Matsya Purana 183: adhyāyaḥ 183

183.1

vārāṇasīmāhātmyam.
devyuvāca.
himavantaṃ giriṃ tyaktvā mandaraṃ gandhamādanam.
kailāsaṃ niṣadhañcaiva merupṛṣṭaṃ mahādyutim .. 183.1 ..

Śrî Pārvatî said—Mahâdeva! What is the cause of your giving preference to Avimukta tîrtha over the mounts Himavân Mandarâchala, Gandhamâdana, Kailâsa, Niṣadha, Sumeru, Triśikhira, Mānasa, the Nandanavana of the Devas, as well as other sacred places? What invisible high sanctity attaches to it, that you in company of your attendants, remain there? What favours do you show to the people residing there? Pray explain all that to Me—1 5

183.2

ramyaṃ triśikharañcaiva mānasaṃ sumahāgirim.
devodyānāni ramyāṇi nandanaṃ vanameva ca .. 183.2 ..

183.3

surasthānāni mukhyāni tīrthānyāyatanāni ca.
tāni sarvāṇi santyajya avimukte ratiḥ katham .. 183.3 ..

183.4

kimatra sumahat puṇyaṃ paraṃ guhyaṃ vadasva me.
yena tvaṃ ramase nityaṃ bhūtasampad guṇairyutaḥ .. 183.4 ..

183.5

kṣetrasya pravaratvañca ye ca yatra nivāsinaḥ.
teṣāmanugrahaḥ kaścittat sarvaṃ brūhi śaṅkara!.. 183.5 ..

183.6

śaṅkara uvāca.
atyadbhutamimaṃ praśnaṃ yattvaṃ pṛcchasi bhāmini.
tat sarvaṃ sampravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śrṛṇu .. 183.6 ..

Mahâdeva said—Dear charming Lady, this question of yours is indeed very interesting I shall explain everything to you, please listen with attention A very sacred stream, adored by the Siddhas and the Gandharvas, flows through Kâśî and the Ganges merges into the same That stream feels gratified by being devoted to me, consequently, this place Avimukta (ever blessed with my presence) is sacred of all and, therefore, I also hold it so dear and I am present in the Linga located in that sacred place—6-9 I shall now relate those virtues of this sacred place, by merely hearing which, a man undoubtedly is washed of all his sins.—10

183.7

vārāṇasyāṃ nadīpuṇyā siddhagandharvasevitā.
praviṣṭā tripathā gaṅgā tasminkṣetre mama priye! .. 183.7 ..

183.8

māmeva prītisantuṣṭā kṛttivāsāśca sundari! .
sarveṣāṃ caivasthānānāṃ sthānantattu yathādhikam .. 183.8 ..

183.9

tena kāryeṇa suśroṇi! tasmin sthāne ratirmama.
tasmin liṅge ca sānnidhyaṃ mama devi! sureśvari! .. 183.9 ..

183.10

kṣetrasya ca pravakṣyāmi guṇān guṇavatāmvare.
yān śrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate nātrasaṃśayaḥ .. 183.10 ..

183.11

yadi pāpo yadi śaṭho yadi vā dhārmiko naraḥ.
mucyate sarvapāpebhyo hyavimuktaṃ vrajedyadi .. 183.11 ..

A false man or an irreligious one, though he be full of deceit, irreligion and sin, is washed of all his sins by pilgrimaging to that sacred place.—11

183.12

pralaye sarvabhūtānāṃ loke sthāvarajaṅgame.
na hi tyakṣyāmi tat sthānaṃ mahāgaṇaśatairvṛtaḥ .. 183.12 ..

When all the immoveable and moveable creation are destroyed, even then I do not forsake it, and reside there with hundreds of my attendants.—12

183.13

yatra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ sayakṣoragarākṣasāḥ.
vaktraṃ mama mahābhāge! praviśanti yugakṣaye.. 183.13 ..

At the end of the cycle, all the Devas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Nâgas and Râkṣasas &c., enter my mouth on this very spot and I accept their worship. This place is best of all my secret retreats and is most dear to me.—13-14

183.14

teṣāṃ sākṣādahaṃ pūjāṃ pratigṛhṇāmi pārvati!
sarvaguhyottamaṃ sthānaṃ mama priyatamaṃ śubham .. 183.14 ..

