Matsya Purana 180: adhyāyaḥ 180

180.1

vāraṇasyā māhātmyam
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ.
śruto'ndhaka vadhaḥ sūta! yathāvattvadudīritaḥ.
vārāṇasyāstu mahātmyaṃ śrotumicchāma sāmpratam .. 180.1 ..

The Risis said —“O Sūta! we have heard an account of the destruction of Andhaka and now we are eager to know the glory of the sacred Kâśi (Benares city) How did Bhagavân Piṅgala become Gaṇeśvara and the giver of food to all within the precincts of Kâśî? How did he attain the Kṣetrapâlahood and how did he attain the Piṅgalahood? We wish to hear about all these things'—1-3

180.2

bhagavān piṅlaḥ kena gaṇatvaṃ samupāgataḥ.
annadattvañca samprāpto vārāṇasyāṃ mahādyutiḥ .. 180.2 ..

180.3

kṣetrapālaḥ kathaṃ jātaḥ priyatvañca kathaṅgataḥ.
etadicchāma kathitaṃ śrotuṃ brahmasuta! tvayā .. 180.3 ..

180.4

sūta uvāca.
śrṛṇudhvaṃ vai yathā lebhe gaṇeśatvaṃ sa piṅgalaḥ.
annadatvaṃ ca lokānāṃ sthānaṃ vārāṇasī tviha .. 180.4 ..

Sûta said — Hear from me how Piṅgala came to be the Gaṇeśvara and the giver of food to all and how he got his residence in the city of Benares? There was one Yakṣa the son of Pûrṇabhadra who was renowned by the name of Harikeśa He was very devout and righteous and beautiful also—4-5

180.5

pūrṇabhadrasutaḥ śrīmānāsīdyajñaḥ pratāpavān.
harikeśa iti khyāto brahmaṇyo dhārmikaśca ha .. 180.5 ..

180.6

tasya janmaprabhṛtyaiva sarve bhaktiranuttamā.
tadāsīttannamaskārastanniṣṭhastatparāyaṇaḥ .. 180.6 ..

Ever since his birth he was devoted to Śiva and thought of the Lord at all hours He saluted Śiva, his whole heart was in Śiva, sitting sleeping walking, standing drinking, eating, he thought of Śiva and Śiva alone—6-7

180.7

āsīnaśca śayānaśca gacchaṃstiṣṭhannanuvrajan.
bhuñjāno'tha pibanvāpi rudramevānvacintayat .. 180.7 ..

180.8

tamevaṃ yuktamanasampūrṇabhadraḥ pitābravīt.
na tvāṃ putramahaṃ manye durjāto yastvamanyathā .. 180.8 ..

His father Purṇabhadra said to his righteous son "Son! I do not recognise you as my son Your birth is unfortunate and deplorable It is not meet to lead such a life in the family of a Yakṣa You are Guhyakas and they are naturally fierce and cruel We are hard hearted We are addicted to hunting and flesh eating Brahmâ has not ordained us to follow the life that you pursue One ought not to follow the life of a different order abandoning his own You should therefore forsake your human feelings and pursue the course of your family, otherwise I should think that you have been born of men Mark my ways, who am born as a typical Yakṣa and who also perform various works pertaining to my class of being'—8-13

180.9

na hi yakṣa kulīnānāmetadvṛttaṃ bhavatyuta.
guhyakā bata yūyaṃ vai svabhāvāt krūracetasaḥ .. 180.9 ..

180.10

kravyādāścaiva kiṃ bhakṣā hiṃsāśīlāśca putraka.
maivaṃ kāṣīrnate vṛttirevaṃ dṛṣṭā mahātmanā .. 180.10 ..

180.11

svayambhuvā yathādiṣṭā tyaktavyā yadi no bhavet.
āśramāntarajaṃ karma na kuryurgṛhiṇastu tat .. 180.11 ..

180.12

hitvā manuṣyabhāvaṃ ca karmabhirvividhaiścara.
yattvamevaṃ vimārgastho manuṣyājjāta eva ca.. 180.12 ..

180.13

yathāvadvividhanteṣāṃ karma tajjāti saṃśrayam.
mayāpi vihitaṃ paśya karmaitannātra saṃśayaḥ .. 180.13 ..

