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Ayodhyā-māhātmya · Chapter 9

Chapter 9

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Ayodhyā-māhātmya · Chapter 9

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।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। जटाकुण्डत आग्नेयदिग्दल संश्रितं महत् ।। गयाकूपमिति ख्यातं सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदम् ।। १ ।। यत्र स्नात्वा च दत्त्वा च यथाशक्त्या जितेंद्रियः ।। सर्वकाममवाप्नोति श्राद्धं कृत्वा द्विजोत्तमः ।। २ ।। नरकस्थाश्च ये केचित्पितरश्च पितामहाः ।। विष्णुलोके तु गच्छन्ति तस्मिञ्च्छ्राद्धे कृते तु वै ।। ३ ।। तस्मिञ्छ्राद्धे कृते विप्र पितॄणामनृणो भवेत् ।। शक्तिभिः पिंडदानं तु सयवैः पायसेन च ।। ४ ।। कर्त्तव्यमृषिनिर्दिष्टं पिण्याकेन गुडेन वा ।। श्राद्धं तत्तीर्थके प्रोक्तं पितॄणां तुष्टिकारकम् ।। ५ ।। तत्र श्राद्धं प्रकर्त्तव्यं नरैः श्रद्धासमन्वितैः ।। तुष्यंति पितरस्तेषां तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः ।। ६ ।। तुष्टेषु पितृषु श्रीमाञ्जायतेपुत्रवाँस्तथा ।। श्राद्धेन पितरस्तुष्टाः प्रयच्छंति सुतान्बहून् ।। ७ ।। श्रियं च विपुलान्भोगाञ्छ्राद्धकृद्भयो न संशयः ।। तस्मादत्र विधानेन विधातव्यं प्रयत्नतः ।। ८ ।। श्राद्धं श्रद्धायुतैः सम्यगभीष्टफलकांक्षिभिः ।। गयाकूपे विशेषेण पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् ।। ९ ।। सोमवारेण संयुक्ता अमावास्या यदा भवेत् ।। तत्रानंतफलं श्राद्धं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् ।। 2.8.9.१० ।। अन्यदा सोमवारेण तत्र श्राद्धं विधानतः ।। पितृसंतोषदं नित्यं तत्र दत्ताक्षयो भवेत् ।। ११ ।। तत्र पूर्वदिशाभागे तीर्थं सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् ।। पिशाचमोचनंनाम विद्यते च फलप्रदम् ।। १२ ।। तत्र स्नात्वा च दत्त्वा च पिशाचो नैव जायते ।। तत्र स्नानं तथा दानं श्राद्धं चैव विशेषतः ।। कर्त्तव्यं च प्रयत्नेन नरैः श्रद्धासमन्वितैः ।। १३ ।। मार्गशीर्षे शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः ।। स्नानं तत्र प्रकर्त्तव्यं पिशाचत्वविमुक्तये ।। १४ ।। तत्संनिधौ पूर्वभागे मानसंनाम नामतः ।। तीर्थं पुण्यनिवासाग्र्यं स्नातव्यं च विशेषतः ।। तत्र स्नानेन दानेन सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ।। १५ ।। नानाविधानि पापानि मेरुतुल्यानि वै पुनः ।। तत्र स्नानात्क्षयं यांति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। १६ ।। यत्किञ्चिद्विद्यते पापं मानसं कायिकं तथा ।। वाचिकं च तथा पापं स्नानतो विलयं व्रजेत् ।। १७ ।। प्रौष्ठपद्यां सदा कार्य्या पौर्णमास्यां विशेषतः ।। यात्रा तस्य नृभिर्विप्र पुण्यवद्भिः क्रियापरैः ।। १८ ।। तस्माद्दक्षिणदिग्भागे वर्त्तते सुकृतैकभूः ।। तमसानाम तटिनी महापातकनाशिनी ।। १९ ।। यत्र स्नानं तथा दानं सर्वपापहरं सदा ।। यस्यास्तटे तथा रम्ये सर्वदा फलदायके ।। 