183.15

dhanyāḥ praviṣṭāḥ suśroṇi! mama bhaktā dvijātayaḥ.
madbhaktiparamā nityaṃ ye madbhaktāstu te narāḥ .. 183.15 ..

Blessed are the devotees who resort to this place, the twice-born who breathe their last here remaining devoted to me, get emancipation. I am always pleased with one who offers oblations to the fire, chanting the Rudra mantra and bestows charity. One who gives away everything in charity, and performs sacrifices and bathes in the sacred waters of all the tīrthas attains Me on this spot. Those who reside here, and those who are devoted to you go to heaven where through My favour they enjoy peace and are free from all sins. My devotees, on coming here, become purified and liberated from all sins.”—15-21

183.16

tasmin prāṇān parityajya gacchanti paramāṅgatim.
sadā jayati rudreṇa sadā dānaṃ prayacchati .. 183.16 ..

183.17

sadā tapasvī bhavati avimukta sthito naraḥ.
yo māṃ pūjayate nityaṃ tasya tuṣyāmyahaṃ priye!.. 183.17 ..

183.18

sarvadānāni yo dadyāt sarvayajñeṣu dīkṣitaḥ.
sarvatīrthābhiṣiktasya saprapadyeta māmiha .. 183.18 ..

183.19

avimuktaṃ sadā devi! ye vrajanti suniścitāḥ.
te tiṣṭhantīha suśroṇi! tvadbhaktāśca triviṣṭape .. 183.19 ..

183.20

matprasādāttu te devi! dīvyanti śubhalocane!
durddharāścaiva durddharṣā bhavanti vigatajvarāḥ .. 183.20 ..

183.21

avimuktaṃ śubhaṃ prāpya madbhaktāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ.
nirdhūtapāpā vimalā bhavanti vigatajvarāḥ .. 183.21 ..

183.22

pārvatyuvāca.
dakṣayajñastvayā deva! mat priyārthe niṣūditaḥ.
avimukta guṇānāntu na tṛptiriha jāyate .. 183.22 ..

Pârvatī said:—“You destroyed the sacrifice of Dakṣa for your regard of Me, such is your kindness on Me. I am not sufficiently satisfied with this narration of the glories of Avimukta tīrtha, pray therefore be pleased to tell Me something more about it.”—22

183.23

īśvara uvāca.
krodhena dakṣayajñastu tvat priyārthe vināśitaḥ.
mahāpriye! mahābhāge! nāśito'yaṃ varānane .. 183.23 ..

Mahâdeva said:—“O most beloved lady of auspicious luck. Yes, it is true that out of great regard for you, I angrily destroyed the sacrifice of Dakṣa. My devotees who adore Me with devotion are not liable to re-birth for hundreds of cycles’—23-24

183.24

avimukte yajante tu madbhaktāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ.
na teṣāṃ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi .. 183.24 ..

183.25

devyuvāca.
durlabhāstu guṇā deva! avimukte tu kīrttitāḥ.
sarvāṃstanmama tatvena kathayasva maheśvara .. 183.25 ..

Pârvatī said:—Deva! The glories of this place that you have related to me pray be good enough to repeat in greater detail. I wish to know all about it for I am so full of wonder.”—25

183.26

kautūhalaṃ mahādeva! hṛdisthaṃ mama vartate.
tat sarvaṃ mama tatvena āśyāhi parameśvara! .. 183.26 ..

183.27

īśvara uvāca.
akṣayā hyamarāścaiva hyadāhāśca bhavanti te.
mat prasādādvarārohe! māmeva praviśanti vai .. 183.27 ..

Mahâdeva said:—“Those who reside at Avimukta tīrtha acquire immortality and finally merge into Me. What more do you wish to hear?”—26

183.28

brūhi brūhi viśālākṣi! kimanyacchrotumicchasi.
devyuvāca.
avimukte mahākṣetre aho puṇyamaho guṇāḥ .. 183.28 ..

Pārvatī said:—“Mahâdeva! indeed the glories of Avimukta tīrtha are very great and I am never satiated of hearing them. Pray therefore tell me something more about it.”—27

183.29

na tṛptimadhigacchāmi brūhi deva! punarguṇān.
īśvara uvāca.
māheśvari! varārohe! śrṛṇu tāṃstu mama priye! .. 183.29 ..

