Matsya Purana 187: adhyāyaḥ 187

187.1

narmadāmāhātmye jvāleśvaratīrthamāhātmyavarṇanam.

Mârkandeya said:—The Narmadâ is most sacred and renowned and the sages desirous of emancipation have made numberless divisions, each of the measure of a Brahman’s sacred thread By bathing in them one is liberated from all sins The sacred Jaleśvara is renowned in the three worlds In the days gone by the sages, the Maruts, and Indra, etc , shivering with fear spoke to Śiva "Protect us"-1-4

187.2

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca.
narmadā tu nadī śreṣṭhā puṇyāt puṇyatamāhitā.
munibhistu mahābhāgairvibhaktā mokṣakāṃkṣibhiḥ .. 187.1

187.3

yajñopavītamātrāṇi pravibhaktāni pāṇḍava.
teṣu snātvā tu rājendra! sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate .. 187.2

187.4

ja(jvā)leśvaraṃ parantīrthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam.
tasyotpattiṃ kathayataḥ śruṇu tvaṃ pāṇḍunandana! .. 187.3

187.5

purā munigaṇāḥ sarve sendrāścaiva marudgaṇāḥ.
bhayodvignā virūpākṣaṃ paritrāyasva na prabho! .. 187.4

187.6

śrībhagavānuvāca.
svāgataṃ tu suraśreṣṭhāḥ! kimarthamiha cāgatāḥ.
kiṃ duḥkhaṃ ko nu santāpaḥ kuto vā bhayamāgatam .. 187.5

The Lord said "Devas! what is the fear in your mind which has brought you here? whom do you fear? what are your troubles? Tell me all about yourselves'-5-6

187.7

kathayadhvaṃ mahābhāgāḥ evamicchāmi veditum.
evamuktāstu rudreṇa kathayan saṃśitavratāḥ .. 187.6

187.8

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ.
ativīryyo mahāghoro dānavo baladarpitaḥ.
bāṇo nāmeti vikhyāto yasya vai tripuraṃ puram .. 187.7

Ṛiṣis said-"O Mahâdeva! the most illustrious and valiant demon Vâṇâsura is the owner of Tripura which moves about in the firmament. We have come to seek your protection, being afraid of him You are our salvation, pray, therefore, rescue us from the oppressions of that demon Deva! be pleased to do what may be good to the Devas, the Gandharvas and the Ṛiṣis, etc-7-10

187.9

gagane satataṃ divyaṃ bhramate tasya tejasā!
tato bhītā virūpākṣa! tvāmeva śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ .. 187.8

187.10

trāyasva mahato duḥkhāt tvaṃ hi naḥ paramā gatiḥ.
evaṃ prasādaṃ deveśa! sarveṣāṃ kartumarhasi .. 187.9

187.11

yena devāḥ sagandharvāḥ sukhamedhanti śaṅkara!.
parāṃ nirvṛtimāyānti tatprabho! kartumarhasi .. 187.10

187.12

śrībhagavānuvāca.
etat sarvaṃ kariṣyāmi mā viṣādaṃ gamiṣyatha.
acireṇaiva kālena kuryyāṃ yuṣmat sukhāvaham .. 187.11

Śiva said-"Do not be anxious I shall do everything You will attain peace ere long"-11

187.13

āśvāsya sa tu tān sarvvānnarmadā taṭamāśritaḥ.
cintayāmāsa deveśastadvadhaṃ pratimānada! .. 187.12

After thus consoling them, the Lord went to the banks of the Narmadâ and began to devise plans for the destruction of that demon-12

187.14

atha kena prakāreṇa hantavyaṃ tripuraṃ mayā.
paraṃ saṃcintya bhagavān nāradaṃ cāsmarattadā.
smaraṇādeva! saṃprāpto nāradaḥ samupasthitaḥ .. 187.13

He said to himself "How shall I kill the demon?" He then thought of the sage Nârada who appeared then and there, and said "Mahâdeva! what are your behests? Why have you summoned me? I shall carry out your commands"-13 14

187.15

nārada uvāca.
ājñāpaya mahādeva! kimarthañca smṛto hyaham.
kiṃ kāryyantu mayā deva! kartavyaṃ kathayasva me .. 187.14

