Matsya Purana 194: adhyāyaḥ 194

194.1

narmadāmāhātmye nānāvidhatīrthamāhātmyavarṇanam.

Mârkandeya said:—King ! the devotee should next visit the Aṅkuśeśvara tîrtha, by means of which he becomes freed from all sins. Then Narmadeśvara tîrtha should be visited by bathing where one goes to heaven. Afterwards a visit should be paid to Aśva tîrtha by bathing there one becomes handsome and full of lustre.—1-3

194.2

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca.
tato gacchettu rājendra! hyaṅkuśekharamuttamam.
darśanāttasya devasya mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ .. 194.1

194.3

tato gacchecca rājendra! narmadeśvaramuttamam.
tatra snātvā naro rājan! svargaloke mahīyate .. 194.2

194.4

aśvatīrthaṃ tato gacchet snānaṃ tatra samācaret.
subhago darśanīyaśca bhogavān jāyate naraḥ .. 194.3

194.5

pitāmahaṃ tato gacchet brahmaṇā nirmitaṃ purā.
tatra snātvā naro bhaktyā pitṛpiṇḍantu dāpayet .. 194.4

The Pitâmaha tîrtha made by Brahmâ where the merits accruing from the libations to the manes performed devoutfully with sesamum and Kuśa become infinitely multiplied. One who bathes at the Sâvitrî-tîrtha goes to the domain of Brahmâ after being liberated from his sins.—4-6

194.6

tiladarbhavimiśrantu hyudakaṃ tatra dāpayet.
tasya tīrthaprabhāveṇa sarvaṃ bhavati cākṣayam .. 194.5

194.7

sāvitrī tīrthamāsādya yastu snānaṃ samācaret.
vidhūya sarvapāpāni brahmaloke mahīyate .. 194.6

194.8

manoharaṃ tato gacchet tīrthaṃ paramaśobhanam.
tatra snātvā naro rājan! pitṛloke mahīyate .. 194.7

Those who bathe at the sacred Manohara tîrtha go to the realm of the Pitṛis.—7

194.9

tato gacchettu rājendra! mānasaṃ tīrthamuttamam.
tatra snātvā naro rājan! rudraloke mahīyate .. 194.8

Afterwards Mânasa tîrtha should be visited, by bathing there one goes to Rudraloka.—8

194.10

tato gacchecca rājendra! kuñjatīrthamanuttamam.
vikhyātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu sarvapāpapraṇāśanam .. 194.9

Then Kuñja tîrtha should be visited which is also renowned in all the three worlds as the dispeller of all ills. There one gets live stock, son, wealth and in fact anything that he desires for.—9-10

194.11

yānyānkāmayate kāmān paśuputradhanāni ca.
prāpnuyāttāni sarvāṇi tatra snātvā narādhipa .. 194.10

194.12

tato gacchettu rājendra! tridaśajyoti viśrutam.
yatra tā ṛṣikanyāstu tapo'tapyanta suvratāḥ .. 194.11

Then Tridaśajyotî tîrtha where the daughters of the Ṛiṣis practised severe austerities, should be visited. By the pleasure of the Lord Mahâdeva all those girls were blessed to have Lord Kṛiṣṇa as their husband. Beyond it is the Ṛiṣikanyâ tîrtha where once upon a time some one was asking for a girl from a Ṛiṣi where he was ultimately married to her. One who bathes there is freed from all sins. Further on is the Svarṇavindu tîrtha by bathing where one does not undergo any reverse of fortune. Then comes the Apsareśa tîrtha where one should go and bathe, by virtue of which he goes to Nâgaloka and enjoys there in company of the nymphs. Then the Naraka tîrtha should be visited where by bathing and worshipping Śiva one does not go to hell. One who observes a fast at Bhârabhûtitîrtha and then worships Śiva, goes to Rudraloka Those who bathe at Bhârabhûti become the attendant of Śiva after their death—11 20

194.13

bhartā bhavatu sarvāsāmīśvaraḥ prabhuravyayaḥ.
prītastāsāṃ mahādevo daṇḍarūpadharo haraḥ .. 194.12

194.14

vikṛtānanabībhatsurvratī tīrthamupāgataḥ.
tatra kanyāṃ mahārāja! varayan parameśvaraḥ .. 194.13

194.15

kanyāṃ ṛṣervarayataḥ kanyādānaṃ pradīyatām.
tīrthaṃ tatra mahārāja! ṛṣikanyeti viśrutam .. 194.14

194.16

tatra snātvā naro rājan! sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate.
tato gacchecca rājendra! svarṇavindutviti smṛtam .. 194.15