Mahâdeva said:—‘Pârvatī! you are supremely dear to Me, I, therefore again continue the relation of the glories of Avimukta. Listen then with attention. It has endless glories. Those who reside here are superior to those who live on mere salads and have subdued their passions, live on raw grain sipping only as much water as remains on the tip of the kuśa blade and that too after a month, seated on the root of trees, sleeping on the slabs of stone, refulgent like the Sun, free from anger and thus virtuous in many ways. In other words, those practising austerities elsewhere, do not get so much perfection, and those living here are like those enshrined in heaven. O Pārvatī! as there is no one of the male being like Me, and no one of the female sex like you, similarly neither there is nor will there be, any place sacred like the Avimukta-tīrtha. Paramayoga, Paramagati and Paramamokṣa are obtained at Avimukta tīrtha, consequently there is no such place like this. Devī! now hear the most secret thing. One attains this Avimukta tīrtha, by virtue of the yoga practised during hundreds of lives. My devotee at this place attains yoga and emancipation, in course of one life. Devī! People coming here with unshaken devotion attain final beatitude. There is no such place, nor will there be any like it, on the earth. Dharma is always inherent there in its full form. People of all the four varṇas (castes) attain emancipation here."—28-41.

183.30

avimukte guṇāye tu tathānyānapi tacchṛṇu.
śākaparṇāśino dāntāḥ saṃprakṣālyā marīcipāḥ .. 183.30 ..

183.31

dantolūkhalinaścānye aśmakuṭṭāstathāpare.
māsi māsi kuśāgreṇa jalamāsvādayanti vai .. 183.31 ..

183.32

vṛkṣamūlaniketāśca śilāśayyāstathāparai.
ādityavapuṣaḥ sarve jitakrodhā jitendriyāḥ .. 183.32 ..

183.33

evaṃ bahuvidhairdharmairanyatra caritavratāḥ.
trikālamapi bhuñjānā ye'vimuktanivāsinaḥ .. 183.33 ..

183.34

tapaścaranti vānyatra kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm.
avimuktasamaṃ kṣetraṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati .. 183.34 ..

183.35

matsamaḥ puruṣo nāsti tvatsamā nāsti yoṣitām.
avimuktasamaṃ kṣetraṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati .. 183.35 ..

183.36

avimuktaṃ paro yogo hyavimukte parā gatiḥ.
avimukte paro mokṣaḥ kṣetraṃ naivāsti tādṛśam .. 183.36 ..

183.37

paraṃ guhyaṃ pravakṣyāmi tatvena varavarṇini!.
avimukte mahākṣetre yaduktaṃ hi mayā purā .. 183.37 ..

183.38

janmāntaraśatairdevi! yogo'yaṃ yadi labhyate.
mokṣaḥ śatasahasreṇa janmanā labhyate na vā .. 183.38 ..

183.39

avimuktena sandeho madbhaktaḥ kṛtaniścayaḥ.
ekena janmanā so'pi yogaṃ mokṣaṃ ca vindati .. 183.39 ..

183.40

avimukte narā devi! ye vrajanti suniścitāḥ.
te viśanti paraṃ sthānaṃ mokṣaṃ paramadurlabham .. 183.40 ..

183.41

pṛthivyāmīdṛśaṃ kṣetraṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati.
caturmūrtiḥ sadā dharmo tasmin sannihitaḥ priye! .. 183.41 ..

183.42

caturṇāmapi varṇānāṃ gatistu paramā smṛtā.
devyuvāca.
śrutā guṇāste kṣetrasya iha cānyatra ye prabho! .. 183.42 ..

Pārvatī said:—"I have heard the glory of this sacred city of yours, pray also tell me whom do the Brāhmaṇas worship through sacrifices."—42.

183.43

vadasva bhuvi viprendrāḥ kaṃ vā yajñairyajanti te.
īśvara uvāca.
dṛṣṭyā caiva tu mantreṇa māmeva hi yajanti te .. 183.43 ..

