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Ayodhyā-māhātmya · Chapter 2

Chapter 2

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Ayodhyā-māhātmya · Chapter 2

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।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। अगस्त्यमुनिरित्युक्त्वा चक्रतीर्थाश्रयां कथाम् ।। विभोर्विष्णुहरेश्चापि पुनराह द्विजोत्तमाः ।। १ ।। ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। पुरा ब्रह्मा जगत्स्रष्टा विज्ञाय हरिमच्युतम् ।। अयोध्यावासिनं देवं तत्र चक्रे स्थितिं स्वयम् ।। २ ।। आगत्य कृतवांस्तत्र यात्रां ब्रह्मा यथाविधि ।। यज्ञं च विधिवच्चक्रे नानासंभारसंयुतम् ।। ३ ।। ततः स कृतवांस्तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ।। कुण्डं स्वनाम्ना विपुलं नानादेवसमन्वितम् ।। ४ ।। विस्तीर्णजलकल्लोलकलितं कलुषापहम् ।। कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारपुंडरीककुलाकुलम् ।। ५ ।। हंससारसचक्राह्व विहंगममनोहरम् ।। तटांतविटपोल्लासि पतत्त्रिगणसंकुलम् ।। ६ ।। तत्र कुण्डे सुराः सर्वे स्नाताः शुद्धिसमन्विताः ।। बभूवुरद्धा विगतरजस्का विमलत्विषः ।। ७ ।। तदाश्चर्य्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा ते सर्वे सहसा सुराः ।। ब्रह्माणं प्रणिपत्योचुर्भक्त्या प्रांजलयस्तदा ।। ८ ।। ।। देवा ऊचुः ।। ।। भगवन्ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन माहात्म्यं कमलासन ।। अस्य कुण्डस्य सकलं खातस्य विमलत्विषः ।। ९ ।। अत्र स्नानेन सर्वेषामस्माकं विगतं रजः ।। महदाश्चर्यमेतस्य दृष्ट्वा कुंडस्य विस्मिताः ।। सर्वे वयं सुरश्रेष्ठ कृपया त्वमतो वद ।। 2.8.2.१० ।। ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। शृण्वन्तु सर्वे त्रिदशाः सावधानाः सविस्मयाः ।। कुण्डस्यैतस्य माहात्म्यं नानाफलसमन्वितम् ।। ११ ।। अत्र स्नानेन विधिवत्पापात्मानोऽपि जंतवः ।। विमानं हंससंयुक्तमास्थाय रुचिरांबराः ।। निवसंति ब्रह्मलोके यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् ।। १२ ।। अत्र दानेन होमेन यथाशक्त्या सुरोत्तमाः ।। तुलाश्वमेधयोः पुण्यं प्राप्नुयुर्मुनिसत्तम ।। १३ ।। ममास्मिन्सरसि श्रीमाञ्जायते स्नानतो नरः ।। तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं जपादिकम् ।। १४ ।। सर्वयज्ञसमं स्याद्वै महापातकनाशनम्।। ब्रह्मकुण्डमिति ख्यातिमितो यास्यत्यनुत्तमाम्।।१५।। अस्मिन्कुण्डे च सांनिध्यं भविष्यति सदा मम ।। कार्त्तिके शुक्लपक्षस्य चतुर्दश्यां सुरोत्तमाः ।। १६ ।। यात्रा भविष्यति सदा सुराः सांवत्सरी मम ।। शुभप्रदा महापापराशिनाशकरी तदा ।। १७ ।। स्वर्णं चैव सदा देयं वासांसि विविधानि च ।। निजशक्त्या प्रकर्तव्या सुरास्तृप्तिर्द्विजन्मनाम्।।१८।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवोऽयं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ।। अन्तर्दधे सुरैः सार्द्धं तीर्थं दृष्ट्वा तपोधन ।। १९ ।। तदाप्रभृति तत्कुण्डं विख्यातं परमं भुवि ।। चक्रतीर्थाच्च पूर्वस्यां दिशि कुण्डं स्थितं महत् ।। 2.8.2.२० ।। ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा स तपोराशिरगस्त्यः कुंभसंभवः ।। पुनः पृष्टो मुनिवरो व्यासायावीवदत्कथाम् ।। २१ ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। अन्यच्छृणु महाभाग तीर्थं दुष्कृतिदुर्ल्लभम् ।। ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु सरयूतीरसंगतम् ।। २२ ।। ब्रह्मकुण्डान्मुनिवर धनुःसप्तशतेन च ।। पूर्वोत्तरदिशाभागे संस्थितं सरयूजले ।। २३ ।। तत्र पूर्वं मुनिवरो लोमशो नाम नामतः ।। तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन स्नानं चक्रे विधानतः ।। २४ ।। ततः स ऋणनिर्मुक्तो बभूव गतकल्मषः ।। तदाश्चर्यं महद्दृष्ट्वा मुनीन्सानन्दमब्रवीत् ।। २५ ।। पश्यन्त्वेतस्य महतो गुणांस्तीर्थवरस्य वै ।। भुजावूर्ध्वं तथा कृत्वा हर्षेणाहाऽश्रुलोचनः ।। २६ ।। ।। लोमश उवाच ।। ।। ऋणमोचनसंज्ञं तु तीर्थमेतदनुत्तमम् ।। यत्र स्नानेन जंतूनामृणनिर्यातनं भवेत् ।। २७ ।। ऐहिकं पारलौकिक्यं यदृणत्रितयं नृणाम् ।। तत्सर्वं स्नानमात्रेण तीर्थेऽस्मिन्नश्यति क्षणात् ।।।। २८ ।। सर्वतीर्थोत्तमं चैतत्सद्यः प्रत्ययकारकम् ।। मया चास्य फलं सम्यगनुभूतमृणादिह ।। २९ ।। तस्मादत्र विधानेन स्नानं दानं च शक्तितः ।। कर्त्तव्यं श्रद्धया युक्तैः सर्वदा फलकांक्षिभिः ।। 