2.8.9.२० ।। नानाविधानि स्थानानि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् ।। माण्डव्यस्य मुनेः स्थानं वर्त्तते पापनाशनम् ।। २१ ।। यस्यास्तीरे मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वत्र सुमनोहरम् ।। तस्याश्रमपदं रम्यं नानावृक्षमनोहरम् ।। २२ ।। यस्मात्स्थानात्समुद्भूता तमसा सुतरंगिणी ।। तद्वनं पुण्यमधिकं पावनं पदमुत्तमम् ।। २३ ।। यस्य दर्शनतो नॄणां सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् ।। २४ ।। प्रफुल्लनानाविधगुल्मशोभितं लताप्रतानावनतं मनोहरम् ।। विरूढपुष्पैः परितः प्रियंगुभिः सुषुष्पितैः कण्टकितैश्च केतकैः ।। २५ ।। तमालगुल्मैर्निचितं सुगंधिभिः सकर्णिकारैर्बकुलैश्च सर्वतः ।। अशोकपुन्नागवरैः सुपुष्पितैर्द्विरेफमालाकुल पुष्पसंचयैः ।। २६ ।। क्वचित्प्रफुल्लांबुजरेणुभूषितैर्विहंगमैश्चारुफलप्रचारिभिः ।। विनादितं सारसमुत्कुलादिभिः प्रमत्तदात्यूहकुलैश्च वल्गुभिः ।। ।। २७ ।। क्वचिच्च चक्राह्वरवोपनादितं क्वचिच्च कादम्बकदम्बकैर्युतम् ।। क्वचिच्च कारण्डवनादनादितं क्वचिच्च मत्तालिकुलाकुलीकृतम् ।। २८ ।। मदाकुलाभिर्भ्रमरीभिरारान्निषेवितं चारुसुगंधिपुष्पवत् ।। क्वचिच्च पुष्पैः सहकारवृक्षैर्लतोपगूढैस्तिलकद्रुमैश्च ।। २९ ।। प्रहृष्टनानाविधपक्षिसेवितं प्रमत्तहारीतकुलोपनादितम् ।। समंततः सुन्दरदर्शनीयतां समुद्वहत्तद्वनमुल्लसन्महत् ।। 2.8.9.३० ।। निबिडनिचुलनीलं नीलकण्ठाभिरामं मदमुदितविहंगीवृन्दनादाभिरामम्।। कुसुमिततरुशाखालीनमत्तद्विरेफंनवकिसलयशोभाशोभितं सत्फलाढ्यम् ।। ३१ ।। इत्यादिबहुशोभाढ्यं सर्वदिक्षु मनोहरम् ।। यत्र मांडव्यमुनिना तपस्तप्तं महत्किल ।। यत्प्रभावादभूत्तीर्थं पावनं तत्सदा महत् ।। ३२ ।। तत्पूर्वं गौतमस्यर्षेराश्रमं पावनं महत् ।। तत्पूर्वं च्यवनस्यर्षेः पराशरमुनेरिदम् ।। प्रथमं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ पितुः किल तपोनिधेः ।। ३३ ।। नानाविधानि तीर्थानि चाश्रमाश्चैव सर्वशः ।। वर्तंते तापसानां च यस्यास्तीरे समंततः ।। ३४ ।। तमसानाम सा ज्ञेया वर्तते तटिनी शुभा ।। यज्ञयूपान्समुत्खाय शोभिता बहुशोऽभितः ।। ३५ ।। तत्र स्नानेन दानेन श्राद्धेन च विशेषतः ।। सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिः स्यान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ३६ ।। मार्गशीर्षे शुक्लपक्षे पञ्चदश्यां विशेषतः ।। स्नानं तस्य फलप्राप्तिदायकं सर्वदा नृणाम्।। ३७ ।। तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानं निर्मलमानसैः ।। प्रयत्नतो मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम् ।। ३८ ।। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तमसापरमं शुभम्।। सीताकुंडमितिख्यातं श्रीदुग्धेश्वरसन्निधौ ।। ३९ ।। भाद्रे शुक्लचतुर्थ्यां तु तस्य यात्रा शुभावहा ।। सर्वकामार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं पूज्यो विप्रेश्वरस्तथा ।। तस्य स्मरणमात्रेण सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम् ।। 