Mahādeva said:—'Beautiful lady! They all worship Me, by reciting sacred mantras and by performing sacrifices. Those who worship Rudra and Mahādeva have no fear in this world. Devī! There are two kinds of worship, viz., with mantra and without mantra. There are two kinds of yogas, viz.—Sāṅkhya and Yoga. Those who regard Me omnipresent are Yogin. Those who see Me as the soul in all the beings and never separate Me from themselves never perish. Nirguṇa and Saguṇa are two kinds of yogas. Saguṇa yoga is comprehensible but Nirguṇa yoga cannot even be comprehended Devī! I have told you what you asked Me to explain."—43-48. Mahâdeva—"It is two yojanas in extent between the East and the West—56-61

183.44

na teṣāṃ bhayamastīti bhavaṃ rudraṃ yajanti yat.
amantro mantrako devi! dvividho vidhirucyate .. 183.44 ..

183.45

sāṅkhyaṃ caivātha yogaśca dvividho yoga ucyate.
sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ .. 183.45 ..

183.46

sarvathā vartamāno'pi sa yogī mayi varttate.
ātmaupamyena sarvatra sarvaṃ ca mayi paśyati .. 183.46 ..

183.47

tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati.
nirguṇaḥ saguṇo vāpi yogaśca kathito bhuvi .. 183.47 ..

183.48

saguṇaścaiva vijñeyo nirguṇo manasaḥ paraḥ.
etatte kathitaṃ devi! yanmāntvaṃ paripṛcchasi .. 183.48 ..

183.49

devyuvāca
yā bhakti strividhā proktā bhaktānāṃ bahudhā tvayā.
tāmahaṃ śrotumicchāmi tatvataḥ kathayasva me .. 183.49 ..

183.50

īśvara uvāca.
śrṛṇu pārvati! deveśi! bhaktānāṃ bhaktivatsale.
prāpya sāṃkhyañca yogañca duḥkhāntañca niyacchati .. 183.50 ..

183.51

sadā yaḥ sevate bhikṣāṃ tato bhavati rañjitaḥ.
rañjanāt tanmayo bhūtvā līyate sa tu bhaktimān .. 183.51 ..

183.52

śāstrāṇāntu varārohe! bahukāraṇadarśinaḥ.
na māṃ paśyanti te devi! jñānavākyavivādinaḥ .. 183.52 ..

183.53

paramārthajñānatṛptā yuktā jānanti yoginaḥ.
vidyayā viditātmāno yogasya ca dvijātayaḥ .. 183.53 ..

183.54

pratyāhāreṇa śudrātmā nānyathā cintayecca tat.
tuṣṭiñca paramāṃ prāpya yogaṃ mokṣaṃ paraṃ tathā .. 183.54 ..

183.55

tribhirguṇaiḥ samāyukto jñānavān paśyatīha mām.
etatte kathitaṃ devi! kimanyacchrotumarhasi .. 183.55 ..

183.56

bhūya eva varārohe! kathayiṣyāmi suvrate!.
guhyaṃ pavitramathavā yaccāpi hṛdi vartate .. 183.56 ..

183.57

tatsarvaṃ kathayiṣyāmi śrṛṇuṣvekamanāḥ priye.
devyuvāca.
tvadrūpaṃ kīdṛśaṃ deva! yuktāḥ paśyanti yoginaḥ .. 183.57 ..

183.58

paśyan me saṃśayaṃ brūhi namaste surasattama!.
śrībhagavānuvāca.
amūrtaṃ caiva mūrttañca jyotirūpaṃ hi tat smṛtam .. 183.58 ..

183.59

tasyopalabdhimanvicchan yatnaḥ kāryo vijānatā.
guṇairviyukto bhūtātmā evaṃ vaktuṃ na śakyate .. 183.59 ..

183.60

śakyate yadi vaktuṃ vai divyairvarṣaśatairna vā.
devyuvāca.
kiṃ pramāṇantu tat kṣetraṃ samantāt sarvato diśam .. 183.60 ..

183.61

yatra nityaṃ stito devo mahādevo gaṇairyutaḥ.
īśvara uvāca.
dviyojanantu tatkṣetraṃ pūrvapaścimataḥ smṛtam .. 183.61 ..

183.62

arddhayojana vistīrṇaṃ tatkṣetraṃ dakṣiṇottaram.
vārāṇasī tadīyā ca yāvacchuklanadī tu vai .. 183.62 ..

Within that space Avimukta-tîrtha is situated having a width of half yojana extending from North and South, and the sacred Ganges flows by it—62

183.63

bhīṣmacaṇḍikamārabhya parvateśvaramantike.
gaṇā yatrāvatiṣṭhanti sanniyuktā vināyakāḥ .. 183.63 ..

