Revākhaṇḍa ascribed to the Vāyupurāṇa (RKV) 73
English (machine translation) 73
- Language
- English
Contents
- 73.23 — 2 parts
73.1
The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / On the southern bank of the Narmadā is an exceedingly beautiful pilgrimage place / that removes all sins, O son of Pṛthā: the excellent Gopāreśvara. / The liṅga emerged from the body of a cow, sacred on the face of the earth, O king.
73.2
Yudhiṣṭhira said: / Why did the liṅga that brings about destruction of sin emerge from the body of a cow / on the southern bank of the Narmadā near Maṇināga? / Tell me in brief, O twice-born, the origin of Gopāreśvara.
73.3
The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Long ago, Kāmadhenu performed austerities there, O son of Pṛthā. / She meditated with supreme devotion on Maheśvara, the god of gods.
73.4
Maheśvara, the lord of the world, was pleased with her, the brown cow [Kapilā]. / The indivisible Supreme Lord emerged from the middle of her body.
73.5
[Śiva said:] "I am pleased, O goddess, mother of the universe, Kapilā, Supreme Mistress! / Tell me quickly, fair-faced one, why this worship was performed!"
73.6
Surabhi said: / I was created by the Creator for the benefit of the worlds; / all works of the worlds are accomplished through my grace.
73.7
People will go to heaven by my grace, O Śaṅkara. / In this pilgrimage place, be [present] for me, O Śambhu, out of desire for the welfare of the worlds.
73.8
Having said "So be it," the Lord dwelt joyfully in that pilgrimage place. / From that time on, that pilgrimage place became renowned on the face of the earth; / by a single sacred bath, O king of kings, it removes a mass of sins.
73.9
He who with devotion causes the gift of a cow to be made at Gopāreśvara / should give a suitable cow, accompanied with gold, to a worthy excellent twice-born.
73.10
One should cause [a cow] with a calf, young, white, yielding abundant milk, and draped with cloth, / to be given on the fourteenth or the eighth day of the dark fortnight.
73.11
In all months, and especially in Kārttika, / one should cause it to be given with supreme devotion to a twice-born devoted to Vedic study.
73.12
He who gives according to rule, and he who receives according to rule— / both of them are performers of meritorious acts, and a spectator becomes a receptacle of religious merit.
73.13
He who, endowed with devotion, performs the offering of rice-balls for the departed spirits— / by a single rice-ball, O king of kings, the departed spirits attain the supreme state.
73.14
Those who day after day make obeisance to Rudra with devotion— / their sin dissolves away just like water in a broken vessel.
73.15
O king, he who releases a bull at that pilgrimage place, / his ancestors are delivered by him, and he is glorified in the world of Śiva.
73.16
Yudhiṣṭhira said: / Whatever fruit arises for men when the release of a bull is performed, dear one, / tell all that quickly with diligence, O best of the twice-born!
73.17
The venerable Mārkaṇḍeya said: / Whatever fruit [is obtained] when a bull is endowed with all auspicious marks, / that I shall declare; listen, O son of Dharma!
73.18
In Kārttika and in Vaiśākha, on the full moon day, O ruler of men, / having approached the presence of Rudra, pure, having bathed, with senses restrained,
73.19
one should cause the release of a bull to be performed, saying: "May Hara be pleased!" / In its presence, my son, one should cause four auspicious heifer calves
73.20
endowed with all marks to be given to an eminent twice-born, / [saying:] "May Mahādeva, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara be pleased!"
73.21
Whatever number of hairs are on the bull's entire limbs, O ruler of men, / for that measure of years he is glorified in the world of Śiva.
73.22
Having dwelt in the world of Śiva, when he is born among mortals, / his birth takes place in a great family full of wealth and grain.
73.23
He is free from disease, handsome, rich in learning, truthful in speech, and pure. / The glorification of Gopāreśvara has been told by me, Yudhiṣṭhira: / the liṅga that emerged from the body of a cow on the southern bank of the Narmadā.
73.23.p1
|| Thus ends the seventy-third chapter, titled "Description of the Glorification of Gopāreśvara", in the Revākhaṇḍa of the fifth book, the Āvantyakhaṇḍa, in the Mahāpurāṇa of eighty-one thousand verses ascribed to Skanda
73.23.p2
RKV chapter 74
Linked texts (1)
- Revākhaṇḍa (Vāyupurāṇa) — Sanskrit