187.16

śrībhagavānuvāca.
gaccha nārada! tatraiva yatra tattripuraṃ mahat.
bāṇasya dānavendrasya śīghraṃ gatvā ca tatkuru .. 187.15

Śiva said-"Nârada! virtuous women reside within the Tripura of Vâṇâsura and by their virtue the Tripura moves about in the space You should, therefore, go and delude those ladies in Tripura"-15 17

187.17

yā bhartṛdevatāstatra striyaścāpsarasāṃ samāḥ.
tāsāṃ vai tejasā vipra! bhramate tripurandivi .. 187.16

187.18

tatra gatvā tu viprendra! matimanyāṃ prabodhaya.
devasya vacanaṃ śrutvā munistvaritavikramaḥ .. 187.17

Hearing those words of the Lord, the sage went and did what he was directed to fulfil That Tripura was decorated with various kinds of precious stones, was 100 yojanas broad and 200 yojanas in length The sage saw Vâṇâsura in such a magnificent place-18 19

187.19

strīṇāṃ hṛdayanāśāya praviṣṭastat puraṃ prati.
śobhate tatpuraṃ divyaṃ nānāratnopaśobhitam .. 187.18

187.20

śatayojanavistīrṇaṃ tato dviguṇamāyatam.
tato'paśyaddhi tatraiva bāṇantu baladarpitam .. 187.19

187.21

maṇikuṇḍalakeyūra mukuṭena virājitam.
hāradorasuvarṇaiśca candrakāntavibhūṣitam .. 187.20

The demon king who was seated on a majestic throne with the brilliance of the twelve suns wearing earrings coronet, garlands and armlets of gold studded with precious stones, stood up to receive the sage Narada, and said "Devarṣi! you have come here of your own accord. I offer you an oblation and water for washing your feet." He then saluted the sage and said "Let me know your commands and I shall carry them out You have come here after a long time Pray take your seat"-20 23

187.22

raśanā tasya ratnāḍhyā bāhū kanakamaṇḍitau.
candrakāntamahāvajramaṇividrumabhūṣite .. 187.21

187.23

dvādaśārkadyutinibhe niviṣṭaṃ paramātmane.
utthito nāradaṃ dṛṣṭvā dānavendro mahābalaḥ .. 187.22

187.24

bāṇa uvāca.
devarṣe! tvaṃ svayaṃ prāpto arghyaṃ pādyaṃ nivedaye.

187.25

so'bhivādya yathānyāyaṃ kriyatāṃ kiṃ dvijottama! .. 187.23

187.26

cirāttvamāgato vipra! sthīyatāmidamāsanam.
evaṃ sambhāṣayitvā tu nāradaṃ ṛṣisattamam
tasya bhāryā mahādevī hyanaupamyā tu nāmataḥ .. 187.24

Afterwards Anaupamyâ queen said-"Nârada! what dharma pleases the Devas? which ordinance is most gratifying to them?-24 25.

187.27

anaupamyovāca.
bhagavan. kena dharmeṇa devāstuṣyanti nārada!.
vratena niyamenātha dānena tapasāpi vā .. 187.25

187.28

nāradaḥ uvāca.
tiladhenuñca yo dadyād brāhmaṇe vedapārage.
sasāgaravanadvīpā dattā bhavati medinī .. 187.26

Nârada said-One who gives away a cow and sesamum to a Brâhmaṇa well versed in the Vedas gets the benefit of having given away lands beyond the seas He enjoys himself in a Vimâna shining like crores of suns for a considerable period The lady who gives away after observing a fast the following trees-Woodapple, roseapple, Kadamba, Champaka, Aśoka, Aśwattha, plantain banyan, pomegranate, Neem and Mahuâ, her breasts take the form of the woodapple, her thighs become like the trunk of the plantain tree She becomes adorable like the sacred Aśwattha tree and sweet smelling like the Neem, illustrious like the Champaka griefless like Aśoka, sweet like the Mahuâ, soft like the leaves of the banyan She always gets prosperity The giving of pumpkins and creepers is not considered high, and the husband of a lady who worships the Devas with Kadamba blossoms discarding the food cooked and uncooked as well as fruits, observing the vow of silence in the evening and worshipping Kṣetrapāla first, remains in happiness The ladies who keep a fast on Aṣṭamī, Chaturthī, Panchamī, Dwādaśī, Saṅkrāntı, undoubtedly go to heaven. They are liberated from the ills of the iron age and Dharmarāja does not admit such ladies in his town—26-37.