The attendants of Śiva, some having faces like those of infuriated lions and wolves, have their abode there between Bhîṣmachauḍikâ and Parvateśvara Some of them have hunch backs, some are dwarfs, and some crooked On the same spot Mahâkâla, Chandaghanta, Daṇḍachandeśvara, Ghaṇṭâkarṇa, and others, having huge stomachs, gigantic forms, armed with clubs, tridents, &c, stand and guard the Avimukta tapovana Many of the attendants armed with tridents, clubs &c, stand at the gate—63-67

183.64

kūṣmāṇḍarājaḥ śambhośca jayantaśca madotkaṭāḥ.
siṃhavyāghramukhāḥ kecidvikaṭāḥ kubjavāmanāḥ .. 183.64 ..

183.65

yatra nandī mahākālaścaṇḍaghaṇṭo maheśvaraḥ.
daṇḍacaṇḍeśvaraścaiva ghaṇṭākarṇo mahābalaḥ .. 183.65 ..

183.66

ete cānye ca bahavo gaṇāścaiva gaṇeśvarāḥ.
mahodarā mahākāyā vajraśaktidharāstathā .. 183.66 ..

183.67

rakṣanti satataṃ devi! hyavimuktaṃ tapovanam.
dvāre dvāre ca tiṣṭhanti śūlamudgarapāṇayaḥ .. 183.67 ..

183.68

suvarṇaśrṛṅgīṃ raupyakhurāñcailājina payasvinīm.
vārāṇasyāntu yo dadyāt trivarṇāṃ kañjalocane! .. 183.68 ..

O Pâravatî! one who gives away a cow, that gives good quantity of milk, in charity, with its horns mounted with gold, its hoofs covered with silver, having three colours, to a Brâhmaṇa well versed in Vedas, on the banks of Vârâṇasî, undoubtedly liberates seven generations of his ancestors from bondage So also one who gives away in charity to a Brâhmaṇa, gold, silver, cloths, and grain, &c, in that Avimukta tîrtha acquires everlasting merits People become free from diseases by bathing at that tîrtha and get the benefit of ten aśvamedha sacrifices Any virtuous man who gives some sort of charity to the Brâhmaṇas after his ablution attains felicity and shines like fire One who gives away grain in charity at the confluence of the Varuṇa and Asi with the Ganges, according to the prescribed rites, is not re-born Devî! I have narrated to you the glory of this sacred place One who fasts and then feeds the Brâhmaṇas in this tîrtha attains the benefit of Sautrâmaṇi sacrifice Dear Paravatî, one who lives on only one meal a day for a month washes off all his lifelong sins One who enters the fire according to the prescribed rites undoubtedly enters My mouth One who gives away ten gold coins in charity gets the benefits of Agnihotra sacrifice, and one who gives away incense, &c, derives the benefit of having given away land in charity One who gives away a broom gets the benefit of having given away 500 gold coins The giver of sandal gets the benefit of having given away 1,000 gold coins—68-80

183.69

gāṃ dattvā tu varārohe! brāhmaṇe vedapārage.
āsaptamaṃ kulaṃ tena tāritaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ .. 183.69 ..

183.70

yo dadyād brāhmaṇe kiñcit tasmin kṣetre varānane!.
kanakaṃ rajataṃ vastramannādyaṃ bahu vistaram .. 183.70 ..

183.71

akṣayaṃ cāvyayaṃ caiva syātāṃ tasya sulocane!.
śrṛṇu tatvena tīrthasya vibhūtiṃ vyuṣṭimeva ca .. 183.71 ..

183.72

tatra snātvā mahābhāge! bhavanti nirujā narāḥ.
daśānāmaśvamedhānāṃ phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ .. 183.72 ..

183.73

tadavāpnoti dharmātmā tatra snātvā varānane!.
bahusvalpe ca yo dadyād brāhmaṇe vedapārage .. 183.73 ..

183.74

śubhāṅgatimavāpnoti agnivaccaiva dīpyate.
vārāṇasī jāhnavībhyāṃ saṅgame lokaviśrute .. 183.74 ..