2.8.2.३० ।। स्नातव्यं च सुवर्णं च देयं वस्त्रादि शक्तितः ।। ३१ ।। ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा तीर्थमाहात्म्यं लोमशो मुनिसत्तमः ।। अन्तर्दधे मुनिश्रेष्ठः स्तुवंस्तीर्थगुणान्मुदा ।। ३२ ।। इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र ऋणमोचनसंज्ञकम् ।। यत्र स्नानेन जन्तूनामृणं नश्यति तत्क्षणात् ।। ऋणमोचनतीर्थं तु पूर्वतः सरयूजले ।। ३३ ।। धनुर्द्विशत्या तीर्थं च पापमोचनसंज्ञकम्।। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा तत्र स्नानेन मानवः ।। जायते तत्क्षणादेव नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ३४ ।। मया तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ दृष्टं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ।। ३५ ।। पांचालदेशसंभूतो नाम्ना नरहरिर्द्विजः ।। असत्संगप्रभावेन पापात्मा समजायत ।। ३६ ।। नाना विधानि पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च ।। कृतवान्पापिसंगेन त्रयीमार्गविनिन्दकः ।। ३७ ।। स कदाचित्साधुसंगात्तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगतः ।। अयोध्यामागतो विप्र महापातककृद्द्विजः ।। ३८ ।। पापमोचनतीर्थे तु स्नातः सत्संगतो द्विजः ।। पापराशिर्विनष्टोऽस्य निष्पापः समभूत्क्षणात् ।। ३९ ।। दिवः पपात तन्मूर्ध्नि पुष्पवृष्टिर्मुनीश्वर ।। दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य विष्णुलोके गतो द्विजः ।। 2.8.2.४० ।। तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं मया च द्विजपुंगव ।। श्रद्धया परया तत्र कृतं स्नानं विशेषतः ।।४१।। माघकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां तत्र स्नानं विशेषतः ।। दानं च मनुजैः कार्य्यं सर्वपापविशुद्धये ।।४२।। अन्यदा(?) तु कृते स्नाने सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।। ४३ ।। पापमोचनतीर्थे तु पूर्वं तु सरयूजले ।। धनुःशतप्रमाणेन वर्त्तते तीर्थमुत्तमम् ।। ४४ ।। सहस्रधारासंज्ञं तु सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम् ।। यस्मिन्रामाज्ञया वीरो लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ।। प्राणानुत्सृज्य योगेन ययौ शेषात्मतां पुरा ।। ४५ ।। सार्द्धंहस्तत्रयेणैव प्रमाणं धनुषो विदुः ।। चतुर्भिर्हस्तकैः संख्या दण्ड इत्यभिधीयते ।। ४६ ।। ।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। इत्थं तदा समाकर्ण्य कुम्भयोनिमुनेस्तदा ।। कृष्णद्वैपायनो व्यासः पुनः पप्रच्छ कौतुकात् ।। ४७ ।। ।। व्यास उवाच ।। ।। सहस्रधारामाहात्म्यं विस्तराद्वद सुव्रत ।। शृण्वंस्तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं न तृप्यति मनो मम ।। ४८ ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। सावधानः शृणु मुने कथां कथयतो मम ।। सहस्रधारातीर्थस्य समुत्पत्तिं महोदयात् ।। ४९ ।। पुरा रामो रघुपतिर्देवकार्यं विधाय वै ।। कालेन सह संगम्य मंत्रं चक्रे नरेश्वरः ।। 2.8.2.५० ।। आवां मन्त्रयमाणौ हि यः पश्येदन्तिकागतः।।४९।। मया त्याज्यो भवेत्क्षिप्रमित्थं चक्रे स संविदम् ।।५१।। तस्मिन्मंत्रयमाणे हि द्वारे तिष्ठति लक्ष्मणे ।। आगतः स तपोराशिर्दुर्वासास्तेजसां निधिः ।। ५२ ।। आगत्य लक्ष्मणं शीघ्रं प्रीत्योवाच क्षुधाऽऽकुलः।। ५३ ।। ।। दुर्वासा उवाच ।। ।। सौमित्रे गच्छ शीघ्रं त्वं रामाग्रे मां निवेदय ।। कार्यार्थिनमिदं वाक्यं नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि ।। ५४ ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। शापाद्भीतः स सौमित्रिर्द्रुतं गत्वा तयोः पुरः ।। मुनिं निवेदयामास रामाग्रे दर्शनार्थिनम् ।। दुर्वाससं तपोराशिमत्रिनन्दनमागतम् ।। ५५ ।। रामोऽपि कालमामंत्र्य प्रस्थाप्य च बहिर्ययौ ।। दृष्ट्वा मुनिं तं प्रणतः संभोज्य प्रभुरादरात् ।। ५६ ।। दुर्वाससं मुनिवरं प्रस्थाप्य स्वयमादरात् ।। सत्यभंगभयाद्वीरो लक्ष्मणं त्यक्तवांस्तदा ।। ५७ ।। लक्ष्मणोऽपि तदा वीरः कुर्वन्नवितथं वचः ।। भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य सुमतिः सरयूतीरमाययौ ।। ५८ ।। तत्र गत्वाथ च स्नात्वा ध्यानमास्थाय सत्वरम् ।। चिदात्मनि मनः शान्तं संगम्यावस्थितस्तदा ।। ५९ ।। ततः प्रादुरभूत्तत्र सहस्रफणमण्डितः ।। शेषश्चक्षुःश्रवाः श्रेष्ठः क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रधा ।। सुरलोकात्सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समागादमरैः सह ।। 