180.14

sūta uvāca.
evamuktvā sa taṃ putraṃ pūrṇabhadraḥ pratāpavān.
uvāca niṣkramankṣipraṃ gacchaputra! yathecchasi .. 180.14 ..

Sûta said —That illustrious Purṇabhadra after thus speaking to his son, went out quickly and asked his son to leave his home and go away wherever it pleased him—14

180.15

tataḥ sa nirgatastyaktvā gṛhaṃ sambandhinastathā.
vārāṇasīṃ samāsādya tapastepe suduścaram .. 180.15 ..

On being thus addressed by his father he left his home and relations and went to Kâśî where he devoted himself to rigid asceticism His eyelids did not fall he curbed his passions and stood motionless like a dried up piece of wood or a piece of stone—15-16

180.16

sthāṇubhūto hyanimiṣaḥ śuṣka kāṣṭhopalopamaḥ.
sanniyamyendriyagrāmamavatiṣṭhata niścalaḥ .. 180.16 ..

180.17

atha tasyaivamaniśantatparasya tadāśiṣaḥ.
sahasramekaṃ varṣāṇāṃ divyamapyabhyavartata .. 180.17 ..

By continuing his austerities like that, for one thousand divine years he was surrounded by ant hills on all sides White ants and insects began to feast on him After sometime all the flesh and blood were almost consumed, and that devotee of Śiva with his bones, began to shine like a white shell—17-19

180.18

valmīkena samākrānto bhakṣyamāṇaḥ pipīlikaiḥ.
vajrasūcīmukhaistīkṣṇaiḥ vidhyamānastathaiva ca .. 180.18 ..

180.19

nirmāṃsarudhiratvakca kundaśaṃkhendu saprabhaḥ.
asthiśeṣo'bhavaccharvaṃ devaṃ vai cintayannapi .. 180.19 ..

180.20

etasminnantare devī vijñāpayata śaṅkaram.
devyuvāca.
udyānaṃ punareveha draṣṭramicchāmi sarvadā .. 180.20 ..

Sometime after, the Goddess Pârvatî said to Śiva 'Lord! I wish to see the woods gardens and bowers and also feel desirous of hearing the glory of Kâśî which please relate to me As Kâśî is your dearest resort it must bear excellent results—20-21

180.21

kṣetrasya deva māhātmyaṃ śrotuṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me.
yataśca priyametatte tathāsya phalamuttamam .. 180.21 ..

180.22

iti vijñāpito devaḥ śarvāṇyā parameśvaraḥ.
śarvaḥ pṛṣṭoyathātathyamākhyātumupacakrame .. 180.22 ..

When Pârvatî made such a request to Śiva He took Her out of Kaśî to show Her the sylvan beauties and explain to Her the glory of the sacred Kaśî—22-23

180.23

nirjagāma ca deveśaḥ pārvatyā saha śaṅkaraḥ.
udyānaṃ darśayāmāsa devyā devaḥ pinākadhṛk .. 180.23 ..

180.24

devadeva uvāca.
protphullanānāvidha gulmaśobhitaṃ latāpratānāvanataṃ manoharam.
virūḍhapuṣpaiḥ paritaḥ priyaṅgubhiḥ supuṣpitaiḥ kaṇṭakitaiśca ketakaiḥ .. 180.24 ..

Śiva said —"O Dear! Look! how nice is this garden! How beautiful! See this forest smiling with many kinds of flower clusters creepers flowers of Priyangu, Ketakî, sweet scented Tamâla, Karṇikâra Vakula Aśoka, Punnāga, and various sweet-smelling flowers swarmed by the buzzing blackbees—24 25

180.25

tamālagulmairnicitaṃ sugandhibhiḥ sakarṇikārairbakulaiśca sarvaśaḥ.
aśokapunnāgavaraiḥ supuṣpitairdvirephamālākula puṣpasañcayaiḥ .. 180.25 ..

180.26

kvacit praphullāmbujareṇurūṣitaiḥ vihaṅgamaiścārukalapraṇādibhiḥ.
vināditaṃ sārasamaṇḍanādibhiḥ pramattadātyūharutaiśca valgubhiḥ .. 180.26 ..