183.75

dattvānnaṃ ca vidhānena na sa bhūyo'bhijāyate.
etatte kathitaṃ devi! tīrthasya phalamuttamam .. 183.75 ..

183.76

upavāsantu yaḥ kṛtvā viprān santarpayannaraḥ.
sautrāmaṇeśca yajñasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ .. 183.76 ..

183.77

ekāhārastu yastiṣṭhen māsaṃ tatra varānane!
yāvajjīvakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ sahasā tasya naśyati .. 183.77 ..

183.78

agnipraveśaṃ ye kuryuravimukte vidhānataḥ.
praviśanti mukhante me niḥsandigdhaṃ varānane! .. 183.78 ..

183.79

daśasauvarṇikaṃ puṣpaṃ yo'vimukte prayacchati.
agnihotraphalaṃ dhūpe gandhadāne tathā śruṇu .. 183.79 ..

183.80

bhūmidānena tattulyaṃ gandhadānaphalaṃ smṛtam.
saṃmārjane pañcaśataṃ sahasramanulepane .. 183.80 ..

183.81

mālayā śatasāhasramanantaṃ gītavādyataḥ.
devyuvāca.
atyadbhutamidaṃ deva sthānametat prakīrtitam .. 183.81 ..

The charity of flowers and garlands is equivalent to the giving away of 1,00 000 gold coins The one who sings hymns accompanied by music begets everlasting benefits"

Pâravatî—"Mahâdeva! you have indeed told me wonderful things, but please let me know the reason of your not leaving this unique place"

183.82

rahasyaṃ śrotumicchāmi yadarthantvaṃ na muñcasi.
īśvara uvāca
āsīt pūrvaṃ varārohe! brahmaṇastu śiro varam .. 183.82 ..

Mahâdeva—In the days of yore Lord Brahmâ had five heads and the fifth one was shining like gold Once Brahmâ said to Me 'I know thy genesis,' when I angrily cut off His fifth head with the nail of my left toe Then Brahmâ said 'Thou hast beheaded Me without any fault and through My curse thou shalt bear a skull as the badge of the sin of inflicting injury on Brahmâ Thou shalt roam about in the sacred places'—81-86

183.83

pañcamaṃ śrṛṇu suśroṇi! jātaṃ kāñcana sa prabham.
jvalattat pañcamaṃ śīrṣaṃ jātaṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ .. 183.83 ..

183.84

tadevamabravīddevi! janma jānāmi te hyaham.
tataḥ krodhaparītena saṃrakta nayanena ca .. 183.84 ..

183.85

vāmāṃguṣṭhanakhāgreṇa chinnaṃ tasya śiro mayā.
brahmovāca.
tadā niraparādhasya śiraśchinnaṃ tvayā mama .. 183.85 ..

183.86

tasmācchāpasamāyuktaḥ kapālī tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi.
brahmahatyākulo bhūtvā caratīrthāni bhūtale .. 183.86 ..

183.87

tato'haṃ gatavān devi! himavantaṃ śiloccayam.
tatra nārāyaṇaḥ śrīmān mayā bhikṣāṃ prayācitaḥ .. 183.87 ..

Hearing His curse I went to the Himâlaya mountain where I begged Nârâyaṇa to give me alms He on his side dug His fingernail and a volume of blood rushed out, and it spread itself to the length of 50 yojanas, but the skull was not filled.—87 89

183.88

tatastena svakaṃ pārśvaṃ nakhāgreṇa vidāritam.
sravato mahatī dhārā tasya raktasya niḥsṛtā .. 183.88 ..

183.89

prayātā sātivistīrṇā yojanārddhaśatantadā.
na saṃpūrṇaṃ kapālantu ghoramadbhuta darśanam .. 183.89 ..

183.90

divyaṃ varṣasahasrantu sā ca dhārā pravāhinī.
provāca bhagavānviṣṇuḥ kapālaṃ kuta īdṛśam .. 183.90 ..

After that, that stream of blood ran for a thousand Divine years Lord Viṣṇu said to Me ‘How such a skull was brought into existence Explain it to Me to drive away My doubts’ I replied, ‘Deva! hear about it In ancient times Brahmâ was endowed with Divine form after thousands of years asceticism and through His asceticism He got a fifth head shining like gold I cut it off in anger It follows Me wherever I go’—90-94

183.91

āścaryabhūtaṃ deveśa! saṃśayo hṛdi vartate.
kutaśca sambhavo deva! sarvaṃ me brūhi pṛcchataḥ .. 183.91 ..