187.29

sūryakoṭipratīkāśaiḥ vimānaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ.
modate suciraṃ kālamakṣayaṃ kṛtaśāsanam .. 187.27

187.30

āmrāmala kapitthāni badarāṇi tathaiva ca.
kadambacampakāśokānanekavividhadrumān .. 187.28

187.31

aśvatthapippalāṃ ścaiva kadalīvaṭadāḍimān.
picumandaṃ madhūkaṃ ca upoṣya strī dadāti yā .. 187.29

187.32

stanau kapitthasadṛśāvurū ca kadalīsamau.
aśvatthe vandanīyā ca picumande sugandhinī .. 187.30

187.33

campake campakābhā syādaśoke śokavarjitā.
madhūke madhuraṃ vakti vaṭe ca mṛdugātrikā.. 187.31

187.34

badarī sarvadā strīṇāṃ mahāsaubhāgyadāyinī.
kukkuṭī karkaṭī caiva dravyaṣaṣṭhī na śasyate .. 187.32

187.35

kadambamiśrakanaka mañjarī pūjanaṃ tathā.
anagnipakvamannañca pakvānnānāmabhakṣaṇam.. 187.33

187.36

phalānāñca parityāgaḥ sandhyā maunaṃ tathaiva ca.
prathamaṃ kṣetrapālasya pūjā kāryā prayatnataḥ .. 187.34

187.37

tasyā bhavati vai bhartā mukhaprekṣaḥ sadānaghe!.
aṣṭamī ca caturthī ca pañcamī dvādaśī tathā .. 187.35

187.38

saṃkrāntirviṣuvaccaiva dinacchidra mukhaṃ tathā.
etāṃstu divasān divyānupavāsanti yāḥ striyaḥ
tāsāntu dharmmayuktānāṃ svargavāso na saṃśayaḥ .. 187.36

187.39

kalikāluṣyanirmuktāḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ.
upavāsaratāṃ nārīṃ nopasarpati tāṃ yamaḥ .. 187.37

187.40

anaupamyovāca.
asmatkṛtena puṇyena purājanmakṛtena vā.
bhavadāgamanaṃ bhūtaṃ kiñcit pṛcchāmyahaṃ vratam.. 187.38

Anaupamyā said —"It is owing to the virtues performed in the past that you have graced our home with your august presence and I venture to enquire about other ordinances from you Vindhyābalī the renowned queen of the king Balī is my mother-in law She is never pleased with me, and same is the case with my father in law The vicious Kumbhīnasī is my lord’s sister who always treats me with contempt How can I be happy under such circumstances? Pray let me know by what ordinance they would turn friendly to me for which I shall remain very grateful to you —38 42

187.41

asti vindhyāvalirnāma balipatnī yaśasvinī.
śvaśrūrmamāpi viprendra! na tuṣyati kadācana .. 187.39

187.42

śvaśuro'pi sarvakālaṃ dṛṣṭvā cāpi na paśyati.
astikumbhīnasī nāma nanāndā pāpakāriṇī .. 187.40

187.43

dṛṣṭvā caivāṅgulībhaṃgaṃ sadā kālaṃ karoti ca.
divyena tu pathā yāti mama saukhyaṃ kathaṃ vada .. 187.41

187.44

ūṣareṇa prarohanti bījaṃ kuryāt kathaṃcana.
yena vratena cīrṇena bhavanti vaśagā mama ..
tadvrataṃ brūhi viprendra! dāsabhāvaṃ vrajāmi te .. 187.42

187.45

nārada uvāca.
yadetatte mayā pūrvaṃ vratamuktaṃ śubhānane!
anena pārvatī devī cīrṇena varavarṇini! .. 187.43

Nārada said —“ By observing the ordinance just explained to you, Pāravatī became so dear to Śiva, and similarly Lakṣmī has become so dear to Viṣṇu, and Sarasvatī has become endeared to Brahmā and Arundhatī to Vasiṣṭha Your lord will also become beholden to you by keeping up the very same ordinance and your father in law and mother in law will also be silenced ”—43-45