2.8.9.४० ।। तस्माद्दक्षिणदिग्भागे भैरवो नाम नामतः ।। यं दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। ४१ ।। रक्षितो वासुदेवेन क्षेत्ररक्षार्थमादरात् ।। तस्य पूजा विधातव्या प्रयत्नेन यथाविधि ।। मनोभीष्टफलप्राप्तिर्भैरवस्य सदाऽऽदरात् ।। ४२ ।। मार्गशीर्षस्य कृष्णायामष्टम्यां तस्य निर्मिता ।। यात्रा सांवत्सरी तत्र सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये ।। ४३ ।। पशूपहारसंभूति कर्तव्यं पूजनं जनैः ।। सर्वकामफलप्राप्तिर्जायते नात्र संशयः ।। ४४ ।। निर्विघ्नं तीर्थवसतिर्भैरवस्य प्रसादतः ।। जायते तेन कर्तव्या पूजा तस्य प्रयत्नतः ।। ४५ ।। एतस्मिन्नुत्तरे भागे रम्यं भरतकुण्डकम् ।। यत्र स्नात्वा नरः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।। ४६ ।। तत्र स्नानं तथा दानं सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत् ।। अन्नं बहुविधं देयं वासांसि विविधान्यपि ।। ४७ ।। यत्नतो देवताः पूज्या वस्त्रादिभिरलंकृतैः ।। नंदिग्रामे वसन्पूर्वं भरतो रघुवंशजः ।। ४८ ।। रामचन्द्रं हृदि ध्यायन्निर्मलात्मा जितेन्द्रियः ।। ततः स्थित्वा प्रजाः सर्वा ररक्ष क्षितिवल्लभः ।। ४९ ।। तत्र चक्रे महत्कुण्डं भरतो नाम भूपतिः ।। राममूर्तिं च संस्थाप्य चचार विजितेन्द्रियः ।। 2.8.9.५० ।। तत्कुंडे सुमहत्पुण्यं नानापुण्यसमन्वितम् ।। कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारपुण्डरीकसमन्वितम् ।। ५१ ।। हंससारसचक्राह्व विहंगमविराजितम् ।। उद्यानपादपच्छायासच्छायममलं सदा ।। ५२ ।। तत्र स्नानं महापुण्यं प्रमोदानन्दनिर्मलम् ।। तत्र स्नानं तथा श्राद्धं पितॄनुद्दिश्य कुर्वतः ।। पितरस्तस्य तुष्यंति तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः ।। ५३ ।। स्वर्णं चान्नं विधानेन दातव्यं च द्विजन्मने ।। श्रद्धापूर्वकमेतत्तु कर्तव्यं प्रयतैर्नरैः ।। ५४ ।। तत्पश्चिमदिशाभागे जटाकुण्डमनुत्तमम् ।। यत्र रामादिभिः सर्वैर्जटाः परिहृता निजाः ।। ५५ ।। जटाकुण्डमिति ख्यातं सर्वतीर्थोत्तमोत्तमम्।। यत्र स्नानेन दानेन सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ।। ५६।। पूर्वकुण्डेषु संपूज्यो भरतः श्रीसमन्वितः ।। जटाकुण्डेषु संपूज्यौ ससीतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।। चैत्रकृष्णचतुर्दश्यां यात्रा सांवत्सरी भवेत् ।। ५७ ।। इति परमविधानैः पूजयेद्रामसीते तदनु भरतकुण्डे लक्ष्मणं च प्रपूज्य ।। विधिवदमृतकुण्डे द्वंद्वंसमज्जनेन वसति सुकृतिमूर्तिर्वैष्णवे तत्र लोके ।। ५८ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डेऽयोध्यामाहात्म्ये गयाकूप पिशाचमोचन मानसतीर्थ तमसानदी माण्डव्याद्याश्रम सीताकुण्ड दुग्धेश्वर भैरवभारतकुण्ड जटाकुण्ड माहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम नवमोऽध्यायः ।। ९ ।। ।। छ ।। ।। ।।