In this forest, the sweet singing birds are throwing their melodious notes on the blooming lotuses, somewhere beautiful swans and enchanted blackbees are creating a bustle, at some places chakravâkas are echoing notes, at others kâdamba kadambas are roaming, at other places again Karandavas are sounding notes Somewhere the celestial ladies are enjoying the aroma of flowers, somewhere the creepers circling round the delicious flavoured mango trees are looking so beautiful," in such a way the Lord Siva pointed out the attractions of that spot—26 28

180.27

kvacicca cakrāhvaravopanāditaṃ kvacicca kādamba kadambakairyutam.
kvacicca kāraṇḍavanādanāditaṃ kvacicca mattālikulākulīkṛtam .. 180.27 ..

180.28

madākulābhistvamarāṅganābhirniṣevitañcāru sugandhipuṣpam.
kvacit supuṣpaiḥ sahakāravṛkṣairlatopagūḍhaistila kadrumaiśca .. 180.28 ..

180.29

pragītavidyādharasiddhacāraṇaṃ pravṛttanṛtyāpsarasāṅgaṇākulam.
prahṛṣṭanānāvidhapakṣisevitaṃ pramattahārītakulopanāditam .. 180.29 ..

Somewhere the Vidyâdharas, Siddhas and Châranas were singing beautiful songs, somewhere the nymphs were dancing, somewhere the joyous birds repeating their captivating notes, somewhere the green pigeons were echoing notes, at some places the roars of the lion were being heard, the deer were running away with fear at other places, somewhere the lakes flourished with full blown lotuses, somewhere a swarm of blackbees buzzed over the plants laden with flowers, somewhere the new foliage bedecked the branches—29 31.

180.30

mṛgendranādākulasatvamānasaiḥ kvacit kvacitdvandvakadambakairmṛgaiḥ.
praphullanānāvidhacārupaṅkajaiḥ sarastaṭākairupaśobhitaṃ kvacit .. 180.30 ..

180.31

nibiḍaniculanīlaṃ nīlakaṇṭhābhirāmaṃ madamuditavihaṅgavrātanādābhirāmam.
kusumita taruśākhā līnamattadvirephaṃ navakiśalaya śobhiśobhitaprāntaśākham .. 180.31 ..

180.32

kvacicca dantikṣatacāruvīrudhaṃ kvacillatāliṅgitacāruvṛkṣakam.
kvacidvilāsālasagāmibarhiṇaṃ niṣevitaṃ kiṃ puruṣavrajaiḥ kvacit .. 180.32 ..

Some portion looked beautifully blue by the dense Nichula reeds. Somewhere the creepers were broken by being trampled by the walking elephants, somewhere were seen the beautiful trees embraced with creepers, somewhere the gamboling peacocks and the Yakṣas made a show of their strutting, somewhere cooed the pigeons, at some places Kimpuruṣas were walking along Such a beautiful wood adorned with white flowers and the Devas were pointed out to Pârvatî by Śiva The peaks of the mountains where sports and amusements are held are being echoed by pigeons They look white and exceedingly beautiful and were shining with the beauties of all sorts of flowers The sight of them made one fancy that many inhabitants of the heavens were resorting there. —32 33.

180.33

pārāvatadhvanivikūjitacāruśrṛṅgairabhraṅkaṣaiḥ sitamanoharacārurūpaiḥ.
ākīrṇapuṣpanikurambavimuktahāsairvibhrājitaṃ tridaśadevakulairanekaiḥ .. 180.33 ..

180.34

phullotpalāgurusahasravitānayuktai stoyāvayaistamanuśobhitadevamārgam.
mārgāntarāgalitapuṣpavicitrabhakti sambaddhagulmaviṭapairvihagairupetam .. 180.34 ..