2.8.2.६० ।। ततः शेषात्मतां यातं लक्ष्मणं सत्यसंगरम् ।। उवाच मधुरं शक्रः सुराणां तत्र पश्यताम् ।। ६१ ।। ।। ।। इन्द्र उवाच ।। ।। लक्ष्मणोत्तिष्ठ शीघ्रं त्वमारोह स्वपदं स्वकम् ।। देवकार्यं कृतं वीर त्वया रिपुनिषूदन ।। ६२ ।। वैष्णवं परमं स्थानं प्राप्नुहि त्वं सनातनम् ।। भवन्मूर्तिः समायातः शेषोऽपि विलसत्फणः ।। ६३ ।। सहस्रधा क्षितिं भित्त्वा सहस्रफणमण्डलैः ।। क्षितेः सहस्रच्छिद्रेषु यस्माद्भित्त्वा समुद्गताः ।। ६४ ।। फणसाहस्रमणिभिर्दग्धाः शेषस्य सुव्रत ।। तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सरयूतीरगं शुभम् ।। ख्यातं सहस्रधारेति भविष्यति न संशयः ।। ६५ ।। एतत्क्षेत्रप्रमाणं तु धनुषां पञ्चविंशतिः ।। अत्र स्नानेन दानेन श्राद्धेन श्रद्धयान्वितः ।। सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं व्रजेन्नरः ।। ६६ ।। अत्र स्नातो नरो धीमाञ्छेषं संपूज्य चाव्ययम् ।। तीर्थं संपूज्य विधिवद्विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् ।। ६७ ।। तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानं विधिपुरःसरम् ।। शेषरूपाहिवद्ध्येयाः पूज्या विप्रा विशेषतः ।। ६८ ।। स्वर्णं चान्नं च वासांसि देयानि श्रद्धयान्वितैः ।। स्नानं दानं हरेः पूजा सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत् ।। ६९ ।। तस्मादेतन्महातीर्थं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् ।। क्षितौ भविष्यति सदा नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। 2.8.2.७० ।। श्रावणे शुद्धपक्षस्य या तिथिः पञ्चमी भवेत् ।। तस्यामत्र प्रकर्तव्यो नागानुद्दिश्य यत्नतः ।। ७१ ।। उत्सवो विपुलः सद्भिः शेषपूजापुरःसरम् ।। उत्सवे तु कृते तत्र तीर्थे महति मानवैः ।। ७२ ।। सन्तोष्य च द्विजान्भक्त्या नागपूजापुरस्सरम् ।। सन्तुष्टाः फणिनः सर्वे पीडयन्ति न मानुषान् ।। ७३ ।। वैशाखमासे ये स्नानं कुर्वंत्यत्र समाहिताः ।। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।। ७४ ।। तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं माधवे यत्नतो नरैः ।। स्नानं दानं हरिः पूज्यो ब्राह्मणाश्च विशेषतः ।। तीर्थे कृतेऽत्र मनुजैः सर्वकामफलप्रदः ।। ७५ ।। विष्णुमुद्दिश्य यो दद्यात्सालंकारां पयस्विनीम् ।। सवत्सामत्र सत्तीर्थे सत्पात्राय द्विजन्मने ।। ७६ ।। तस्य वासो भवेन्नित्य विष्णुलोके सनातने ।। अक्षयं स्वर्गमाप्नोति तीर्थ स्नानेन मानवः ।। ७७ ।। अत्र पूज्यौ विशेषेण नरैः श्रद्धासमन्वितः ।। वैशाखे मास्यलंकारैर्वस्त्रैश्च द्विजदंपती ।। ७८ ।। लक्ष्मीनारायणप्रीत्यै लक्ष्मीप्रात्यै विशेषतः ।। वैशाखे मासि तीर्थानि पृथिवीसंस्थितानि वै ।। ७९ ।। सर्वाण्यपि च संगत्य स्थास्यंत्यत्र न संशयः ।। तस्मादत्र विशेषेण वैशाखे स्नानतो नृणाम् ।। सर्वतीर्थावगाहस्य भविष्यति फलं महत् ।। 2.8.2.८० ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। इत्युक्त्वा मुनिराजेंद्रो लक्ष्मणं सुरसं गतम् ।। शेषं संस्थाप्य तत्तीर्थे भूभारहरणक्षमम् ।। लक्ष्मणं यानमारोप्य प्रतस्थे दिवमादरात् ।। ८१ ।। तदाप्रभृति तत्तीर्थं विख्यातिं परमां ययौ ।। वैशाखे मासि तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं परमं स्मृतम् ।। ८२ ।। पञ्चम्यामपि शुक्लायां श्रावणस्य विशेषतः ।। अन्यदा पर्वणि श्रेष्ठं विशेषं स्नानमाचरेत् ।। सहस्रधारातीर्थे च नरः स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्।। ८३ ।। विधिवदिह हि धीमान्स्नानदानानि तीर्थे नरवर इह शक्त्या यः करोत्यादरेण ।। स इह विपुलभोगान्निर्मलात्मा च भक्त्या भजति भुजगशायिश्रीपतेरात्मनैक्यम् ।। ८४ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डेऽयोध्यामाहात्म्ये ब्रह्मकुण्डसहस्रधारातीर्थमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः ।। २ ।।

