Matsya Purana 185: adhyāyaḥ 185

185.1

vārāṇasīmāhātmyam.
sūta uvāca.
avimukte mahāpuṇye āstikāḥ śubhadarśanāḥ.
viśmayaṃ paramaṃ jagmurharṣa gadgada nisvanāḥ .. 185.1 ..

Sûta said:—‘O Risis! the godly devotees seers, and the pious residing at Avimukta were filled with astonishment and overcome with delight They again said to Svamikârtika:—‘You have been born of the glory of Śiva and Brahmâ You are dear to the Brâhmaṇas and are the knower of Brahma You have attained the realm of Brahma and are kind to the Brâhmaṇas—1 3

185.2

ucuste hṛṣṭamanasaḥ skandaṃ dharmma vidāṃ varam.
brahmaṇo deva! pautrastvaṃ brahmaṇyo brahmaṇaḥ priyaḥ .. 185.2 ..

185.3

brāhmaṇo brahma vid brahmā brahmendro brahmalokakṛt.
brahmakṛdbrahmacārī tvaṃ brahmādirbrahmavatsalaḥ .. 185.3 ..

185.4

brahmatulyodbhavakaro brahmatulya namo'stu te.
ṛṣayo bhāvitātmānaḥ śrutvedaṃ pāvanaṃ mahat .. 185.4 ..

Like Brahmâ, you are the Creator, we all salute you! We have all become purified by listening to this narration We have realized the highest secret May you be blessed! We are now going to that mundane region of the Lord Śiva where He, the Lord of all, is practising austerities unmoved, for the benefit of the Universe—4 6

185.5

tatvantu paramaṃ jñātaṃ yajjñātvā'mṛtamaśnute.
svastite'stu gamiṣyāmo bhūrlokaṃ śaṅkarālayam .. 185.5 ..

185.6

yatrāsau sarvabhūtātmā sthāṇubhūtaḥ sthitaḥ prabhuḥ.
sarvaloka hitārthāya tapasyugre vyavasthitaḥ .. 185.6 ..

185.7

saṃyojya yogenātmānaṃ raudrīṃ tanumupāśritaḥ.
guhyakairātmabhūtastu ātmatulya guṇairvṛtaḥ .. 185.7 ..

By the virtue of His asceticism He merges Himself in the formidable form and remains adorned with all His attributes along with His attendants The Devas, Brahmâ, devotees and the Siddhas are eager to see the Lord, through your favour We are, therefore, eager to pass our days at Avimukta, for blessed are those who reside there—7 9

185.8

tato brahmādibhirdevaiḥ siddhaiśca paramarṣibhiḥ.
vijñaptaḥ parayā bhaktyā tvatprasādād gaṇeśvara! .. 185.8 ..

185.9

vaktumicchāma niyatamavimukte suniścitāḥ.
evaṃ guṇe tathā martyā hyavimukte vasanti ye .. 185.9 ..

185.10

dharmaśīlā jitakrodhā nirmamā niyatendriyāḥ.
dhyāna yogaparāḥ siddhiṃ gacchanti paramāvyayām .. 185.10 ..

Those who are righteous, devoid of anger and lust, having their passions under their control, devoted to the practice of yoga, attain emancipation there There the devoted yogis adore the Lord Śiva the Giver of beatitude and attain bliss. It is the most mysterious of all the cremation grounds, and no one attains bliss in this world without the help of yoga—10 12

185.11

yogino yogasiddhāśca yogamokṣapradaṃ vibhum.
upāsante bhaktiyuktāḥ śāntā yogagatiṅgatāḥ .. 185.11 ..

185.12

sthānaṃ guhyaṃ śmaśānānāṃ sarveṣāmetaducyate.
na hi yogādṛte mokṣaḥ prāpyate bhuvi mānavaiḥ .. 185.12 ..

185.13

avimukte tu vasatāṃ yogo mokṣaśca sidhyati.
anena janmanaiveha prāpyate gatiruttamā .. 185.13 ..