The thorough fares with the blooming trees looked beautiful like the Divine pathways The various kinds of birds were chirping on the branches of these trees The Aśoka trees with their branches bowing down to the ground by the weight of flowers looked highly beautiful. The beautiful blossoms, pervaded with the swarm of singing blackbees, were indistinguishable from the silvery moonbeams playing on them during the night The herds of deer standing in thickets overshadowed by the trees were grazing on green meadows and exhibited a different kind of beauty The wings of swans rubbing against the water and flowers enhanced their beauty The beautiful spots on the peacock feathers dazzled by the reflection of the moonbeams, when those majestic birds danced at other places. Hârita trees looked exceedingly beautiful Somewhere the Sâranga birds added to the beauty of the sylvan splendour, somewhere the air resounded with the melodies of the enchanted Kinnara ladies, somewhere the Munis squatted themselves on the floor of their hermitages strewn with flowers, somewhere the Panasa and mango trees looked beautiful with their plethora of fruits, somewhere the jingling of the anklets of the Siddha ladies filled the space, somewhere the bees swarming on the Kadamba trees made it look sombre, somewhere the air loaded with the perfume of Ambu and Kadamba flowers diffused a madenning smell all round, somewhere the deer standing among the cluster of trees looked exceedingly charming, somewhere were the flowers as white as the moon-beams, somewhere they were of the colour of vermillion and saffron, somewhere flourished the smiling lotuses and somewhere the groups of Aṣoka trees were pointed out to Pârvatî by Śiva.—34 41

180.35

tuṅgāgrairnīlapuṣpastavakabharanataprāntaśākhairaśokai-
rmattālivrātagītaśrutisukhajananairbhāsitāntarmanojñaiḥ
rātrau candrasya bhāsā kusumitatilakairekatāṃ samprayātaṃ
cchāyā suptaprabuddhasthitahariṇakulāluptadarbhāṅkurāgram .. 180.35 ..

180.36

haṃsānāṃ pakṣapātapracalitakamalasvacchavistīrṇatoyam .
toyānāṃ tīrajātapravikacakadalīvāṭanṛtyanmayūram.
māyuraiḥ pakṣacandraiḥ kvacidapi patitai rañjitakṣmapradeśam
deśe deśe vikīrṇapramuditavilasanmattahārītavṛkṣam.. 180.36 ..

180.37

sāraṅgaḥ kvacidapi sevitapradeśaṃ sacchannaṃ kusumacayaiḥ kvacidvicitraiḥ.
hṛṣṭābhiḥ kvacidapi kinnarāṅganābhiḥ kṣībābhiḥ samadhuragītavṛkṣakhaṇḍam .. 180.37 ..

180.38

saṃsṛṣṭaiḥ kvacidupaliptakīrṇapuṣpairāvāsaiḥ parivṛtapādapaṃ munīnām.
āmūlāt phalanicitaiḥ kvacidviśālairuttuṅgaiḥ panasamahīrahairupetam .. 180.38 ..

180.39

phullātimuktakalatāgṛhasiddhalīlaṃ siddhāṅganā-kanakanūpuranādaramyam.
ramyapriyaṅgutarumañjarisaktabhṛṅgaṃ bhṛṅgāvalīṣu skhalitāmbu kadambapuṣpam .. 180.39 ..

180.40

puṣpotkarānilavighūrṇitapādapāgramagresare bhuvi nipātita vaṃśagulmam.
gulmāntaraprabhṛtilīnamṛgāsamūhaṃ saṃmuhyatāntanubhṛtāmapavargadātṛ .. 180.40 ..

180.41

candrāṃśujāladhavalaistilakairmanojñaiḥ sindūrakuṅkumakusumbhanibhairaśokaiḥ.
cāmīkarābhanicayairatha karṇikāraiḥ phullārivindaracitaṃ suviśālaśākhaiḥ .. 180.41 ..

180.42

kvacidrajataparṇābhaiḥ kvacidvidrumasannibhaiḥ.
kvacitkāñcanasaṅkāśaiḥ puṣpairācitabhūtalam .. 180.42 ..

Somewhere the trees blossomed with the flowers of the silver, coral and gold colours The garden land some where looked silvery, somewhere looked golden, and somewhere looked of Vidruma (reddy precious gemlike) colour.—42

180.43

punnāgeṣu dvijagaṇavirutaṃ raktāśokastabakabharanamitam.
ramyopāntaṃ śramaharapavanaṃ phullābjeṣu bhramaravilasitam .. 180.43 ..

The birds sitting on the Punnâga trees were singing, the wind was beating against the red flowers of Aṣoka, the blackbees buzzed on the smiling lotuses The Lord Śiva, in company of Parvatî, beheld the beauty of such a forest—43 44

180.44

sakalabhuvanabhartā lokanāthastadānīntuhinaśikhariputryāḥ sārddhamiṣṭairgaṇeśaiḥ.
vividhataruviśālaṃ mattahṛṣṭānyapuṣṭamupavanataruramyaṃ darśayāmāsa devyāḥ .. 180.44 ..