194.17

tatra snātvā naro rājan! durgatiṃ na ca paśyati.
apsareśaṃ tato gacchet snānaṃ tatra samācaret .. 194.16

194.18

krīḍate nāgalokastho hyapsaraiḥ saha modate.
tato gacchettu rājendra! narakaṃ tīrthamuttamam .. 194.17

194.19

tatra snātvārcayeddevaṃ narakaṃ ca na paśyati.
bhārabhūti tato gacchedupavāsaparo janaḥ .. 194.18

194.20

etattīrthaṃ samāsādya cāvatāraṃ tu śāmbhavam.
arcayitvā virūpākṣaṃ rudraloke mahīyate .. 194.19

194.21

asmistīrthe naraḥ snātvā bhārabhūtau mahātmanaḥ.
yatra tatra mṛtasyāpi dhruvaṃ gāṇeśvarī gatiḥ .. 194.20

194.22

kārtikasya tu māsasya hyarcayitvā maheśvaram.
aśvamedhāddaśaguṇaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ .. 194.21

On the 14th day in the month of Kârtika one who worships Śiva there gets ten times the merits of having performed the Aśvamedha sacrifice. Those who lit up a hundred wicks in lamps filled with clarified butter ascend to the realm of Śiva seated in a chariot shining like the sun—21 22

194.23

dīpakānāṃ śataṃ tatra ghṛtapūrṇantu dāpayet.
vimānaiḥ sūryyasaṅkāśairvrajate yatra śaṅkaraḥ .. 194.22

194.24

vṛṣabhaṃ yaḥ prayacchettu śaṅkhakundendusaprabham.
vṛṣayuktena yānena rudralokaṃ sa gacchati .. 194.23

One who gives away a couch and a bull goes to Rudraloka seated in a chariot drawn by bulls One who gives away a cow in charity and feeds the Brâhmaṇas with rice cooked in milk and sugar according to his means gets incalculable benefits—23-25

194.25

dhenumekāntu yo dadyāttasmiṃstīrthe narādhipa.
pāyasaṃ madhusaṃyuktaṃ bhakṣyāṇi vividhāni ca .. 194.24

194.26

yathāśaktyā ca rājendra! brāhmaṇān bhojayettataḥ.
tasya tīrthaprabhāveṇa sarvaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet .. 194.25

194.27

narmmadāyā jalaṃ pītvā hyarcayitvā vṛṣadhvajam.
durgatiñca na paśyati tasmiṃstīrthe narādhipa! .. 194.26

One who worships Śiva and drinks the water of the sacred Narmadâ never fares ill He goes to Rudraloka seated in a Vimâna and resides in heaven till the existence of the Moon, the Sun, the Himâlaya the ocean, and the Ganges One who keeps up a fast there is never subjected to the trial of births Afterwards Âsadhî tîrtha should be visited, by bathing where one becomes entitled to occupy half the throne of Indra by his side Then Strî tîrtha the dispeller of all ills should be visited, by bathing where one undoubtedly becomes Gaṇeśvara The confluence of Eraṇḍî and the Narmadâ is renowned in all the three worlds where by bathing and observing a fast one becomes freed from the sins of having killed a Brâhmaṇa Then the sacred Jâmadagnya at the confluence of the Narmadâ and the ocean should be visited There Lord Janârdana attained siddhi and Indra became the Lord of the Devas by performing a series of sacrifices One who bathes there gets three times the benefits of having performed the Aśvamedha sacrifice—26 35

194.28

haṃsayuktena yānena rudralokaṃ sa gacchati.
yāvaccandraśca sūryaśca himavāṃśca mahodadhiḥ .. 194.27

194.29

gaṅgādyāḥ sarito yāvattāvat svarge mahīyate.
anāśakantu yaḥ kuryāttasmiṃstīrthe narādhipa .. 194.28

194.30

garbhavāse tu rājendra! na punarjāyate pumān.
tato gacchettu rājendra! āṣāḍhī tīrthamuttamam .. 194.29

194.31

tatra snātvā naro rājannindrasyārddhāsanaṃ labhet.
striyāstīrthaṃ tato gacchet sarvapāpapraṇāśanam .. 194.30

194.32

tatrāpi snātamātrasya dhruvaṃ gāṇeśvarī gatiḥ.
airaṇḍīnarmmadāyośca saṅgamaṃ lokaviśrutam .. 194.31

194.33

tacca tīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśanam.
upavāsaparo bhūtvā nityavrataparāyaṇaḥ .. 194.32

194.34

tatra snātvā tu rājendra! mucyate brahmahatyayā.
tato gacchecca rājendra! narmmado dadhisaṅgamam .. 194.33

194.35

jāmadagnyamiti khyātaṃ siddho yatra janārdanaḥ.
yatreṣṭvā bahubhiryajñairindro devādhipo'bhavat .. 194.34