People residing at Avimukta beget both yoga and bliss In other words, they attain sublime felicity in this life Deva! the inhabitants of Avimukta get bliss during their lifetime, such is its glory Once upon a time Vedavyâsa could not get any alms there, and, agitated with the pangs of hunger he felt inclined, to pronounce a curse He passed a period of six months with great privations—13 16

185.14

eka eva prabhāvo'sti kṣetrasya parameśvari!.
ekena janmanā devi! mokṣaṃ paśyantyanuttamam .. 185.14 ..

185.15

avimukte nivasatā vyāsenāmitatejasā.
naiva labdhā kvacidbhikṣā bhramamāṇena yatnataḥ .. 185.15 ..

185.16

kṣudhāviṣṭastataḥ kruddho'cintayat chāpamuttamam.
dinaṃ dinaṃ prati vyāsaḥ ṣaṇmāsaṃ yo'vatiṣṭhati .. 185.16 ..

185.17

kathaṃ mamedaṃ nagaraṃ bhikṣādoṣāddhatantvidam.
vipro vā kṣatriyo vāpi vidhavā brāhmaṇī pivā .. 185.17 ..

He said to himself, ‘How has this place become cursed and doles me no alms The Brâhmaṇas the Kṣatriyas the widows, the married ladies, none of them give me any alms—which is most strange I shall pronounce my curse on all of them and on the whole city to the effect that this sacred place may become devoid of its sanctity and that there be no pelf and learning left among the people of all the three classes residing here No friendship should exist among them I shall also create such troubles for those residing at Avimukta as they may not attain their ends.’—17 21

185.18

saṃskṛtāsaṃskṛtā vāpi paripakvāḥ kathannu me.
na prayacchanti vai lokā brāhmaṇāścarya kārakam .. 185.18 ..

185.19

eṣāṃ śāpaṃ pradāsyāmi tīrthasya nagarasya tu.
tīrthañcātīrthatāṃ yātu nagaraṃ śāpayāmyaham .. 185.19 ..

185.20

mā bhūttripuruṣī vidyā mā bhūttripuruṣaṃ dhanam.
mā bhūt tripuruṣaṃ savyaṃ vyāso vārāṇasīṃ śapan .. 185.20 ..

185.21

avimukte nivasatāṃ janānāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām.
vighnaṃ sṛjāmi sarveṣāṃ yena siddhirna vidyate .. 185.21 ..

185.22

vyāsacittaṃ tadā jñātvā devadeva umāpatiḥ.
bhītabhītastadā gaurīṃ tāṃ priyāṃ paryyabhāṣata .. 185.22 ..

Realising the intentions of Vedavyâsa, the Lord Śiva became terrified and said to Pârvatî—22

185.23

śrṛṇu devi! vaco mahyaṃ yādṛśaṃ pratyupasthitam.
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ kopācchāpaṃ dātuṃ samudyataḥ .. 185.23 ..

‘Devi! hear Me Now Vedavyâsa is prepared to pronounce his curse’—23

185.24

devyuvāca.
krimarthaṃ śapate kruddho vyāsaḥ kena prakopitaḥ.
kiṃ kṛtaṃ bhagavaṃstasya yena śāpaṃ prayacchati .. 185.24 ..

Pâravatî enquired—‘Why is Vyâsa so angry? Who has annoyed him? What harm has been done to him that he is disposed to pronounce a curse?—24

185.25

devadeva uvāca.
anena sutapastaptaṃ bahūn varṣagaṇān priye!.
mauninā dhyānayuktena dvādaśābdān varānane .. 185.25 ..

Mahâdeva said—‘Dear Pârvatî? He has practised glorious asceticism for a long time He has lived in contemplation by observing the vow of silence for a period of 12 years. He begged for alms when he felt hungry, and no one gave him even half a morsel He has thus passed six months under serious privations, consequently, he has now made up his mind to pronounce a curse Some plan should be devised to obviate the situation before he pronounces his curse Vedavyâsa has attained supernatural powers, and everyone is afraid of his curse He has the power to bring about what is not destined and to mar the effects of destiny I shall assume the form of a human being and engage him in conversation, when alms should be given to him'—25 30

185.26

tataḥ kṣudhā susañjātā bhikṣāmaṭitumāgataḥ.
naivāsya kenacidbhikṣā grāsārddhamapi bhāmini .. 185.26 ..