180.45

devyuvāca.
udyānaṃ darśitaṃ deva! śobhayā parayā yutam.
kṣetrasya tu guṇān sarvānpunarvaktumihārhasi .. 180.45 ..

Seeing that Pârvatî said—“Deva! You have shown the majestic grandeur of this forest, now be pleased to relate to me the glory of Kâśî, the Avimukta Kṣettra, because I am not sufficiently gratified to hear the glory of this sacred place and so I wish to hear it again”—45-46

180.46

asya kṣetrasya māhātmyamavimuktasya tattathā.
śrutvāpi hi na me tṛptirato bhūyo vadasva me .. 180.46 ..

180.47

devadeva uvāca.
idaṃ guhyatamaṃ kṣetraṃ sadā vārāṇasī mama.
sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ heturmokṣasya sarvadā .. 180.47 ..

Mahâdeva said—“*This sacred city of Kâśî is My best place* It is always the giver of emancipation to all It is the most mysterious place of all Deva! this place is full of My devotees There are many Siddhas, who have taken up vows and there are various orders of saints and Sâdhus, with various Lingas or signs, practising highest yogas and wanting My regions.—47 48

180.48

asmin siddhāḥ sadā devi! madīyaṃ vratamāsthitāḥ.
nānāliṅgadharā nityaṃ mama lokābhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ .. 180.48 ..

180.49

abhyasanti paraṃ yogaṃ muktātmāno jitendriyāḥ.
nānāvṛkṣasamākīrṇe nānāvihagakūjite.. 180.49 ..

By virtue of their yoga practises they subdue their passions and become free—49

180.50

kamalotpalapuṣpāḍhyaiḥ sarobhiḥ samalaṅkṛte.
apsarogaṇagandharvaiḥ sadā saṃsevite śubhe .. 180.50 ..

The reason of My presence in this sacred, auspicious and beautiful place, adorned with lotus beds, various trees and always frequented by nymphs and Gandharvas, I shall now explain to you My devotees constantly meditating on Me and dedicating all their deeds to me, attain emancipation, which they would not get anywhere else.—50 52

180.51

rocate me sadā vāso yena kāryeṇa tacchṛṇu.
manmanā mama bhaktaśca mayi sarvārpitakriyaḥ .. 180.51 ..

180.52

yathā mokṣamihāpnoti hyanyatra na tathā kvacit.
etanmama paraṃ divyaṃ guhyādguhyataraṃ mahat .. 180.52 ..

180.53

brahmādayastu jānanti ye'pi siddhā mumukṣavaḥ.
ataḥ priyatamaṃ kṣetraṃ tasmācceha ratirmama .. 180.53 ..

This my city is more mysterious than all other mysteries The Lord Brahmâ and other Devas, the Siddhas, wishing emancipation, also reckon this sacred place as supreme Consequently I feel so much attached to this place—53

180.54

vimuktaṃ na mayā yasmānmokṣyate vā kadācana.
mahat kṣetramidaṃ tasmādavimuktamidaṃ smṛtam .. 180.54 ..

I never leave this sacred place Kâśî, nor will I ever leave it Hence its name is Avimukta Kṣettra—54

180.55

naimiṣe'tha kurukṣetre gaṅgādvāre ca puṣkare.
snānātsaṃsevitādvāpi na mokṣaḥ prāpyate yataḥ .. 180.55 ..

One bathing at Naimiṣâraṇya, Kurukṣetra Gangâdvâra and Puskara *or devoting his self there and not getting highest fruits there, gets it here*, and, therefore, it is so superior to all the sanctified places *There is no doubt in this, this is the speciality of the place*—55 56

180.56

iha saṃprāpyate yena tata etadviśiṣyate.
prayāge ca bhavenmokṣa iha vā matparigrahāt .. 180.56 ..

The people get Mokṣa (freedom) at Prayâg (Allahabad) If the people take My refuge, they get Mokṣa, yet in spite of Allahabad being the best of all places of pilgrimage, this Benares is the chief of all, and is reckoned to be superior to Prayâg—57.

180.57

prayāgādapi tīrthāgyrādidameva mahat smṛtam.
jaigīṣavyaḥ parāṃ siddhiṃ yogataḥ sa mahātapāḥ .. 180.57 ..