187.46

śaṅkarasya śarīrasthā viṣṇorlakṣmīstathaiva ca.
sāvitrī brahmaṇaścaiva vasiṣṭhasyāpyarundhatī .. 187.44

187.47

etenopoṣiteneha bhartā sthāsyati te vaśe.
śvaśrū śvaśurayoścaiva mukhabandho bhaviṣyati .. 187.45

187.48

evaṃ śrutvā tu suśroṇi yatheṣṭaṃ kartumarhasi.
nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājñī vacanamabravīt .. 187.46

Hearing such words of Nārada, that queen determined to observe that ordinance and said —“ Be pleased upon me, O sage ! I shall offer you presents of gold, jewels, garments, which be pleased to accept Let Lords Viṣṇu and Śiva be pleased upon me ”—46-48

187.49

prasādaṃ kuru viprendra! dānaṃ grāhyaṃ yathepsitam.
suvarṇamaṇiratnāni vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca .. 187.47

187.50

tava dāsyāmyahaṃ vipra! yaccānyadapi durlabham.
pragṛhāṇa dvijaśreṣṭha! prīyetāṃ hariśaṅkarau .. 187.48

187.51

nārada uvāca.
anyasmai dīyatāṃ bhadre! kṣīṇavṛttistu yo dvijaḥ.
ahantu sarvasampanno madbhaktiḥ kriyatāmiti .. 187.49

Nārada said —“ Lady! you should bestow these presents on some Brāhmaṇa who may be poor and in need of support I am blessed with everything and you ought to show only your devotion to me”—49

187.52

evaṃ tāsāṃ mano hṛtvā sarvāsāntu pativratāḥ.
jagāma bharata śreṣṭha! svakīyaṃ sthānakaṃ punaḥ .. 187.50

In such a way Nārada after having softened the minds of all the ladies in Tripura returned to his abode and a breach was thus created in Tripura—50-51

187.53

tato hyahṛṣṭadayā anyato gatamānasā.
pure chidraṃ samutpannaṃ bāṇasya tu mahātmanaḥ .. 187.51

187.54

narmadāmāhātmye jvāleśvaratīrthamāhātmyavarṇanam.
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca.
narmadā tu nadī śreṣṭhā puṇyāt puṇyatamāhitā.
munibhistu mahābhāgairvibhaktā mokṣakāṃkṣibhiḥ .. 187.1 ..

187.55

yajñopavītamātrāṇi pravibhaktāni pāṇḍava.
teṣu snātvā tu rājendra! sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate .. 187.2 ..

187.56

ja(jvā)leśvaraṃ parantīrthaṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam.
tasyotpattiṃ kathayataḥ śruṇu tvaṃ pāṇḍunandana! .. 187.3 ..

187.57

purā munigaṇāḥ sarve sendrāścaiva marudgaṇāḥ.
bhayodvignā virūpākṣaṃ paritrāyasva na prabho! .. 187.4 ..

187.58

śrībhagavānuvāca.
svāgataṃ tu suraśreṣṭhāḥ! kimarthamiha cāgatāḥ.
kiṃ duḥkhaṃ ko nu santāpaḥ kuto vā bhayamāgatam .. 187.5 ..

187.59

kathayadhvaṃ mahābhāgāḥ evamicchāmi veditum.
evamuktāstu rudreṇa kathayan saṃśitavratāḥ .. 187.6 ..

187.60

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ.
ativīryyo mahāghoro dānavo baladarpitaḥ.
bāṇo nāmeti vikhyāto yasya vai tripuraṃ puram .. 187.7 ..

187.61

gagane satataṃ divyaṃ bhramate tasya tejasā!
tato bhītā virūpākṣa! tvāmeva śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ .. 187.8 ..

187.62

trāyasva mahato duḥkhāt tvaṃ hi naḥ paramā gatiḥ.
evaṃ prasādaṃ deveśa! sarveṣāṃ kartumarhasi .. 187.9 ..