185.27

evaṃ bhagavataḥ kāla āsīt ṣāṇmāsiko muneḥ.
tataḥ krodhaparītātmā śāpaṃ dāsyati so'dhunā .. 185.27 ..

185.28

yāvanneṣa śapettāvadupāyastatra cintyatām.
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ vyāsaṃ viddhi nārāyaṇaṃ priye .. 185.28 ..

185.29

ko'sya śāpānna bibheti hyapi sākṣāt pitāmahaḥ.
adaivaṃ daivataṃ kuryyād daivaṃ cāpyapadaivatam .. 185.29 ..

185.30

āvāntu mānuṣau bhūtvā gṛhasthāvihavāsinau.
tasya tṛptikarīṃ bhikṣāṃ prayacchāvo varānane .. 185.30 ..

185.31

evamuktvā tato devī devena śambhunā tadā.
vyāsasya darśanaṃ dattvā kṛtvā veṣantu mānuṣam .. 185.31 ..

Pârvatî thus instructed, also assumed human form and said to Vedavyâsa, 'Bhagavana! come here and receive alms Seer! you never blessed my home'—31-32

185.32

ehyehi bhagavan! sadyo bhikṣāṃ grāhaya sattama!.
asmad gṛhe kadācittvaṃ nāgato'si mahāmune! .. 185.32 ..

185.33

etacchrutvā prītamanā bhikṣāṃ grahītumāgataḥ.
bhikṣāṃ dattvā tu vyāsāya ṣaḍrasāmamṛtopamām .. 185.33 ..

Hearing which, the sage cheerfully accepted the alms that contained savoury victuals He did full justice to it, and was completely satisfied Afterwards the seer made his salutations to the Lord Mahâdeva and Pârvatî, and said to the latter "O one with beautiful eyes! This is the residence of the Lord Mahâdeva and Pârvatî, and the Ganges flows through this place Delicious eatables are also obtainable and emancipation is begotten Who would not therefore reside in such a Kâśî?"—33-36

185.34

anāsvāditapūrvā sā bhakṣitā muninā tadā.
bhikṣāṃ vyāsastato bhuktvā cintayanhṛṣṭamānasaḥ .. 185.34 ..

185.35

vavande varadaṃ devaṃ devīñca girijāṃ tadā.
vyāsaḥ kamalapatrākṣa idaṃ vacanamabravīt .. 185.35 ..

185.36

devo devī nadī gaṅgāmiṣṭamannaṃ śubhā gatiḥ.
vārāṇasyāṃ viśālākṣi! vāsaḥ kasya na rocate .. 185.36 ..

185.37

evamuktvā tato vyāso nagarīmavalokayan.
cintayānastato bhikṣāṃ hṛdayānandakāriṇīm .. 185.37 ..

Having said so, Vedavyâsa looked at the sacred Kâśî and began to think of the delicious alms that he was given Mahâdeva and Pârvatî were standing before him Lord said to him—"Seer! you have a very choleric temper, and you should not therefore reside in Kâśî"—37-39

185.38

apaśyat purato devaṃ devīñca girijāṃ tadā.
gṛhāṅgaṇasthitaṃ vyāsaṃ devadevo'bravīdidam .. 185.38 ..

185.39

iha kṣetre na vastavyaṃ krodhanastvaṃ mahāmune!.
evaṃ vismayamāpanno devaṃ vyāso'bravīdvacaḥ .. 185.39 ..

185.40

vyāsa uvāca.
caturdaśyāmathāṣṭamyāṃ praveśaṃ dātumarhasi.
evamastvityanujñāya tatraivāntaradhīyata .. 185.40 ..

Vedavyâsa said—"Deva! Be pleased to permit me to come here on two days viz, the eighth and fourteenth days of the fortnight, that is, Aṣṭamî and Caturdaśî,' to which the Lord replied in the affirmative—40

185.41

na tad gṛhaṃ na sā devī na devo jñāyate kvacit.
evaṃ trailokyavikhyātaḥ purā vyāso mahātapāḥ .. 185.41 ..

