Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2296

c8.2296

Once the sage Durvāsas with his body smeared with ashes and wearing sacred berries went to Pitṛloka muttering “Śivaśaṅkara sarvātman śrīmātar bhuvaneśvari”. The lord of the Pitṛloka received him with respect and worshipped him. While they were talking, Durvāsas heard cries of agony from somewhere and the sage then asked Pitṛnātha thus: “Oh lord of the Pitṛs, I have heard you described as a very virtuous man. How can then such painful cries of distress be heard here? “Oh, I am dying beaten”, “Oh, I am being killed” “Oh, I am dying” and “Oh, I am being burnt” are some of the woeful shrieks I hear. What is the reason for this?”