|| sūta uvāca || || agastyamunirityuktvā cakratīrthāśrayāṃ kathām || vibhorviṣṇuhareścāpi punarāha dvijottamāḥ || 1 || || || agastya uvāca || || purā brahmā jagatsraṣṭā vijñāya harimacyutam || ayodhyāvāsinaṃ devaṃ tatra cakre sthitiṃ svayam || 2 || āgatya kṛtavāṃstatra yātrāṃ brahmā yathāvidhi || yajñaṃ ca vidhivaccakre nānāsaṃbhārasaṃyutam || 3 || tataḥ sa kṛtavāṃstatra brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ || kuṇḍaṃ svanāmnā vipulaṃ nānādevasamanvitam || 4 || vistīrṇajalakallolakalitaṃ kaluṣāpaham || kumudotpalakahlārapuṃḍarīkakulākulam || 5 || haṃsasārasacakrāhva vihaṃgamamanoharam || taṭāṃtaviṭapollāsi patattrigaṇasaṃkulam || 6 || tatra kuṇḍe surāḥ sarve snātāḥ śuddhisamanvitāḥ || babhūvuraddhā vigatarajaskā vimalatviṣaḥ || 7 || tadāścaryyaṃ mahaddṛṣṭvā te sarve sahasā surāḥ || brahmāṇaṃ praṇipatyocurbhaktyā prāṃjalayastadā || 8 || || devā ūcuḥ || || bhagavanbrūhi tattvena māhātmyaṃ kamalāsana || asya kuṇḍasya sakalaṃ khātasya vimalatviṣaḥ || 9 || atra snānena sarveṣāmasmākaṃ vigataṃ rajaḥ || mahadāścaryametasya dṛṣṭvā kuṃḍasya vismitāḥ || sarve vayaṃ suraśreṣṭha kṛpayā tvamato vada || 2.8.2.10 || || brahmovāca || || śṛṇvantu sarve tridaśāḥ sāvadhānāḥ savismayāḥ || kuṇḍasyaitasya māhātmyaṃ nānāphalasamanvitam || 11 || atra snānena vidhivatpāpātmāno'pi jaṃtavaḥ || vimānaṃ haṃsasaṃyuktamāsthāya rucirāṃbarāḥ || nivasaṃti brahmaloke yāvadābhūtasaṃplavam || 12 || atra dānena homena yathāśaktyā surottamāḥ || tulāśvamedhayoḥ puṇyaṃ prāpnuyurmunisattama || 13 || mamāsminsarasi śrīmāñjāyate snānato naraḥ || tasmādatra vidhānena snānaṃ dānaṃ japādikam || 14 || sarvayajñasamaṃ syādvai mahāpātakanāśanam|| brahmakuṇḍamiti khyātimito yāsyatyanuttamām||15|| asminkuṇḍe ca sāṃnidhyaṃ bhaviṣyati sadā mama || kārttike śuklapakṣasya caturdaśyāṃ surottamāḥ || 16 || yātrā bhaviṣyati sadā surāḥ sāṃvatsarī mama || śubhapradā mahāpāparāśināśakarī tadā || 17 || svarṇaṃ caiva sadā deyaṃ vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca || nijaśaktyā prakartavyā surāstṛptirdvijanmanām||18|| || agastya uvāca || || ityuktvā devadevo'yaṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ || antardadhe suraiḥ sārddhaṃ tīrthaṃ dṛṣṭvā tapodhana || 19 || tadāprabhṛti tatkuṇḍaṃ vikhyātaṃ paramaṃ bhuvi || cakratīrthācca pūrvasyāṃ diśi kuṇḍaṃ sthitaṃ mahat || 2.8.2.20 || || || sūta uvāca || || ityuktvā sa taporāśiragastyaḥ kuṃbhasaṃbhavaḥ || punaḥ pṛṣṭo munivaro vyāsāyāvīvadatkathām || 21 || || agastya uvāca || || anyacchṛṇu mahābhāga tīrthaṃ duṣkṛtidurllabham || ṛṇamocanasaṃjñaṃ tu sarayūtīrasaṃgatam || 22 || brahmakuṇḍānmunivara dhanuḥsaptaśatena ca || pūrvottaradiśābhāge saṃsthitaṃ sarayūjale || 23 || tatra pūrvaṃ munivaro lomaśo nāma nāmataḥ || tīrthayātrāprasaṃgena snānaṃ cakre vidhānataḥ || 24 || tataḥ sa ṛṇanirmukto babhūva gatakalmaṣaḥ || tadāścaryaṃ mahaddṛṣṭvā munīnsānandamabravīt || 25 || paśyantvetasya mahato guṇāṃstīrthavarasya vai || bhujāvūrdhvaṃ tathā kṛtvā harṣeṇāhā'śrulocanaḥ || 26 || || lomaśa uvāca || || ṛṇamocanasaṃjñaṃ tu tīrthametadanuttamam || yatra snānena jaṃtūnāmṛṇaniryātanaṃ bhavet || 27 || aihikaṃ pāralaukikyaṃ yadṛṇatritayaṃ nṛṇām || tatsarvaṃ snānamātreṇa tīrthe'sminnaśyati kṣaṇāt |||| 28 || sarvatīrthottamaṃ caitatsadyaḥ pratyayakārakam || mayā cāsya phalaṃ samyaganubhūtamṛṇādiha || 29 || tasmādatra vidhānena snānaṃ dānaṃ ca śaktitaḥ || karttavyaṃ śraddhayā yuktaiḥ sarvadā phalakāṃkṣibhiḥ || 2.8.2.30 || snātavyaṃ ca suvarṇaṃ ca deyaṃ vastrādi śaktitaḥ || 31 || || || agastya uvāca || || ityuktvā tīrthamāhātmyaṃ lomaśo munisattamaḥ || antardadhe muniśreṣṭhaḥ stuvaṃstīrthaguṇānmudā || 32 || ityetatkathitaṃ vipra ṛṇamocanasaṃjñakam || yatra snānena jantūnāmṛṇaṃ naśyati tatkṣaṇāt || ṛṇamocanatīrthaṃ tu pūrvataḥ sarayūjale || 33 || dhanurdviśatyā tīrthaṃ ca pāpamocanasaṃjñakam|| sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā tatra snānena mānavaḥ || jāyate tatkṣaṇādeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 34 || mayā tatra muniśreṣṭha dṛṣṭaṃ māhātmyamuttamam || 35 || pāṃcāladeśasaṃbhūto nāmnā naraharirdvijaḥ || asatsaṃgaprabhāvena pāpātmā samajāyata || 36 || nānā vidhāni pāpāni brahmahatyādikāni ca || kṛtavānpāpisaṃgena trayīmārgavinindakaḥ || 37 || sa kadācitsādhusaṃgāttīrthayātrāprasaṃgataḥ || ayodhyāmāgato vipra mahāpātakakṛddvijaḥ || 38 || pāpamocanatīrthe tu snātaḥ satsaṃgato dvijaḥ || pāparāśirvinaṣṭo'sya niṣpāpaḥ samabhūtkṣaṇāt || 39 || divaḥ papāta tanmūrdhni puṣpavṛṣṭirmunīśvara || divyaṃ vimānamāruhya viṣṇuloke gato dvijaḥ || 2.8.2.40 || taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ mayā ca dvijapuṃgava || śraddhayā parayā tatra kṛtaṃ snānaṃ viśeṣataḥ ||41|| māghakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṃ tatra snānaṃ viśeṣataḥ || dānaṃ ca manujaiḥ kāryyaṃ sarvapāpaviśuddhaye ||42|| anyadā(?) tu kṛte snāne sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet || 43 || pāpamocanatīrthe tu pūrvaṃ tu sarayūjale || dhanuḥśatapramāṇena varttate tīrthamuttamam || 44 || sahasradhārāsaṃjñaṃ tu sarvakilbiṣanāśanam || yasminrāmājñayā vīro lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā || prāṇānutsṛjya