Then the Lord disappeared then and there, and so did the Goddess Pârvatî In that way, in the days gone by, the illustrious Vedavyâsa, knowing the glory of Kâśî fixed his abode in its vicinity, and consequently all the learned men sing the praises of this sacred place—41-42

185.42

jñātvā kṣetraguṇān sarvān sthitastasyaiva pārśvataḥ.
evaṃ vyāsaṃ sthitaṃ jñātvā kṣetraṃ śaṃsanti paṇḍitāḥ .. 185.42 ..

185.43

avimuktaguṇānāntu kaḥ samartho vadiṣyati.
devabrāhmaṇa-vidviṣṭā devabhaktiviḍambakāḥ .. 185.43 ..

O Ṛiṣis! The blasphemers of the Devas and the Brâhmaṇas the killers of the Brâhmaṇas, those ungrateful and other sinners the scoffers of the preceptors, sacred places, and temples, the instigators, do not reside in the sacred Kâśî, as Daṇḍanâyaka, one of the attendants of Śiva, is posted there to oust them Daṇḍanâyaka's duty is to guard the place, so He ought to be adored with incense, flowers etc He should be reverentially saluted, and his mantra should also be repeated and counted on the bead Various classes of people reside in the sacred Kâśî, and all kinds of snakes, scorpions, etc., also abound there They also become the attendants of Śiva The Devas, devoted to Śiva and residing there, also attain the everlasting realm, according to Their choice The sacred Kâśî is superior even to the heaven of the Devas. It is like Brahmalôka. It has been laid out by the Yogic power of the Lord, and there is no other region like it—43 50

185.44

brahmaghnāśca kṛtaghnāśca tathā naiṣkṛtikāśca ye.
lokadviṣo gurudviṣastīrthāyatana dūṣakāḥ .. 185.44 ..

185.45

sadā pāparatāścaiva ye cānye kutsitā bhuvi.
teṣāṃ nāstīti vāso vai sthito'sau daṇḍanāyakaḥ .. 185.45 ..

185.46

rakṣaṇārthaṃ niyuktaṃ vai daṇḍanāyakamuttamam.
pūjayitvā yathā śaktyā gandhapuṣpādi dhūpakaiḥ .. 185.46 ..

185.47

namaskāraṃ tataḥ kṛtvā nāyakasya tu mantravit.
sarvavarṇāvṛte kṣetre nānāvidha-sarīsṛpe .. 185.47 ..

185.48

īśvarānugṛhītā hi gatiṃ gāṇeśvarīṃ gatāḥ.
nānārūpadharā divyā nānāveṣadharāstathā .. 185.48 ..

185.49

surā vai ye tu sarve ca tanniṣṭhāstatparāyaṇāḥ.
yadicchanti paraṃ sthānamakṣayantadavāpnuyuḥ .. 185.49 ..

185.50

paraṃ puraṃ daivapurādviśiṣyate taduttaraṃ brahmapurāt purasthitam.
tapobalādīśvarayoganirmitaṃ na tat samaṃ brahmadivaukasālayam.
manoramaṃ kāmagamaṃ hyanāmayamatītya tejāṃsi tapāṃsi yogavat .. 185.50 ..

The sacred Kâśî is the fulfiller of cherished desires It is free from diseases and the place of asceticism and yoga Lord Śiva, enshrined there is shining in His full glory Those who practise asceticism there, attain the benefits of sacrifices, of bathing at sacred places, and of giving charities The past and the present sins committed through ignorance are dispelled by mere sight of Avimukta Men of calm disposition and those who keep their passions curbed, whatever charities they perform at Avimukta, get a huge return Those who worship Śiva at Avimukta are not reborn in this world for crores of cycles. Thousands of Devas enjoy the company of Śiva and, therefore, this place is the best of all. Those who adore Mahâdeva there, are liberated from their sins and become like Devas. All the sacrifices performed with a motive are liable to ordain the re-birth of a man, but those who die at Avimukta are never born. The stars and planets perish at a certain fixed period, but those dying at Avimukta are not liable to it. Those who die there are not re-born even after crores of cycles (kalpas). Blessed are those who reach the sacred Maṇikarṇikâ at their last hour, after having undergone the trials of life. They are also blessed who do not forsake Avimukta realizing the grim pinch of the Kali-yuga. The inhabitant of Avimukta, when he goes elsewhere, is ridiculed by everybody.—51-64.