187.63

yena devāḥ sagandharvāḥ sukhamedhanti śaṅkara!.
parāṃ nirvṛtimāyānti tatprabho! kartumarhasi .. 187.10 ..

187.64

śrībhagavānuvāca.
etat sarvaṃ kariṣyāmi mā viṣādaṃ gamiṣyatha.
acireṇaiva kālena kuryyāṃ yuṣmat sukhāvaham .. 187.11 ..

187.65

āśvāsya sa tu tān sarvvānnarmadā taṭamāśritaḥ.
cintayāmāsa deveśastadvadhaṃ pratimānada! .. 187.12 ..

187.66

atha kena prakāreṇa hantavyaṃ tripuraṃ mayā.
paraṃ saṃcintya bhagavān nāradaṃ cāsmarattadā.
smaraṇādeva! saṃprāpto nāradaḥ samupasthitaḥ .. 187.13 ..

187.67

nārada uvāca.
ājñāpaya mahādeva! kimarthañca smṛto hyaham.
kiṃ kāryyantu mayā deva! kartavyaṃ kathayasva me .. 187.14 ..

187.68

śrībhagavānuvāca.
gaccha nārada! tatraiva yatra tattripuraṃ mahat.
bāṇasya dānavendrasya śīghraṃ gatvā ca tatkuru .. 187.15 ..

187.69

yā bhartṛdevatāstatra striyaścāpsarasāṃ samāḥ.
tāsāṃ vai tejasā vipra! bhramate tripurandivi .. 187.16 ..

187.70

tatra gatvā tu viprendra! matimanyāṃ prabodhaya.
devasya vacanaṃ śrutvā munistvaritavikramaḥ .. 187.17 ..

187.71

strīṇāṃ hṛdayanāśāya praviṣṭastat puraṃ prati.
śobhate tatpuraṃ divyaṃ nānāratnopaśobhitam .. 187.18 ..

187.72

śatayojanavistīrṇaṃ tato dviguṇamāyatam.
tato'paśyaddhi tatraiva bāṇantu baladarpitam .. 187.19 ..

187.73

maṇikuṇḍalakeyūra mukuṭena virājitam.
hāradorasuvarṇaiśca candrakāntavibhūṣitam .. 187.20 ..

187.74

raśanā tasya ratnāḍhyā bāhū kanakamaṇḍitau.
candrakāntamahāvajramaṇividrumabhūṣite .. 187.21 ..

187.75

dvādaśārkadyutinibhe niviṣṭaṃ paramātmane.
utthito nāradaṃ dṛṣṭvā dānavendro mahābalaḥ .. 187.22 ..

187.76

bāṇa uvāca.
devarṣe! tvaṃ svayaṃ prāpto arghyaṃ pādyaṃ nivedaye.
so'bhivādya yathānyāyaṃ kriyatāṃ kiṃ dvijottama! .. 187.23 ..

187.77

cirāttvamāgato vipra! sthīyatāmidamāsanam.
evaṃ sambhāṣayitvā tu nāradaṃ ṛṣisattamam
tasya bhāryā mahādevī hyanaupamyā tu nāmataḥ .. 187.24 ..

187.78

anaupamyovāca.
bhagavan. kena dharmeṇa devāstuṣyanti nārada!.
vratena niyamenātha dānena tapasāpi vā .. 187.25 ..

187.79

nāradaḥ uvāca.
tiladhenuñca yo dadyād brāhmaṇe vedapārage.
sasāgaravanadvīpā dattā bhavati medinī .. 187.26 ..

187.80

sūryakoṭipratīkāśaiḥ vimānaiḥ sārvakāmikaiḥ.
modate suciraṃ kālamakṣayaṃ kṛtaśāsanam .. 187.27 ..

187.81

āmrāmala kapitthāni badarāṇi tathaiva ca.
kadambacampakāśokānanekavividhadrumān .. 187.28 ..

187.82

aśvatthapippalāṃ ścaiva kadalīvaṭadāḍimān.
picumandaṃ madhūkaṃ ca upoṣya strī dadāti yā .. 187.29 ..

187.83

stanau kapitthasadṛśāvurū ca kadalīsamau.
aśvatthe vandanīyā ca picumande sugandhinī .. 187.30 ..