yogena yayau śeṣātmatāṃ purā || 45 || sārddhaṃhastatrayeṇaiva pramāṇaṃ dhanuṣo viduḥ || caturbhirhastakaiḥ saṃkhyā daṇḍa ityabhidhīyate || 46 || || sūta uvāca || || itthaṃ tadā samākarṇya kumbhayonimunestadā || kṛṣṇadvaipāyano vyāsaḥ punaḥ papraccha kautukāt || 47 || || vyāsa uvāca || || sahasradhārāmāhātmyaṃ vistarādvada suvrata || śṛṇvaṃstīrthasya māhātmyaṃ na tṛpyati mano mama || 48 || || agastya uvāca || || sāvadhānaḥ śṛṇu mune kathāṃ kathayato mama || sahasradhārātīrthasya samutpattiṃ mahodayāt || 49 || purā rāmo raghupatirdevakāryaṃ vidhāya vai || kālena saha saṃgamya maṃtraṃ cakre nareśvaraḥ || 2.8.2.50 || āvāṃ mantrayamāṇau hi yaḥ paśyedantikāgataḥ||49|| mayā tyājyo bhavetkṣipramitthaṃ cakre sa saṃvidam ||51|| tasminmaṃtrayamāṇe hi dvāre tiṣṭhati lakṣmaṇe || āgataḥ sa taporāśirdurvāsāstejasāṃ nidhiḥ || 52 || āgatya lakṣmaṇaṃ śīghraṃ prītyovāca kṣudhā''kulaḥ|| 53 || || durvāsā uvāca || || saumitre gaccha śīghraṃ tvaṃ rāmāgre māṃ nivedaya || kāryārthinamidaṃ vākyaṃ nānyathā kartumarhasi || 54 || || agastya uvāca || || śāpādbhītaḥ sa saumitrirdrutaṃ gatvā tayoḥ puraḥ || muniṃ nivedayāmāsa rāmāgre darśanārthinam || durvāsasaṃ taporāśimatrinandanamāgatam || 55 || rāmo'pi kālamāmaṃtrya prasthāpya ca bahiryayau || dṛṣṭvā muniṃ taṃ praṇataḥ saṃbhojya prabhurādarāt || 56 || durvāsasaṃ munivaraṃ prasthāpya svayamādarāt || satyabhaṃgabhayādvīro lakṣmaṇaṃ tyaktavāṃstadā || 57 || lakṣmaṇo'pi tadā vīraḥ kurvannavitathaṃ vacaḥ || bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya sumatiḥ sarayūtīramāyayau || 58 || tatra gatvātha ca snātvā dhyānamāsthāya satvaram || cidātmani manaḥ śāntaṃ saṃgamyāvasthitastadā || 59 || tataḥ prādurabhūttatra sahasraphaṇamaṇḍitaḥ || śeṣaścakṣuḥśravāḥ śreṣṭhaḥ kṣitiṃ bhittvā sahasradhā || suralokātsurendro'pi samāgādamaraiḥ saha || 2.8.2.60 || tataḥ śeṣātmatāṃ yātaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ satyasaṃgaram || uvāca madhuraṃ śakraḥ surāṇāṃ tatra paśyatām || 61 || || || indra uvāca || || lakṣmaṇottiṣṭha śīghraṃ tvamāroha svapadaṃ svakam || devakāryaṃ kṛtaṃ vīra tvayā ripuniṣūdana || 62 || vaiṣṇavaṃ paramaṃ sthānaṃ prāpnuhi tvaṃ sanātanam || bhavanmūrtiḥ samāyātaḥ śeṣo'pi vilasatphaṇaḥ || 63 || sahasradhā kṣitiṃ bhittvā sahasraphaṇamaṇḍalaiḥ || kṣiteḥ sahasracchidreṣu yasmādbhittvā samudgatāḥ || 64 || phaṇasāhasramaṇibhirdagdhāḥ śeṣasya suvrata || tasmādetanmahātīrthaṃ sarayūtīragaṃ śubham || khyātaṃ sahasradhāreti bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 65 || etatkṣetrapramāṇaṃ tu dhanuṣāṃ pañcaviṃśatiḥ || atra snānena dānena śrāddhena śraddhayānvitaḥ || sarvapāpaviśuddhātmā viṣṇulokaṃ vrajennaraḥ || 66 || atra snāto naro dhīmāñcheṣaṃ saṃpūjya cāvyayam || tīrthaṃ saṃpūjya vidhivadviṣṇulokamavāpnuyāt || 67 || tasmādatra prakartavyaṃ snānaṃ vidhipuraḥsaram || śeṣarūpāhivaddhyeyāḥ pūjyā viprā viśeṣataḥ || 68 || svarṇaṃ cānnaṃ ca vāsāṃsi deyāni śraddhayānvitaiḥ || snānaṃ dānaṃ hareḥ pūjā sarvamakṣayatāṃ vrajet || 69 || tasmādetanmahātīrthaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam || kṣitau bhaviṣyati sadā nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 2.8.2.70 || śrāvaṇe śuddhapakṣasya yā tithiḥ pañcamī bhavet || tasyāmatra prakartavyo nāgānuddiśya yatnataḥ || 71 || utsavo vipulaḥ sadbhiḥ śeṣapūjāpuraḥsaram || utsave tu kṛte tatra tīrthe mahati mānavaiḥ || 72 || santoṣya ca dvijānbhaktyā nāgapūjāpurassaram || santuṣṭāḥ phaṇinaḥ sarve pīḍayanti na mānuṣān || 73 || vaiśākhamāse ye snānaṃ kurvaṃtyatra samāhitāḥ || na teṣāṃ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 74 || tasmādatra prakartavyaṃ mādhave yatnato naraiḥ || snānaṃ dānaṃ hariḥ pūjyo brāhmaṇāśca viśeṣataḥ || tīrthe kṛte'tra manujaiḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ || 75 || viṣṇumuddiśya yo dadyātsālaṃkārāṃ payasvinīm || savatsāmatra sattīrthe satpātrāya dvijanmane || 76 || tasya vāso bhavennitya viṣṇuloke sanātane || akṣayaṃ svargamāpnoti tīrtha snānena mānavaḥ || 77 || atra pūjyau viśeṣeṇa naraiḥ śraddhāsamanvitaḥ || vaiśākhe māsyalaṃkārairvastraiśca dvijadaṃpatī || 78 || lakṣmīnārāyaṇaprītyai lakṣmīprātyai viśeṣataḥ || vaiśākhe māsi tīrthāni pṛthivīsaṃsthitāni vai || 79 || sarvāṇyapi ca saṃgatya sthāsyaṃtyatra na saṃśayaḥ || tasmādatra viśeṣeṇa vaiśākhe snānato nṛṇām || sarvatīrthāvagāhasya bhaviṣyati phalaṃ mahat || 2.8.2.80 || || agastya uvāca || || ityuktvā munirājeṃdro lakṣmaṇaṃ surasaṃ gatam || śeṣaṃ saṃsthāpya tattīrthe bhūbhāraharaṇakṣamam || lakṣmaṇaṃ yānamāropya pratasthe divamādarāt || 81 || tadāprabhṛti tattīrthaṃ vikhyātiṃ paramāṃ yayau || vaiśākhe māsi tīrthasya māhātmyaṃ paramaṃ smṛtam || 82 || pañcamyāmapi śuklāyāṃ śrāvaṇasya viśeṣataḥ || anyadā parvaṇi śreṣṭhaṃ viśeṣaṃ snānamācaret || sahasradhārātīrthe ca naraḥ svargamavāpnuyāt|| 83 || vidhivadiha hi dhīmānsnānadānāni tīrthe naravara iha śaktyā yaḥ karotyādareṇa || sa iha vipulabhogānnirmalātmā ca bhaktyā bhajati bhujagaśāyiśrīpaterātmanaikyam || 84 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe'yodhyāmāhātmye brahmakuṇḍasahasradhārātīrthamāhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma dvitīyo'dhyāyaḥ || 2 ||