|| agastya uvāca || || jaṭākuṇḍata āgneyadigdala saṃśritaṃ mahat || gayākūpamiti khyātaṃ sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradam || 1 || yatra snātvā ca dattvā ca yathāśaktyā jiteṃdriyaḥ || sarvakāmamavāpnoti śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā dvijottamaḥ || 2 || narakasthāśca ye kecitpitaraśca pitāmahāḥ || viṣṇuloke tu gacchanti tasmiñcchrāddhe kṛte tu vai || 3 || tasmiñchrāddhe kṛte vipra pitṝṇāmanṛṇo bhavet || śaktibhiḥ piṃḍadānaṃ tu sayavaiḥ pāyasena ca || 4 || karttavyamṛṣinirdiṣṭaṃ piṇyākena guḍena vā || śrāddhaṃ tattīrthake proktaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tuṣṭikārakam || 5 || tatra śrāddhaṃ prakarttavyaṃ naraiḥ śraddhāsamanvitaiḥ || tuṣyaṃti pitarasteṣāṃ tuṣṭāḥ syuḥ sarvadevatāḥ || 6 || tuṣṭeṣu pitṛṣu śrīmāñjāyateputravā~stathā || śrāddhena pitarastuṣṭāḥ prayacchaṃti sutānbahūn || 7 || śriyaṃ ca vipulānbhogāñchrāddhakṛdbhayo na saṃśayaḥ || tasmādatra vidhānena vidhātavyaṃ prayatnataḥ || 8 || śrāddhaṃ śraddhāyutaiḥ samyagabhīṣṭaphalakāṃkṣibhiḥ || gayākūpe viśeṣeṇa pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam || 9 || somavāreṇa saṃyuktā amāvāsyā yadā bhavet || tatrānaṃtaphalaṃ śrāddhaṃ pitṝṇāṃ dattamakṣayam || 2.8.9.10 || anyadā somavāreṇa tatra śrāddhaṃ vidhānataḥ || pitṛsaṃtoṣadaṃ nityaṃ tatra dattākṣayo bhavet || 11 || tatra pūrvadiśābhāge tīrthaṃ sarvottamottamam || piśācamocanaṃnāma vidyate ca phalapradam || 12 || tatra snātvā ca dattvā ca piśāco naiva jāyate || tatra snānaṃ tathā dānaṃ śrāddhaṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ || karttavyaṃ ca prayatnena naraiḥ śraddhāsamanvitaiḥ || 13 || mārgaśīrṣe śuklapakṣe caturdaśyāṃ viśeṣataḥ || snānaṃ tatra prakarttavyaṃ piśācatvavimuktaye || 14 || tatsaṃnidhau pūrvabhāge mānasaṃnāma nāmataḥ || tīrthaṃ puṇyanivāsāgryaṃ snātavyaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ || tatra snānena dānena sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt || 15 || nānāvidhāni pāpāni merutulyāni vai punaḥ || tatra snānātkṣayaṃ yāṃti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 16 || yatkiñcidvidyate pāpaṃ mānasaṃ kāyikaṃ tathā || vācikaṃ ca tathā pāpaṃ snānato vilayaṃ vrajet || 17 || prauṣṭhapadyāṃ sadā kāryyā paurṇamāsyāṃ viśeṣataḥ || yātrā tasya nṛbhirvipra puṇyavadbhiḥ kriyāparaiḥ || 18 || tasmāddakṣiṇadigbhāge varttate sukṛtaikabhūḥ || tamasānāma taṭinī mahāpātakanāśinī || 19 || yatra snānaṃ tathā dānaṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ sadā || yasyāstaṭe tathā ramye sarvadā phaladāyake || 2.8.9.20 || nānāvidhāni sthānāni munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām || māṇḍavyasya muneḥ sthānaṃ varttate pāpanāśanam || 21 || yasyāstīre muniśreṣṭha sarvatra sumanoharam || tasyāśramapadaṃ ramyaṃ nānāvṛkṣamanoharam || 22 || yasmātsthānātsamudbhūtā tamasā sutaraṃgiṇī || tadvanaṃ puṇyamadhikaṃ pāvanaṃ padamuttamam || 23 || yasya darśanato nṝṇāṃ sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet || 24 || praphullanānāvidhagulmaśobhitaṃ latāpratānāvanataṃ manoharam || virūḍhapuṣpaiḥ paritaḥ priyaṃgubhiḥ suṣuṣpitaiḥ kaṇṭakitaiśca ketakaiḥ || 25 || tamālagulmairnicitaṃ sugaṃdhibhiḥ sakarṇikārairbakulaiśca sarvataḥ || aśokapunnāgavaraiḥ supuṣpitairdvirephamālākula puṣpasaṃcayaiḥ || 26 || kvacitpraphullāṃbujareṇubhūṣitairvihaṃgamaiścāruphalapracāribhiḥ || vināditaṃ sārasamutkulādibhiḥ pramattadātyūhakulaiśca valgubhiḥ || || 27 || kvacicca cakrāhvaravopanāditaṃ kvacicca kādambakadambakairyutam || kvacicca kāraṇḍavanādanāditaṃ kvacicca mattālikulākulīkṛtam || 28 || madākulābhirbhramarībhirārānniṣevitaṃ cārusugaṃdhipuṣpavat || kvacicca puṣpaiḥ sahakāravṛkṣairlatopagūḍhaistilakadrumaiśca || 29 || prahṛṣṭanānāvidhapakṣisevitaṃ pramattahārītakulopanāditam || samaṃtataḥ sundaradarśanīyatāṃ samudvahattadvanamullasanmahat || 2.8.9.30 || nibiḍaniculanīlaṃ nīlakaṇṭhābhirāmaṃ madamuditavihaṃgīvṛndanādābhirāmam|| kusumitataruśākhālīnamattadvirephaṃnavakisalayaśobhāśobhitaṃ satphalāḍhyam || 31 || ityādibahuśobhāḍhyaṃ sarvadikṣu manoharam || yatra māṃḍavyamuninā tapastaptaṃ mahatkila || yatprabhāvādabhūttīrthaṃ pāvanaṃ tatsadā mahat || 32 || tatpūrvaṃ gautamasyarṣerāśramaṃ pāvanaṃ mahat || tatpūrvaṃ cyavanasyarṣeḥ parāśaramuneridam || prathamaṃ te muniśreṣṭha pituḥ kila taponidheḥ || 33 || nānāvidhāni tīrthāni cāśramāścaiva sarvaśaḥ || vartaṃte tāpasānāṃ ca yasyāstīre samaṃtataḥ || 34 || tamasānāma sā jñeyā vartate taṭinī śubhā || yajñayūpānsamutkhāya śobhitā bahuśo'bhitaḥ || 35 || tatra snānena dānena śrāddhena ca viśeṣataḥ || sarvakāmārthasiddhiḥ syānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 36 || mārgaśīrṣe śuklapakṣe pañcadaśyāṃ viśeṣataḥ || snānaṃ tasya phalaprāptidāyakaṃ sarvadā nṛṇām|| 37 || tasmādatra prakartavyaṃ snānaṃ nirmalamānasaiḥ || prayatnato muniśreṣṭha sarvakāmārthasiddhidam || 38 || ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi tamasāparamaṃ śubham|| sītākuṃḍamitikhyātaṃ śrīdugdheśvarasannidhau || 39 || bhādre śuklacaturthyāṃ tu tasya yātrā śubhāvahā || sarvakāmārthasiddhyarthaṃ pūjyo vipreśvarastathā || tasya smaraṇamātreṇa sarvavighnavināśanam || 2.8.9.40 || tasmāddakṣiṇadigbhāge bhairavo nāma nāmataḥ || yaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 41 || rakṣito vāsudevena kṣetrarakṣārthamādarāt || tasya pūjā vidhātavyā prayatnena yathāvidhi || manobhīṣṭaphalaprāptirbhairavasya sadā''darāt || 42 || mārgaśīrṣasya kṛṣṇāyāmaṣṭamyāṃ tasya nirmitā || yātrā sāṃvatsarī tatra sarvakāmārthasiddhaye || 43 || paśūpahārasaṃbhūti kartavyaṃ pūjanaṃ janaiḥ || sarvakāmaphalaprāptirjāyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 44 || nirvighnaṃ tīrthavasatirbhairavasya prasādataḥ || jāyate tena kartavyā pūjā tasya prayatnataḥ || 45 || etasminnuttare bhāge ramyaṃ bharatakuṇḍakam || yatra snātvā naraḥ pāpairmucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 46 || tatra snānaṃ tathā dānaṃ sarvamakṣayatāṃ vrajet || annaṃ bahuvidhaṃ deyaṃ vāsāṃsi vividhānyapi || 47 || yatnato devatāḥ pūjyā vastrādibhiralaṃkṛtaiḥ || naṃdigrāme vasanpūrvaṃ bharato raghuvaṃśajaḥ || 48 || rāmacandraṃ hṛdi dhyāyannirmalātmā jitendriyaḥ || tataḥ sthitvā prajāḥ sarvā rarakṣa kṣitivallabhaḥ || 49 || tatra cakre mahatkuṇḍaṃ bharato nāma bhūpatiḥ || rāmamūrtiṃ ca saṃsthāpya cacāra vijitendriyaḥ || 2.8.9.50 || tatkuṃḍe sumahatpuṇyaṃ nānāpuṇyasamanvitam || kumudotpalakahlārapuṇḍarīkasamanvitam || 51 || haṃsasārasacakrāhva vihaṃgamavirājitam || udyānapādapacchāyāsacchāyamamalaṃ sadā || 52 || tatra snānaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ pramodānandanirmalam || tatra snānaṃ tathā śrāddhaṃ pitṝnuddiśya kurvataḥ || pitarastasya tuṣyaṃti tuṣṭāḥ syuḥ sarvadevatāḥ || 53 || svarṇaṃ cānnaṃ vidhānena dātavyaṃ ca dvijanmane || śraddhāpūrvakametattu kartavyaṃ prayatairnaraiḥ || 54 || tatpaścimadiśābhāge jaṭākuṇḍamanuttamam || yatra rāmādibhiḥ sarvairjaṭāḥ parihṛtā nijāḥ || 55 || jaṭākuṇḍamiti khyātaṃ sarvatīrthottamottamam|| yatra snānena dānena sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt || 56|| pūrvakuṇḍeṣu saṃpūjyo bharataḥ śrīsamanvitaḥ || jaṭākuṇḍeṣu saṃpūjyau sasītau rāmalakṣmaṇau || caitrakṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṃ yātrā sāṃvatsarī bhavet || 57 || iti paramavidhānaiḥ pūjayedrāmasīte tadanu bharatakuṇḍe lakṣmaṇaṃ ca prapūjya || vidhivadamṛtakuṇḍe dvaṃdvaṃsamajjanena vasati sukṛtimūrtirvaiṣṇave tatra loke || 58 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe'yodhyāmāhātmye gayākūpa piśācamocana mānasatīrtha tamasānadī māṇḍavyādyāśrama sītākuṇḍa dugdheśvara bhairavabhāratakuṇḍa jaṭākuṇḍa māhātmyavarṇanaṃnāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ || 9 || || cha || || ||