There was a great ascetic Ṛiṣi named Jaigîṣavya He attained the highest siddhi in this Kāśi Kṣettra by his Bhakti and devotion towards Me—58

180.58

asya kṣetrasya māhātmyād bhaktyā ca mama bhāvanāt.
jaigīṣavyo mahāśreṣṭho yogināṃ sthānamiṣyate .. 180.58 ..

This Jaigīṣavya desired to reach the goal of the yogis He daily meditated on Me in this place By his meditation, the fire of yoga was kindled in him, and he attained Kaivalyam (Independence) so very rare to the Devas—59

180.59

dhyāyatastatra māṃ nityaṃ yogāgnirdīpyate bhṛśam.
kaivalyaṃ paramaṃ yāti devānāmapi durlabham .. 180.59 ..

180.60

avyaktaliṅgairmunibhiḥ sarvasiddhānta vedibhiḥ.
iha saṃprāpyate mokṣo durlabho devadānavaiḥ .. 180.60 ..

The clear conscienced seers also attain such a bliss here as is rarely attained by the Devas and the demons.—60

180.61

tebhyaścāhaṃ prayacchāmi bhogaiśvaryamanuttamam.
ātmanaścaiva sāyujyamīpsitaṃ sthānameva ca .. 180.61 ..

Here I grant excellent enjoyments and powers union with Me and my devotees the place that they desire Kuvera the Lord of the Yakṣas, has become like My attendant by dedicating all his deeds to me And dear! the devotee Samvartana will also attain in future the highest siddhi here, by adoring Me with devotion—61 63

180.62

kuberastu mahāyakṣastathā śarvārpitakriyaḥ.
kṣetrasamvasanādeva gaṇeśatvamavāpa ha .. 180.62 ..

180.63

samvarto bhavitā yaśca so'pi bhaktyā mamaiva tu.
ihaivārādhya māṃ devi! siddhiṃ yāsyatyanuttamām .. 180.63 ..

180.64

parāśarasuto yogī ṛṣirvyāso mahātapāḥ.
dharmakarttā bhaviṣyaśca vedasaṃsthā pravartakaḥ .. 180.64 ..

The son of Parāśara the great Yogarṣi, ascetic Veda Vyāsa, who will be the propagator of the Vedas and the Dharma, will also live in this sacred place Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Vāyu, the Sun and Indra along with the Devarṣis Indra and the other Devas and other Mahātmās, also adore Me in this sanctified place Other Siddha Yogis, with great vows and under disguise, live here and worship Me—64 67

180.65

raṃsyate so'pi padmākṣi! kṣetre'smin munipuṅgavaḥ.
brahmā devarṣibhiḥ sārddhaṃ viṣṇurvāyurdivākaraḥ .. 180.65 ..

180.66

devarājastathā śakro ye'pi cānye divaukasaḥ.
upāsante mahātmānaḥ sarve māmeva suvrate .. 180.66 ..

180.67

anye'pi yoginaḥ siddhāśchannarūpā mahāvratāḥ.
ananyamanaso bhūtvā māmihopasate sadā .. 180.67 ..

180.68

alarkaśca purīmetāṃ matprasādadavāpsyati.
sa caināṃ pūrvavatkṛtvā cāturvarṇyāśramākulām .. 180.68 ..

King Alarka also through My favour, will attain this sacred place, and will cause it to thrive like before, when there will be a great increase and prosperity among the four castes He will well protect it and will then attain Me after dedicating all his deeds unto Me—68 69

180.69

sphītāṃ janasamākīrṇāṃ bhaktyāca suciraṃ nṛpaḥ.
mayi sarvārpitaprāṇo māmeva pratipatsyate .. 180.69 ..

180.70

tataḥ prabhṛti cārvaṅgi! ye'pi kṣetranivāsinaḥ.
gṛhiṇo liṅgino vāpi madbhaktā matparāyaṇāḥ .. 180.70 ..