English translation

Sūta said :

1. After recounting the story pertaining to Cakratīrtha thus, O excellent Brāhmaṇas , Sage Agastya began to narrate further the story of Lord Viṣṇuhari.

Agastya said :

2. After coming to know that Lord Hari , Acyuta , had become resident of Ayodhyā formerly, Brahmā , the creator of the universe, stationed himself too there.

3. After his arrival there Brahmā duly performed the pilgrimage. And after collecting the different requisites (of a sacrifice) he performed a sacrifice according to the injunctions.

4. Thereafter, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, made a Kuṇḍa known after his name. [1] It was large and frequented by many deities.

5-6. It is a sacred pit that is destructive of sins. It is large; its water is full of ripples. It abounds in lilies, blue lotuses, red lotuses and white lotuses. It is very charming with swans, cranes, ruddy geese and other (water) birds. It is full of various other birds gracefully perching on the branches of the trees on the banks.

7-8. On taking their holy bath in that Kuṇḍa all the Suras became endowed with great purity. All their impurities disappeared and they attained refulgence. On seeing this great miracle all those Suras devoutly bowed down to Brahmā and said thus with palms joined in reverence:

The Devas said :

9-10. O Lotus-seated Lord, recount the entire glory of this Kuṇḍa accurately. It has been dug (by you) and its refulgence is free from impurities. By taking a holy bath herein all our impurities have gone away. We are surprised on observing this miracle, O excellent one among Suras. Hence do recount (it).

Brahmā said :

11-12. May all the Suras listen attentively to the efficacy of this Kuṇḍa along with the different kinds of benefit accruing therefrom. Listen to it, ye Suras who are (obviously) surprised. By taking the holy bath here in accordance with the injunctions even sinful creatures will be clad in fascinating robes. They will occupy an aerial chariot fitted with swans and go to the world of Brahmā. They will stay there till all the living beings are annihilated.

13. ( Corrupt reading ) O excellent suras, acquire merit here by performing charity, Homa , Tulādāna and Aśvamedha according to your capacity.

14-18. By taking the holy bath in this lake of mine, a man becomes glorious. Hence, if holy bath, charitable gifts, Japas etc. are performed here in accordance with the injunctions, they shall be on a par with all Yajñas and be destructive of all sins.

This holy pit shall attain renown of great excellence as Brahmakuṇḍa . I will always be present in this Kuṇḍa.

On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika , O excellent Suras, the annual festival of mine shall always be celebrated. It is conducive to auspiciousness and is destructive of heaps of great sins.

Gold should be gifted always with various kinds of clothes, O Suras. Brāhmaṇas should be propitiated in accordance with one’s capacity.

Agastya said :

19-20. After saying thus, Brahmā, the lord of Devas , the grandfather of the worlds, glanced at the Tīrtha (once more) and vanished along with the Suras, O ascetic. Ever since then that Kuṇḍa became exceedingly famous on the earth. That great Kuṇḍa is situated to the east of Cakratīrtha.