English translation

Note: This chapter gives succinctly the importance of remaining Tīrthas such as Gayā Kūpa (vv 1-11), Piśācamocana (vv 12-14), Mānasa (vv 15-18), the river Tamasā (and traditional yet fine description of its natural beauty) and the hermitage of Māṇḍavya (vv 19-38), Sītā Kuṇḍa , Bhairava , Bharata (and his residence at Nandigrāma ) (vv 46-54), Jaṭā Kuṇḍa where Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa got their matted hair removed (vv 55-58). The annual festival thereof is celebrated on the 14th day in the dark half of Caitra .

Agastya said :

1. To the south-east of Jaṭākuṇḍa is situated the great Tīrtha well-known as Gayākūpa. It bestows everything desired.

2. By taking the holy bath there, by giving charitable gifts according to his capacity and by performing Śrāddha -rite, an excellent Brāhmaṇa obtains everything he desires.

3. The manes (fathers and grandfathers), who may be in hells, go to the world of Viṣṇu when that Śrāddha is performed.

4-5. One shall become free from indebtedness to the Pitṛs , O Brāhmaṇa, when that Śrāddha is performed. The offering of rice-balls should be in accordance with one’s capacity. It has been directed by the Sages that a Śrāddha should be performed with barley grains, milk pudding, oil cake or jaggery in that Tīrtha. It is said that it causes satisfaction to the Pitṛs.

6. Śrāddha should be performed there by men endowed with faith. Their Pitṛs will be delighted. All the deities (too) will be delighted.

7-10. When the Pitṛs are satisfied, the devotee becomes prosperous and blessed with sons. The Pitṛs propitiated by means of Śrāddha grant many sons, prosperity and glory and abundant worldly pleasures to those who perform Śrāddha. There is no doubt about this.