187.84

campake campakābhā syādaśoke śokavarjitā.
madhūke madhuraṃ vakti vaṭe ca mṛdugātrikā.. 187.31 ..

187.85

badarī sarvadā strīṇāṃ mahāsaubhāgyadāyinī.
kukkuṭī karkaṭī caiva dravyaṣaṣṭhī na śasyate .. 187.32 ..

187.86

kadambamiśrakanaka mañjarī pūjanaṃ tathā.
anagnipakvamannañca pakvānnānāmabhakṣaṇam.. 187.33 ..

187.87

phalānāñca parityāgaḥ sandhyā maunaṃ tathaiva ca.
prathamaṃ kṣetrapālasya pūjā kāryā prayatnataḥ .. 187.34 ..

187.88

tasyā bhavati vai bhartā mukhaprekṣaḥ sadānaghe!.
aṣṭamī ca caturthī ca pañcamī dvādaśī tathā .. 187.35 ..

187.89

saṃkrāntirviṣuvaccaiva dinacchidra mukhaṃ tathā.
etāṃstu divasān divyānupavāsanti yāḥ striyaḥ
tāsāntu dharmmayuktānāṃ svargavāso na saṃśayaḥ .. 187.36 ..

187.90

kalikāluṣyanirmuktāḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ.
upavāsaratāṃ nārīṃ nopasarpati tāṃ yamaḥ .. 187.37 ..

187.91

anaupamyovāca.
asmatkṛtena puṇyena purājanmakṛtena vā.
bhavadāgamanaṃ bhūtaṃ kiñcit pṛcchāmyahaṃ vratam.. 187.38 ..

187.92

asti vindhyāvalirnāma balipatnī yaśasvinī.
śvaśrūrmamāpi viprendra! na tuṣyati kadācana .. 187.39 ..

187.93

śvaśuro'pi sarvakālaṃ dṛṣṭvā cāpi na paśyati.
astikumbhīnasī nāma nanāndā pāpakāriṇī .. 187.40 ..

187.94

dṛṣṭvā caivāṅgulībhaṃgaṃ sadā kālaṃ karoti ca.
divyena tu pathā yāti mama saukhyaṃ kathaṃ vada .. 187.41 ..

187.95

ūṣareṇa prarohanti bījaṃ kuryāt kathaṃcana.
yena vratena cīrṇena bhavanti vaśagā mama ..
tadvrataṃ brūhi viprendra! dāsabhāvaṃ vrajāmi te .. 187.42 ..

187.96

nārada uvāca.
yadetatte mayā pūrvaṃ vratamuktaṃ śubhānane!
anena pārvatī devī cīrṇena varavarṇini! .. 187.43 ..

187.97

śaṅkarasya śarīrasthā viṣṇorlakṣmīstathaiva ca.
sāvitrī brahmaṇaścaiva vasiṣṭhasyāpyarundhatī .. 187.44 ..

187.98

etenopoṣiteneha bhartā sthāsyati te vaśe.
śvaśrū śvaśurayoścaiva mukhabandho bhaviṣyati .. 187.45 ..

187.99

evaṃ śrutvā tu suśroṇi yatheṣṭaṃ kartumarhasi.
nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājñī vacanamabravīt .. 187.46 ..

187.100

prasādaṃ kuru viprendra! dānaṃ grāhyaṃ yathepsitam.
suvarṇamaṇiratnāni vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca .. 187.47 ..

187.101

tava dāsyāmyahaṃ vipra! yaccānyadapi durlabham.
pragṛhāṇa dvijaśreṣṭha! prīyetāṃ hariśaṅkarau .. 187.48 ..

187.102

nārada uvāca.
anyasmai dīyatāṃ bhadre! kṣīṇavṛttistu yo dvijaḥ.
ahantu sarvasampanno madbhaktiḥ kriyatāmiti .. 187.49 ..

187.103

evaṃ tāsāṃ mano hṛtvā sarvāsāntu pativratāḥ.
jagāma bharata śreṣṭha! svakīyaṃ sthānakaṃ punaḥ .. 187.50 ..

187.104

tato hyahṛṣṭadayā anyato gatamānasā.
pure chidraṃ samutpannaṃ bāṇasya tu mahātmanaḥ .. 187.51 ..