Sūta said :

21. After saying this, Agastya, the pot-born sage, who had accumulated a mass of penances was asked once again. The great sage thereupon continued to recount the story to Vyāsa .

Agastya said :

22. Listen to the efficacy of another Tīrtha, O highly fortunate one. It is a Tīrtha very difficult of access to persons of evil actions. It is called Ṛṇamocana [2] (‘Liberator from indebtedness’) and it is adjacent to the banks of Sarayū .

23. O excellent sage, it is situated in the waters of Sarayū seven hundred Dhanus (i.e. about 700 metres) to the north-east of Brahmakuṇḍa.

24. Formerly, the excellent sage named Lomaśa came there during his pilgrimage. He performed the rite of holy bath in accordance with the injunctions.

25. Thereby he became free from indebtedness and got rid of his sins. On observing this great miracle, he gladly spoke to the sages.

26-31. Tears welled up in his eyes. He lifted up his arms and spoke out with great delight:

Lomaśa said :

May (the sages) see the merits of this great Tīrtha, the most excellent one among all the Tīrthas . This is the most excellent Tīrtha named Ṛṇamocana. By taking the holy bath here living beings will be able to repay all their debts of this world as well as of the world hereafter, the three-fold debt of men. All these perish instantaneously on taking bath in this Tīrtha.

This is the most excellent of all the Tīrthas. It immediately furnishes proof worthy of belief. Its benefit has been perfectly experienced by me. (I have got rid) of my indebtedness. Hence holy bath and charitable gifts must be made here in accordance with one’s capacity and in accordance with the injunctions, by persons endowed with faith and desirous of benefits. They must take bath and give away gold, clothes etc. according to (their) capacity.

Agastya said :

32. After mentioning the great efficacy of the Tīrtha thus, Lomaśa, the excellent one among sages, vanished while joyously eulogizing the Tīrtha.

33-35. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, the Tīrtha named Ṛṇamocana has been described. By taking a holy bath therein the indebtedness of living beings perishes instantaneously. The Tīrtha called Ṛṇamocana is in the water of Sarayū in the East.

Within a distance of twenty Dhanus (1 Dhanu =3½ Hastas ) therefrom is the Tīrtha named Pāpamocana [3] . By taking holy bath therein one gets his soul rid of all sins instantaneously. No doubt need be entertained in this respect. O excellent sage, the great glory (of the Tīrtha) has been witnessed by me.

36. There was a Brāhmaṇa in the land of Pāñcāla , named Narahari. As a result of contact with bad people, he became a sinner.

37. On account of his association with sinners he became one who censured the path of Vedas . He committed different kinds of sins such as that of murder of a Brāhmaṇa etc.

38-43. Once he happened to be in contact with some good people engaged in pilgrimage. O Brāhmaṇa, that Brāhmaṇa, the perpetrator of great sins, came to Ayodhyā along with them.

Since he was in the company of good people, he took bath in the Tīrtha called Pāpamocana. The mass of his sins perished. He became free from sins in a moment. A shower of flowers fell on his head from heaven, O eminent sage. The Brāhmaṇa rode in a divine aerial chariot and went to the world of Viṣṇu .

After noticing this great miracle, O eminent Brāhmaṇa, the holy bath was specially undertaken by me with great faith. For the sake of dispelling all the sins the holy bath should be particularly undertaken on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Māgha by men. Charitable gift too should be made. (Even) on other occasions, if the bath is performed, all the sins will be dispelled.

44-46. To the east of Pāpamocanatīrtha and about a hundred Dhanus from it there is another excellent Tīrtha named Sahasradhārā. [4] It is destructive of all sins. It was in this, that, at the behest of Rāma , the heroic Lakṣmaṇa , the slayer of enemy warriors, cast off his life by Yogic process and regained his original form of Śeṣa .

They know that the length of a Dhanu is equal to three and a half Hastas. Four Hastas constitute one unit that is called Daṇḍa .

Sūta said :

47. On hearing these words of the Pot-born Sage, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa asked him again out of curiosity.

Vyāsa said :

48. O sage of good excellent holy rites, narrate in detail the greatness of Sahasradhārā. My mind is not fully satiated by listening to the glory of the Tīrtha.

Agastya said :

49. Even as I recount the story, O sage, listen to it with rapt attention. I shall recount the origin of the Tīrtha Sahasradhārā, the story of which is conducive to great prosperity.

50. Formerly, Rāma, the leader of Raghus , completed the task of Devas. The great king met Kāla and began to discuss some matters with him.

51. He made the stipulation: “If anyone comes near us and sees us taking counsel together, he is to be punished by me immediately.”

52-53. While they were discussing and Lakṣmaṇa was standing at the entrance, Durvāsas , the great ascetic and storehouse of refulgence, came there. On his arrival, he immediately spoke to Lakṣmaṇa lovingly, as he was famished and agitated.

Durvāsas said :

54. O son of Sumitrā , go quickly and report to Rāma that I am here on a job. It does not behove you to disobey this (request of mine).

Agastya said :

55. As he was afraid of his curse, the son of Sumitrā hurried to their presence. He informed Rāma that Sāge Durvāsas, son of Atri , had come and sought an audience with him (Rāma).

56-58 Rāma took leave of Kāla and sent him off. Coming out he met the sage and bowed down to him with great respect. The Lord fed the excellent Sage Durvāsas himself and bade farewell to him. Afraid of violating his own vow, the heroic Rāma abandoned Lakṣmaṇa then.

Lakṣmaṇa, the great warrior, wanted to make the words of his elder brother true. The hero of great intellect came to the banks of Sarayū.

59-61. He went there, took his holy bath, resorted to meditation immediately and fixed his tranquil mind on the Soul of Perfect Consciousness. He stayed there thus.