Hence Śrāddha should be performed here ardently and in accordance with the injunctions by persons endowed with faith, who wish to gain cherished benefits. Particularly the Śrāddha offered to the Pitṛs at Gayākūpa becomes infinite in benefit.

When the new-moon day coincides with Monday, the Śrāddha should be performed to the Pitṛs. The Śrāddha offered thus has infinite benefit.

11. Even on other Mondays Śrāddha can be performed in accordance with the injunctions. It gives satisfaction to the Pitṛs. What is offered will yield infinite benefit.

12. To the east of this is the Tīrtha called Piśācamocana which is the most excellent among the excellent ones. It bestows benefits.

13-14. If one takes bath there and makes charitable gifts, one never becomes a Piśāca . Holy bath, charitable gift and Śrāddha should be particularly performed there with great effort by men endowed with faith.

The holy bath should be taken especially on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa for getting rid of Piśācahood.

15. Very near it, to the eastern side, is the Tīrtha named Mānasa. It is the foremost among residences of meritorious persons. There the holy bath must be specially taken. One attains all desired benefits by taking the holy bath and by making charitable gifts.

16. Different kinds of sins, even if they were to be as huge as Meru , vanish due to the holy bath there.

17. Whatever sin, whether mental, verbal or physical, exists in one, shall become dissolved on account of the holy bath.

18. The (annual) festival of this Tīrtha should be particularly celebrated on the full-moon day in the month of Prauṣṭhapada ( Bhādrapada ) by men of meritorious nature engaged in holy rites.

19. To the south of it is the river named Tamasā (mod. Tonse), the sole source of merit. It is destructive of great sins.

20-23. The holy bath and charitable rites performed here are always destructive of all sins.

There are many types of holy abodes of sages of purified souls on its banks that are beautiful and always yield fruits. There is the holy abode of Sage Māṇḍavya. It is destructive of sins. It is on its banks, O excellent sage. It is very fascinating everywhere. His penance-grove is very beautiful and very charming on account of the different kinds of trees. That forest from which the excellent river Tamasā originates is highly meritorious and holy. It is an excellent region.

24-28. By visiting it men will get all their sins destroyed. The penance-grove is rendered splendid, due to the various hedges and bushes in full bloom. It is very charming. A spreading network of creepers droops down. There are Priyaṅgu ( Aglaia odorata ) trees all round with plenty of flowers. There are Ketaka trees ( Pandamus odoratissimus ) in full bloom with many thorns. It is full of hedges of Tamāla trees (Indian cinnamon) of great fragrance, Karṇikāras ( Pterospermum acerifolium ), Bakulas ( Mimusops elengi ), Aśokas and excellent Punnāgas ( Calophyllum inophyllum ) all in full bloom. Bees hover round these flowers in great swarms. In some places the penance grove is resonant with (the sounds of) birds embellished with the pollen-dust of full-blown lotuses and moving about among the luscious fruits. In some places the sounds of aquatic birds, water fowls, beautiful gallinules in great inebriation and such other birds are heard. In some places the sounds of ruddy geese are heard; in some places flocks of Kadamba (a dark-grey-winged variety of geese) birds are seen; in some places, the sounds of Kāraṇḍava ducks are heard and in some places the sounds of overjoyed and excited swarms of bees fill the air.

29-32. It is frequented by the excited and overjoyed bees. It abounds in beautiful and fragrant flowers. In some places there are mango trees with plenty of blossoms and Tilaka ( Symplocos racemosa ) trees overgrown with creepers. It is frequented by delighted birds of different kinds and it is filled with the sounds of the flocks of Hārīta pigeons. Thus that penance grove has a charming look and it shines remarkably.

It appears blue with the dense growth of Nicula ( Barringtonia acutangula ) trees; it is beautiful with peacocks; it is pleasant on account of the chirping sounds of flocks of female birds inebriated and joyous. The overjoyed and excited bees settle down among the branches of the trees in full bloom. It is exceedingly splendid with the beauty of the fresh sprouts and tender shoots. It is rich in excellent fruits. Thus it possesses excessive splendour; it is charming and pleasant in every direction; it is the place where Sage Māṇḍavya performed his great penance. Due to the power of that sage this great Tīrtha is always pure and sacred.