All the householders and Sanyasis residing here will be devoted to me and by My grace will attain the highest Mokṣa, so very rare They will attain the difficultly obtainable emancipation through My favour, and even the most sensuous people, unheedful of dharma dying here will not be born in this world, and those who are free from all mundane cravings, have patience, and have stationed themselves in satvaguna, with their passions subdued and devoted to Me, dying here will undoubtedly attain liberation through My grace The final rest attained by the people, through the continual practice of yoga in course of thousands of lives is attained merely by dying here Devi! I have related to you the glory of this sacred place, this Avimukta Kṣettram, thus concisely—70-75 After saying so, Mahâdeva the Lord of the universe, repaired to that spot in company of Pârvatî, where the Yakṣa was practising austerities—82

180.71

matprasādād bhajiṣyanti mokṣaṃ parama durlabham.
viṣayāsaktacitto'pi tyaktadharmaratirnaraḥ .. 180.71 ..

180.72

iha kṣetre mṛtaḥ so'pi saṃsāraṃ na punarviśet.
ye punarnirmamā dhīrāḥ satvasthā vijitendriyāḥ .. 180.72 ..

180.73

vratinaśca nirārambhāḥ sarve te mayi bhāvitāḥ.
dehabhaṅgaṃ samāsādya dhīmantaḥ saṅgavarjitāḥ .
gatā eva paraṃ mokṣaṃ prasādānmama suvrate! .. 180.73 ..

180.74

janmāntarasahasreṣu yuñjan yogamavāpnuyāt.
tamihaiva paraṃ mokṣaṃ maraṇādadhigacchati .. 180.74 ..

180.75

etatsaṅkṣepato devi! kṣetrasyāsya mahatphalam.
avimuktasya kathitaṃ mayā te guhyamuttamam .. 180.75 ..

180.76

ataḥ parataraṃ nāsti siddhiguhyaṃ maheśvari!.
etad budhyanti yogajñā ye ca yogeśvarā bhuvi .. 180.76 ..

180.77

etadeva paraṃ sthānametadeva paraṃ śivam.
etadeva parambrahma etadeva parampadam .. 180.77 ..

180.78

vārāṇasī tu bhuvanatrayasārabhūtā ramyā sadā mama purī girirājaputri!..
atrāgatā vividha duṣkṛtakāriṇo'pi pāpakṣayādvirajasaḥ pratibhānti martyāḥ .. 180.78 ..

180.79

etatsmṛtaṃ priyatamaṃ mama devi! nityaṃ kṣetraṃ vicitratarugulmalatāsu puṣpam.
asminmṛtāstanubhṛtaḥ padamāpnuvanti mūrkhāgamena rahitāpi na saṃśayo'tra .. 180.79 ..

180.80

sūta uvāca.
etasminnantare devo devīṃ prāha girīndrajām.
dātuṃ prasādādyakṣāya varaṃ bhaktāya bhāmini .. 180.80 ..

180.81

bhakto mama varārohe! tapasā hatakilbiṣaḥ.
aho varamasau labdhamasmatto bhuvaneśvari! .. 180.81 ..

180.82

evamuktvā tato devaḥ saha devyā jagatpatiḥ.
jagāma yakṣo yatrāste kṛśo dhamanisantataḥ .. 180.82 ..

180.83

tatastaṃ guhyakaṃ devī dṛṣṭipātairnirīkṣatī.
śvetavarṇaṃ vicarmāṇaṃ snāyubaddhāsthipañjaram .. 180.83 ..

There, seeing the devotee's bones shining white as he was reduced to a mere skeleton, Pârvatî said "Verily the Devas describe You to be so stiff, it is quite right because you do not grant boon to even such of your devotees In such a sacred place, it is not proper that this son of a Yakṣa should be subjected to such hardships Pray grant him a boon quickly—83-86

180.84

devī prāha tadā devaṃ darśayantī ca guhyakam.
satyaṃ nāma bhavānugro devairuktastu śaṅkara!.. 180.84 ..

180.85

īdṛśe cāsya tapasi na prayacchasi yadvaram.
atra kṣetre mahādeva! puṇye samyagupāsite .. 180.85 ..

180.86

kathamevaṃ parikleśaṃ prāpto yakṣakumārakaḥ.
śīghramasya varaṃ yaccha prasādāt parameśvara! .. 180.86 ..

180.87

evaṃ manvādayo deva! vadanti paramarṣayaḥ.
ruṣṭādvā cātha tuṣṭādvā siddhistūbhayato bhavet .. 180.87 ..