Thereupon Śeṣa, the excellent Serpent, adorned with a thousand hoods, pierced the ground in a thousand places and appeared before him. Surendra from the world of Suras came there along with the immortal beings. Then, even as the Suras remained there watching, Śakra spoke these sweet words to Lakṣmaṇa of truthful words, who got merged into Śeṣa.

Indra said :

62-68. O Lakṣmaṇa, get up. Quickly go up to your own position. O heroic slayer of enemies, the task of the Devas has been accomplished by you. Attain the great eternal abode of Viṣṇu. Your own original form, Śeṣa, has come with his graceful hoods.

He pierced the earth in thousand places by means of his thousand hoods. Since they have come up by piercing a thousand holes in the earth, O prince of good holy rites, since the places were burnt (i.e. brightly lit up) by the crest jewels on the thousand hoods of Śeṣa, this splendid Tīrtha on the banks of Sarayū shall become well-known as Sahasradhārā. There is no doubt about it.

The extent of this holy spot is twenty-five Dhanus. By taking holy bath here and giving charitable gifts as well as by performing Śrāddha with sincerity one shall get rid of all sins in his soul and shall go to the world of Viṣṇu.

The man who takes his bath here, intelligently worships Śeṣa, the immutable one, and duly adores the Tīrtha, shall attain the world of Viṣṇu.

Therefore, the rite of taking the holy baṃ here should be performed in accordance with the injunctions. Brāhmaṇas should be particularly worshipped and meditated upon as serpents in the form of Śeṣa.

69-73. Gold, cooked rice and clothes should be given by persons endowed with sincerity and faith. Holy bath, charitable gift and the worship of Hari—everything shall have infinite (merit). Hence this Tīrtha shall become a great Tīrtha always bestowing all desired objects on the earth. There is no doubt about this.

On the fifth day in the bright half of the month of Śrāvaṇa a grand festival with serpents in view, with the worship of Śeṣa as the main function, should be celebrated with great effort by good people. If the festival is celebrated in that great Tīrtha by men, if Brāhmaṇas are devoutly propitiated along with the worship of serpents, all the serpents will become delighted and will never harass men.

74. Those who take holy bath here with concentration and mental purity in the month of Vaiśākha , will never return to the earth even in hundreds and crores of Kalpas .

75-80. Hence in the month of Vaiśākha, holy bath, charitable gift, worship of Hari and propitiation particularly of Brāhmaṇas should be performed by men with great effort. If these are done by men, the holy spot bestows all desired benefits.

If, with Viṣṇu in view anyone were to give a milch cow along with her calf and befitting ornaments to a deserving Brāhmaṇa in this excellent Tīrtha, his residence shall be in the eternal world of Viṣṇu. By the holy bath in the Tīrtha a man shall enjoy infinite bliss in heaven.

Here in the month of Vaiśākha a Brāhmaṇa couple should be particularly adored with ornaments and clothes, by men endowed with faith, for the purpose of propitiating Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and particularly for the attainment of fortune.

In the month of Vaiśākha, all the Tīrthas situated on the earth join together and stay here. There is no doubt about this. Hence by taking holy bath particularly in the month of Vaiśākha here, one will get the great benefit of taking the holy plunge in all the Tīrthas.

Agastya said :

81-84. After saying this, O eminent sage, Indra installed Śeṣa,

i.e. Lakṣmaṇa who got merged into Śeṣa and who was capable of removing the burden of the earth, in that holy Tīrtha. He made Lakṣmaṇa sit in his vehicle and started for heaven.

Ever since then that Tīrtha attained great fame. The glory of the Tīrtha in the month of Vaiśākha is said to be very great, particularly on the fifth day in the bright half of the month of Śrāvaṇa. On other occasions such as Parvan days, one should take special holy bath in Sahasradhārā Tīrtha. The man shall attain heaven.

The intelligent and excellent man who duly performs holy bath and charitable gifts in the Tīrtha in accordance with his capacity, shall become a purified soul. He shall enjoy immense pleasures. By devotion he attains union with Śrīpati who sleeps on the serpent (Śeṣa).

[1]: [1] : VV 2-18 describe Brahma-Kuṇḍa. It is to the east of Cakratīrtha. It was created by God Brahmā after performing a sacrifice. The annual festival at the Kuṇḍa is celebrated on the 14th Tithi of the bright half of Kārttīka (vv. 16-17).

[2]: [2] : VV 22-23 describe Ṛṇamocana Tīrtha. It is to the north-east of Brahmakuṇḍa at a distance of 700 Dhanus (1 Dhanu = 3 1/2 Hastas ) but it lies in the waters of Sarayū. The association of the name of Sage Lomaśa adds to the importance of the Tīrtha.

[3]: [3] : VV 33-43 describe Pāpamocana Tīrtha (a Tīrtha absolvent of sins). It is at a distance of 200 Dhanus to the east of Ṛṇamocana Tīrtha. It lies in the current (water) of Sarayū but adjacent to the bank itself. Its annual festival is held on the 14th day in the dark half of Māgha.

[4]: [4] : VV 44 ff describe the greatness of Sahasradhārā Tīrtha. Sahasradhārā Tīrtha is associated with the end of Lakṣmaṇa’s life at Rāma’s behest, for disobedience of his order of not admitting anyone during Rāma’s conference with Kāla, a story given currency by the author of the Uttara Kāṇḍa—a supplement to Rāmāyaṇa. Lakṣmaṇa was an incarnation of the thousand-hooded serpent Śeṣa. When Śeṣa came up for Lakṣmaṇa’s absorption in him, he made one thousand apertures (bores) in the earth (vv 64-65). Hence it is called Sahasradhārā. It lies at a distance of 100 Dhanus to the east of Pāpamocana Tīrtha. It is in the waters of Sarayū and is 25 Dhanus in area. The annual festival of the Tīrtha is celebrated on the 5th day in the bright half of Śrāvaṇa (observed as Nāgapañcamī elsewhere in India). Bath etc. in the month of Vaiśākha is also recommended.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 13653, revision 71613 (2016-06-21T11:24:20Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371730.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.