194.36

tatra snātvā tu rājendra! narmmado dadhisaṅgame.
triguṇaṃ cāśvamedhasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ .. 194.35

194.37

paścimasyodadheḥ sandhau svargadvāravighaṭṭanam.
tatra devāḥ sagandharvā ṛṣayaḥ siddhacāraṇāḥ .. 194.36

On the western boundary of the ocean lies the Svargadvâra tîrtha where the Devas the Siddhas the Gandharvas the Ṛiṣis and the Châraṇas worship the Lord Vimaleśvara Those who bathe there go to Rudraloka. There is no higher tîrtha than Vimaleśvara Those who keep up a fast and then adore Mahâdeva at Vimaleśvara are freed from the sins of the past seven lives and go to heaven Then the sacred Kauśikî tîrtha should be visited where one should keep up a fast for the night after having a bath By the power of this tîrtha the sin of having slain a Brâhmaṇa is dispelled By the mere sight of Lord Sâgareśa one gets the benefit of having sprinkled himself with the sacred waters of all the tîrthas There the Lord Mahâdeva resides within an area of a yojana Merely by the sight of Him one gets the merit of having visited all the sacred places—36-42

194.38

ārādhayanti deveśaṃ trisandhyaṃ vimaleśvaram.
tatra snātvā naro rājan! rudraloke mahīyate .. 194.37

194.39

vimaleśaṃ paraṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati.
tatropavāsaṃ kṛtvā ye paśyanti vimaleśvaram .. 194.38

194.40

saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ hitvā yāntyamarālayam.
tato gacchettu rājendra! kauśikī tīrthamuttamam .. 194.39

194.41

tatra snātvā naro rājan upavāsaparāyaṇaḥ.
upoṣya rajanīmekāṃ niyato niyatāśanaḥ .. 194.40

194.42

etattīrthaprabhāveṇa mucyate brahmahatyayā.
sarvatīrthābhiṣekantu yaḥ paśyet sāgareśvaram .. 194.41

194.43

yojanābhyantare tiṣṭhannāvartte saṃsthitaḥ śivaḥ.
taṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvatīrthāni dṛṣṭānyeva na saṃśayaḥ .. 194.42

194.44

sarvapāpavinirmukto yatra rudraḥ sa gacchati.
narmmadāsaṅgamaṃ yāvad yāvaccāmarakaṇṭakam .. 194.43

After being freed from all sins the devotee goes to Rudraloka Ten crores of tîrthas are said to lie between the confluence of the Narmadâ and the Amarkaṇṭaka, and Ṛiṣis reside in each of them—43-11

194.45

atrāntare mahārāja! tīrthakoṭyo daśasmṛtāḥ.
tīrthāttīrthāntaraṃ yatra ṛṣikoṭi niṣevitam .. 194.44

194.46

sāgnihotraistu vidvadbhiḥ sarvairdhyānaparāyaṇaiḥ.
sevitānena rājendra! tvīpsitārthapradāyikā .. 194.45

The Narmadâ has been resorted to by the Agnihotrîs and learned men This river is the giver of one's wishes. One who would devoutfully read or listen to the glory of it would get the merit of having sprinkled on him the sacred waters of all the tîrthas, and would please the Narmadâ, Mârkandeya and Mahâdeva—45 47

194.47

yastvidaṃ vai paṭhennityaṃ śṛṇuyādvāpi bhāvataḥ.
tasya tīrthāni sarvāṇi hyabhiṣiñcanti pāṇḍava! .. 194.46

194.48

narmmadā ca sadā prītā bhavedvai nātra saṃśyaḥ.
prītastasya bhavedrudro mārkaṇḍeyo mahāmuniḥ .. 194.47

194.49

vandhyā caiva labhet putrān durbhagā subhagā bhavet.
kanyā labheta bhartāraṃ yaśca vāñchet tu yat phalam .. 194.48

By listening to its glory a barren woman begets children a maid gets a handsome husband, the Brâhmaṇa becomes versed in the Vedas, the unlucky becomes lucky, the Kṣatriya becomes in war victorious, the Vaiśya becomes wealthy, the Śûdra attains emancipation from bondage, and the idiot becomes learned One who hears it never suffers the pangs of separation and hell.—48-50

194.50

tadeva labhate sarvaṃ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā.
brāhmaṇo vedamāpnoti kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet .. 194.49

194.51

vaiśyastu labhate lābhaṃ śūdraḥ prāpnoti sadgatim.
mūrkhastu labhate vidyāṃ trisandhyaṃ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ.
narakañca na paśyettu viyogañca na gacchati .. 194.50