour of Yakṣiṇī he is freed from (the sin) of killing a brāhmaṇa.
24-25. Thence he should go to Maṇināga . He would (thereby) obtain the fruit (of the gift) of a thousand cows. O king, the poison of the bite of a serpent does not affect him who enjoys the food regularly offered to Maṇināga. Having stayed there for a night he is freed from all sins.
26-29a. O king, thence he should go to the grove of Gautama , the brāhmaṇic sage. Having bathed in the pool of Ahalyā he would reach the highest position. Reaching Śrī, he gets excellent wealth. O pious one, there is a tank well-known in the three worlds. He should bathe there. (Thereby) he would obtain (the fruit of) a horse-sacrifice. The tank of the royal sage Janaka is honoured by gods. Having bathed there he would obtain Viṣṇu ’s heaven.
29b-30a. Thence he should go to (the holy place called) Vināśana which frees (a man) from all sins. (Thereby) he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to Soma’s world.
30b-36a. (Then) he should go to Gaṇḍakī produced from the water of all sacred places. (Thereby) he obtains (the fruit of) a Vājapeya sacrifice and goes to the Sun’s world. Thence, O pious one, having entered the penance-grove of Dhruva he undoubtedly rejoices among guhyakas , O noble one. Having reached the river Karmadā resorted to by siddhas he obtains (the fruit of) Puṇḍarīka (sacrifice) and goes to Soma’s world. Thence having reached the river Viśālā , well-known in the three worlds, he obtains (the fruit of) Agniṣṭoma (sacrifice) and goes to heaven. Then O king, having reached Dhārā of (i.e. sacred to) Maheśvara he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and would liberate his family. A pure man having reached the lake of the residents of heaven does not meet with a disaster and obtains (the fruit of) a Vājapeya (sacrifice).
36b-39. Then being restrained and calm he should go to (the sacred place called) Māheśapada. Having bathed at Māheśapada he would obtain (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice. O best among the Bharatas, there is a well-known, excellent sacred place taken away by the mighty Viṣṇu when, O lord of kings, it was being seized by a wicked demon Kūrmarūpa. O king, a man should bathe at that excellent holy place Tīrthakoṭi ; (thereby) he obtains (the fruit of) a Puṇḍarīka sacrifice and goes to Viṣṇu’s heaven.
40-46. Thence, O best of men, he should go to the best place of Nārāyaṇa , where, O descendant of Bharata, Viṣṇu always lives in the vicinity and where gods like Brahma and others, sages with penance as their wealth, and also Ādityas , Vasus and Rudras wait upon Viṣṇu. The place of (i.e. sacred to) Viṣṇu of wonderful deeds is known as Śālagrāma . Having gone to the imperishable Viṣṇu, the lord of the three worlds and the giver of boons, a man obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to Viṣṇu’s heaven. O pious one, there is a pool freeing (a man) from all sins. In that pool all the four oceans are always present. Having bathed there, O lord of kings, a man would not meet with misery. Having gone to the everlasting, great god Viṣṇu, the giver of boons, he being free from debts, shines like Soma (i.e. the moon). Having approached Jātismara , he, pure and with his mind controlled, obtains the faculty of recollecting his former births after bathing there. There is no doubt about this.
47-48. Having gone to Vaṭeśvarapura and having worshipped Keśava (there) a man obtains (i.e. goes to) desired worlds by fasting there. There is no doubt about this. Thence, having gone to (the sacred place called) Vāmana , which destroys all sins and having worshipped Viṣṇu, he would not meet with a disaster.
49-50a. Having gone to Bharata’s hermitage freeing (a man) from all sins he should there resort to Kauṣikī destroying great sins. A man (thereby) obtains the fruit of a Rājasūya sacrifice.
50b-59. Thence, O pious one, he should go to the excellent Campakāraṇya . Having stayed there for a night he would obtain the fruit of giving away a thousand cows. Then having reached the sacred place (called) Govinda liked by the best ones and having fasted there for a night, he would obtain the fruit of Agniṣṭoma (sacrifice). O best among the Bharatas, having seen there the very lustrous lord of the world along with the goddess he would obtain (i.e. go to) the worlds of Mitra and Varuṇa . Having fasted there for three nights he would obtain the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma (sacrifice). Then, being controlled and with his diet controlled he having reached Kanyāvasatha obtains (i.e. goes to) the worlds of Manu Prajāpati , O best of the Bharatas. Sages of severe vows say that even the smallest gift which men give at Kanyāvasatha becomes inexhaustible. Having reached Niṣṭhāvāsa, well-known in the three worlds, he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to Viṣṇu’s heaven. O best among men, those men who give gifts at the confluence of Niṣṭhā , go to the good world of Brahmā. There is Vasiṣṭha ’s hermitage well-known in the three worlds. A man who bathes there obtains (the fruit of) a Vājapeya (sacrifice). Having reached Devakūṭa resorted to by hosts of divine sages he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and would liberate his family.
60-73. Thence, O lord of kings, he should go to the lake of the sage Kauṣika , where Viśvāmitra , the son of Kauśika , obtained the highest welfare. O best among the Bharatas, the wise one should live for a month there, i.e. at Kauśikī . After a month he obtains the religious merit which is due to a horse sacrifice. He who would stay at Mahāhrada , the best among all holy places, does not meet with a disaster and would obtain much gold. Having (then) gone to Kumāra staying in Vīrāśrama he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to Indra ’s world. O you who perpetuate the Kuru -family, having gone to the lake at Nandinī resorted to by gods he obtains that fruit which is due to a human sacrifice. Having bathed at Kālikāsaṅgama, the confluence of Kauśikī and Āruṇī , and having fasted there for three nights a wise man is freed from all sins. A wise man having reached Urvaśī-tīrtha and having bathed in Kumbhakarṇāśrama , is honoured in the world. Similarly, being restrained and calm he having bathed at Kokāmukha gets the faculty of recollecting his former existence. This has been observed by the ancients. Reaching Sakṛt river a brāhmaṇa becomes blessed. With his soul freed from all sins he goes to heaven. Having reached Ṛṣabhadvīpa he should resort to Krauñcaniṣūdana. Having bathed at Sarasvatī he seated in an aeroplane shines. O great king, Audyānaka is a great holy place resorted to by sages. He should bathe there. (By doing so) he is freed from all sins. There is no doubt that a man reaching the holy Brahmatīrtha resorted to by brāhmaṇic sages obtains (the fruit of) a Vājapeya sacrifice. Then having reached Campā and having bathed in Bhāgīrathī and having reached Daṇḍārpaṇa he would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows. Thence a man should go to the auspicious Lāviḍhikā resorted to by the holy ones. (By that) he obtains (the fruit of) a Vājapeya sacrifice and seated in an aeroplane he is honoured.
[1]: [1] : Kakṣīvān—He was a famous sage and was credited with the authorship of a few Vedic hymns. He was the son of Uśij and Dīrghatamas.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 25335, revision 333719 (2022-03-15T17:01:54Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365257.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.