"Deva! the Rıṣis, like Manu, have said that blessings are always attained from Śiva whether he be pleased or displeased—87

180.88

bhogaprāpristathā rājyamante mokṣaḥ sadāśivāt.
evamuktastato devaḥsaha devyā jagatpatiḥ .. 180.88 ..

"All beings seek comforts and enjoyments and kingdoms during lifetime and emancipation after death" Hearing such words of Pârvatî the Lord approached the Yaksha who saluted him The Lord then granted him Divine vision when he was able to behold the Lord with all His attendants and was highly pleased Then the Lord said "I am granting you a boon by virtue of which you will see the three realms, and your body will also become like Mine Look at Me, being free from any grief or trouble"—88-90

180.89

jagāma yakṣo yatrāste kṛśo dhamanisantataḥ.
taṃ dṛṣṭvā praṇataṃ bhaktyā harikeśaṃ vṛṣadhvajaḥ .. 180.89 ..

180.90

divyañcakṣuradāttasmai yenāpaśyat sa śaṅkaram.
atha yakṣastadā deśācchanairunmīlya cakṣuṣī .. 180.90 ..

180.91

apaśyat sagaṇaṃ devaṃ vṛṣadhvajamupasthitam.
devadeva uvāca.
varaṃ dadāmi te pūrvaṃ trailokye darśanaṃ tathā .. 180.91 ..

180.92

sāvarṇyaṃ ca śarīrasya paśya māṃ vigatajvaraḥ.
sūta uvāca.
tataḥ sa labdhvā tu varaṃ śarīreṇākṣatena ca .. 180.92 ..

Sûta said—On attaining such a form, he stood up and throwing himself at the feet of the Lord said "Be kind on me," when the Lord said "I have granted you a boon" At which he again said—"Lord! grant me such a boon so that I may have unflinching devotion for You and I may be called everlasting Ganapati and the giver of food to the World—91-94

180.93

pādayoḥ praṇatastasthau kṛtvā śirasi sāñjalim.
uvācātha tadā tena varado'smīti coditaḥ .. 180.93 ..

180.94

bhagavan! bhaktimavyagrāṃ tvayyananyāṃ vidhatsva me.
annadatvaṃ ca te lokānāṃ gāṇapatyaṃ tathā'kṣayam .. 180.94 ..

180.95

avimuktaṃ ca te sthānaṃ paśyeyaṃ sarvadā yathā.
etadicchāmi deveśa tvatto varamanuttamam .. 180.95 ..

"Besides this I also want that Your this avimuktatîrtha may always be before my eyes."—95

180.96

devadeva uvāca.
jarā maraṇasantyaktaḥ sarvarogavivarjitaḥ.
bhaviṣyasi gaṇādhyakṣo dhanadaḥ sarvapūjitaḥ .. 180.96 ..

Mahâdeva said—"Yakṣa! be free from the sufferings of infirmity, diseases and death, you will be the Ganapati, the lord of attendants, the giver of wealth adorable by all, unconquerable You will be prosperous and giver of food to all You will be Kṣhetrapâla, you will have all the yogic powers—96-97

180.97

ajeyaścāpi sarveṣāṃ yogaiśvaryaṃ samāśritaḥ.
annadaścāpi lokebhyaḥ kṣetrapālo bhaviṣyasi .. 180.97 ..

180.98

mahābalo mahāsatvo brahmaṇyo mama ca priyaḥ.
tryakṣaśca daṇḍapāṇiśca mahāyogī tathaiva ca .. 180.98 ..

"Besides this you will be most valiant, righteous, the knower of Brahma, dear to me having three eyes, holding a mace and gifted with supreme yoga"—98

180.99

udbhramaḥ sambhramaścaiva gaṇautu paricārakau.
tavājñāñca kariṣyete lokasyodbhramasambhramau .. 180.99v

"Udbhrama and Sambhrama will be your attendants and they will always obey you By your order they will get respect for you from all the people, and they can create delusion in their people"—99

180.100

sūta uvāca.
evaṃ sa bhagavāṃstatra yakṣaṃ kṛtvā gaṇeśvaram.
jagāma vāmadeveśaḥ saha tenāmareśvaraḥ .. 180.100 ..

Sûta said.—In this way, Lord Mahâdeva, after appointing that Yakṣa, as Gaṇeśvara, went back in his company—100