33-36. To the east of it is the great holy hermitage of Sage Gautama . To further east is the hermitage of Sage Cyavana . This first hermitage, O excellent one among sages, is that of Sage Parāśara , your father, a storehouse of penance.

There are different kinds of Tīrthas and hermitages all round belonging to great ascetics on the banks of the river Tamasā. That river Tamasā, it should be known, is very auspicious and remarkably splendid all round with a number of sacrificial posts fixed therein. By taking the holy bath there, by making charitable gifts and by performing Śrāddha rites in particular, one shall achieve all desired objects. There is no doubt about it.

37. The holy bath taken there particularly on the fifteenth day in the bright half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa is always conducive to the attainment of benefits by men.

38. Hence, O excellent sage, holy bath should be taken ardently by persons with minds devoid of impurities. It bestows all desired objects.

39. Henceforth, I shall recount another great and auspicious Tīrtha on Tamasā. It is well-known as Sītākuṇḍa. It is in the vicinity of Śrī Dugdheśvara.

40. The annual auspicious festival is celebrated on the fourth day in the bright half of the month of Bhādrapada. For the purpose of attaining all desired objects, Vighneśvara is to be worshipped. All obstacles will be destroyed merely by remembering him.

41. To the south of it is the deity named Bhairava, on seeing whom one is absolved of all sins. There is no doubt about it.

42-44. He is protected by Vāsudeva and kept there honourably for the sake of guarding the holy spot. His worship should be performed duly and with great effort. By showing great reverence to Bhairava, one will obtain all the benefits desired mentally.

The annual festival is to be celebrated on the eighth day in the dark half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa there for the purpose of attaining all desired objects. Worship along with the offering of an animal should be performed by people. There is no doubt about this that they will attain all desired objects.

45. It is with the favour of Bhairava that the residence in a Tīrtha is free from obstacles. Hence his worship must be performed with great care.

46. To the north of this is the beautiful Bharatakuṇḍa. By taking holy bath here a man is liberated from all sins. There is no doubt about it.

47-53. The holy bath performed and charitable gift offered there shall have infinite benefit. Different kinds of cooked rice should be given. So also different kinds of clothes. The deities are to be worshipped with great care by means of ornaments, clothes etc. Formerly Bharata, the scion of the family of Raghu , the pure soul with fully conquered sense-organs, stayed in Nandigrāma [1] and meditated upon Rāmacandra . Seated there alone, he, dear to the earth, protected all the subjects.

The king named Bharata made a big Kuṇḍa. After installing Rāma’s image, that prince of subdued sense-organs performed (the worship). There is a great merit in that Kuṇḍa. It is associated with various meritorious activities. There are various flowers such as lilies, blue lotuses, white lotuses and red lotuses. It shines with various birds such as swans, Sārasa ducks, and ruddy geese. It is very pure with plenty of shade from the trees of the garden. The holy bath taken there is highly meritorious. It is devoid of impurities and is full of gaiety and bliss. If the devotee performs holy Śrāddha rites and bath with the Pitṛs in view, the Pitṛs become pleased with him. All the deities will be pleased with him.

54-58. Gold and cooked rice should be given in accordance with the injunctions to Brāhmaṇas . This must be performed with great faith by piously disposed men. To the west of it is the excellent Jaṭākuṇḍa where Rāma and others dropped and removed their matted hairs. Thus Jaṭākuṇḍa is well-known as the most excellent of all excellent Tīrthas. By taking the holy bath here and by making charitable gifts, one attains all desires. In the previous (? eastern) Kuṇḍas Bharata should be worshipped along with Śrī. In the Jaṭākuṇḍa Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa should be worshipped along with Sītā. The annual festival shall be on the fourteenth day in the dark half of Caitra.

Thus in accordance with the great injunctions one shall worship Rāma and Sītā (first), then in Bharatakuṇḍa one shall worship Lakṣmaṇa. The couple should take the holy plunge in the Amṛtakuṇḍa duly. Thereby the devotee dwells in the world of Viṣṇu as an embodiment of meritorious deeds.

[1]: [1] : Mod. Nundgaon close to Bharata Kuṇḍa, 8 miles from Fyzabad (De 138).

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14377, revision 71621 (2016-06-21T11:32:08Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371737.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.