185.51

adhiṣṭhitastu tatsthāne devadevo virājate.
tapāṃsi yāni tapyante vratāni niyamāśca ye .. 185.51 ..

185.52

sarvatīrthābhiṣekaṃ tu sarvadānaphalāni ca.
sarvayajñeṣu yat puṇyamavimukte tadāpnuyāt.. 185.52 ..

185.53

atītaṃ vartamānañca jñānādajñānato'pi vā.
sarvaṃ tasya ca yat pāpaṃ kṣetraṃ dṛṣṭvā vinaśyati .. 185.53 ..

185.54

śāntairdāntaistapastaptaṃ yat kiñcit dharmasaṃjñitam.
sarvaṃ ca tadavāpnoti avimukte jitendriyaḥ .. 185.54 ..

185.55

avimuktaṃ samāsādya liṅgamarcayate naraḥ.
kalpakoṭiśataiścāpi nāsti tasya punarbhavaḥ .. 185.55 ..

185.56

amarā hyakṣayāścaiva krīḍanti bhavasannidhau.
kṣetratīrthopaniṣadamavimuktaṃ na saṃśayaḥ .. 185.56 ..

185.57

avimukte mahādevamarcayanti stuvanti vai.
sarvapāpavinirmuktāste tiṣṭhantyajarāmarāḥ .. 185.57 ..

185.58

sarvakāmāśca ye yajñāḥ punarāvṛttikāḥ smṛtāḥ.
avimukte mṛtā ye ca sarve te hyanivartakāḥ .. 185.58 ..

185.59

grahanakṣatratārāṇāṃ kālena patanādbhayam.
avimukte mṛtānāntu patanaṃ naiva vidyate .. 185.59 ..

185.60

kalpakoṭisahasraistu kalpakoṭiśatairapi.
na teṣāṃ punarāvṛttirmṛtā ye kṣetra uttame .. 185.60 ..

185.61

saṃsārasāgare ghore bhramantaḥ kālaparyayāt.
avimuktaṃ samāsādya gacchanti maṇikarṇikām .. 185.61 ..

185.62

jñātvā kaliyugaṃ ghoraṃ hāhā bhūtamacetanam.
avimuktaṃ na muñcanti kṛtārthāste narā bhuvi.. 185.62 ..

185.63

avimuktaṃ praviṣṭastu yadi gacchettataḥ punaḥ.
tadā hasanti bhūtāni anyonyaṃ karatāḍanam .. 185.63 ..

185.64

kāmakrodhena lobhena grastā ye bhuvi mānavāḥ.
niṣkramante narā devi! daṇḍanāyakamohitāḥ .. 185.64 ..

Those who succumb to the influence of lust, anger, and greed, go away from that sacred place for fear of Daṇḍanâyaka. Ignorant people, devoid of meditation, also those oppressed with miseries, attain emancipation there. There are five principal places there, viz: Daśâśvamedha, Lokârka, Keśava, Vindumâdhava, Maṇikarṇikâ. I have related to you the glory of Avimukta, as narrated by Lord Śiva to Pârvatî.—65-69.

185.65

japadhyānavihīnānāṃ jñānavarjita cetasām.
tato duḥkhahatānāñca gatirvārāṇasī nṛṇām.. 185.65 ..

185.66

tīrthānāṃ pañcakaṃ sāraṃ viśveśānandakānane.
daśāśvamedhaṃ lolārkaḥ keśavo bindumādhavaḥ .. 185.66 ..

185.67

pañcamī na mahāśreṣṭhā procyate maṇikarṇikā.
ebhistu tīrthavaryaiśca varṇyate hyavimuktakam .. 185.67 ..

185.68

etadvai kathitaṃ sarvaṃ devyai devena bhāṣitam.
avimuktasya kṣetrasya tat sarvaṃ kathitaṃ dvijāḥ .. 185.68 ..