183.92

devadeva uvāca.
śrūyatāmasya he deva! kapālasya tu sambhavaḥ.
śataṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ tapastaptvā sudāruṇam.. 183.92 ..

183.93

brahmā'sṛjadvapurdivyamadbhutaṃ lomaharṣaṇam.
tapasaśca prabhāveṇa divyaṃ kāñcana sannibham .. 183.93 ..

183.94

jvalattat pañcamaṃ śīrṣaṃ jātaṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ.
nikṛttantaṃ mayā deva! tadidaṃ paśya durjayam .. 183.94 ..

183.95

yatra yatra ca gacchāmi kapālaṃ tatra gacchati.
evamuktastato devaḥ provāca puruṣottamaḥ .. 183.95 ..

Hearing such words of Mine the Lord Puruṣottama said ‘go back and please Brahmâ and by His glorious power this skull will become fixed in your holy abode (kṣettra) Dear Pâravatî after hearing that I went to all the sacred places, but nowhere did this skull leave Me But when I came and settled Myself at My Avimukta tîrtha the effects of the curse instantly disappeared, and through the favour of Viṣṇu the skull also fell down there and was divided into a thousand pieces It disappeared like the riches a man obtains in his dream—95 99

183.96

śrībhagavānuvāca.
gaccha gaccha svakaṃ sthānaṃ brahmaṇastvaṃ priyaṅkuru.
tasmin sthāsyati bhadrante kapālaṃ tasya tejasā .. 183.96 ..

183.97

tataḥ sarvāṇi tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca.
gato'smi pṛthula śroṇi! na kvacit pratyatiṣṭhata .. 183.97 ..

183.98

tato'haṃ samanuprāpto hyavimukte mahāśaye.
avasthitaḥ svake sthāne śāpaśca vigato mama .. 183.98 ..

183.99

viṣṇuprasādāt suśroṇi! kapālaṃ tat sahasradhā.
sphuṭitaṃ bahudhā jātaṃ svapnalabdhaṃ dhanaṃ yathā .. 183.99 ..

183.100

brahmahatyāpahaṃ tīrthaṃ kṣetrametanmayā kṛtam.
śmaśānametad bhadraṃ me devānāṃ varavarṇini .. 183.100 ..

This place I have made the dispeller of the sin of killing a Brâhmaṇa (Brahma hatyâ) and it is the cremation ground of all the Devas including Myself—100

183.101

kālo bhūtvā jagat sarvaṃ saṃharāmi sṛjāmi ca.
deveśi! sarvaguhyānāṃ sthānaṃ priyataraṃ mama .. 183.101 ..

I annihilate the universe by manifesting Myself as the Destructor and also create everything Devi! this sequestered place of Mine is most dear to Me—101

183.102

madbhaktāstatra gacchanti viṣṇubhaktāstathaiva ca.
ye bhaktā bhāskare devi! lokanāthe divākare .. 183.102 ..

My devotees as well as the devotees of Viṣṇu and the Sun, who come and die here merge into Me’—102

183.103

tatrastho yastyajeddehaṃ māmeva praviśettu saḥ.
devyuvāca.
atyadbhutamidaṃ deva! yaduktaṃ padmayoninā .. 183.103 ..

Pâravatî said—“Deva! This place is indeed most wonderful as described by you This is your place as pointed out by Viṣṇu You reside here, and for these reasons other sacred places cannot equal it. The places where Viṣṇu and Mahâdeva dwell are worth a thousand sacred places O Deva! You are My salvation and you are said to be the emancipation of Brahma and all others’—703 106

183.104

tripurāntakarasthānaṃ guhyametat mahādyute.
sannidhānāttu te sarve kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm .. 183.104 ..

183.105

yatra tiṣṭhati deveśo yatra tiṣṭhati śaṅkaraḥ.
gaṅgā tīrthasahasrāṇāṃ tulyā bhavati vā na vā .. 183.105 ..

183.106

tvameva bhaktirdeveśa. tvameva gatiruttamā.
brahmādīnāntu te deva! gatiruktā sanātanī.
śrāvye yad dvijātīnāṃ bhaktānāmanukampayā .. 183.106 ..