Kasi, Gokarna, Shivakanci, Tirthasaptaka and Bhimakuiida

1-8. O king Sibi, listen. I am describing to you the excellent, meritorious greatness of Kasi giving success and long life. O king, formerly in the auspicious Krtayuga there was a tree called sirhsapa in Kasi situated on the slope of Indraprastha. There was a crow that had made its nest on the tree; and below it in the hollow (of the tree) lived a great serpent. Once his wife laid a couple of eggs in the nest and went somewhere. She did not come back to her nest. O king, that crow took care of the couple of eggs; lived high up on that sirhsapa tree only. Once at night a great storm came and it broke the sirhsapa tree from its root though strong. Then at the root of the sirhsapa tree shattered by the storm, the crow and the serpent were crushed and died. The tree, sirhsapa tree, (the serpent and) the crow etc. had divine bodies, and getting into three aeroplanes, went to Vishnu's abode. Sibf said:

9. O divine sage, due to what religious merit did they reach the city giving salvation? Who were they before that? Tell (me) all that, O Narada. Narada Said:

10-14. There was a brahmana named Sravana in the Kurujarigala country. His wife was Kunda by name, and his brother was Kurantaka. That Sravana ate, without having bathed (first), sweetmeats. Due to that sin he became (i.e. was born as) a village crow. His brother Kurantaka was a strong atheist. He stopped (following) the path laid down by Srutis and Smrtis, and censured deities. Due to that fault he became a deadly serpent after his death. Sravana's wife Kunda shared the sins of both (of them). Therefore, she got the condition of an immobile object (viz. the tree) which was resorted to by both (Sravana and Kurantaka). O king, I have told you this that happened in their former existence.

15-20. Hereafter I shall tell you about their religious merit due to which they reached the charming city of the lord of the world, viz. Kasi, O king. Once they were returning home from another village. Seeing the cow of a traveller fallen into a well and being urged by him they took her out. Hearing what they told, Kunda said:'Well (done).'Due to that religious merit they met with death at Kasi, on the slope of Indraprastha, which is difficult to have, and went up to Vaikuntha. O king, I have told you this excellent greatness of Kasi. Tell me what else you desire to hear.

21-22. O sage, you mentioned three holy places of Shiva: Kasi and Shivakanci, and the other (i.e. the third) one, viz. Gokarna. O great sage, you have told me the greatness of one viz. Kasi, Tell me, if there is any, the greatness of Gokarna and Shivakanci. Narada said:

23-30. O king, Gokarna is a very purifying holy place of Shiva only. A man dying there would be Shiva; there is no doubt about it. If a being would die thereon land, in water or in the air, he after becoming Shiva, shines on the peak of Kailasa. One dying here at the holy place of Gokarna is not born again. Shining like Shiva, one obtains salvation at any time. O king, O lord, O very intelligent one, I shall describe to you the greatness of this Gokarna also, which I had heard from Brahma's mouth. This frontier mountain of a meritorious appearance is seen near Gurutirtha at a distance of two miles from Prayaga. On it was a very cruel bhilla named Karkata. His wife was Jara by name. She had killed (her) five husbands. That Jara prepared a sweetmeat (mixed) with poison to kill Karkata, (her) sixth husband. The noble bhilla heard about it from the mouth of his sister. That very cruel Karkata set about killing that young woman.

31-39a. When the king of the bhillas, with a sword in his hand, came to kill her, she, realising that he was ready to kill her, went (away). Being frightened and desiring (to save) her life she ran to a forest. That Karkata, with a sword in his hand, seized her here at the holy place of Gokarna. Having cut off her head with the sword, and having dropped her body into the water of the holy place Gokarna, he went to his place. That sinful Jara also mot with death there at Gokarna. She became the friend of Parvati on the peak of Kailasa. I have told you this glory of Gokarna. I shall describe to you the holy greatness of Shivakaficl. O lord, the same bliss which I told (is obtained) in Gokarna is also obtained in Shivakaficl situated on the slope of Indraprastha. Here god Shiva, on propitiating Vishnu, the lord of all gods, obtained the status of the chief devotee and metaphysical knowledge.

Therefore, we all, the sons of Brahman, always propitiate him, with a desire to get good devotion and knowledge.

39b-48. O king, here the demon Bana, observing a fast, propitiated Mahesvara for a hundred years with a desire to have qualities like him. The god was pleased with him and gave him the status of his attendant. And he himself became forever the protector of his city. O king, this city formerly belonged to the magnanimous Vishnu. Vishnu, pleased with the penance of Shiva, gave it to him. Here formerly a very wonderful event took place. A brahmana, a devotee of S*iva, reached Vaikuntha here. O king, there was a religious brahmana by name Heramba. With his body, mind and words he was always engaged in worshipping Shiva. O king Sibi, once the noble one, Suva's devotee, while visiting places holy to Shiva, came here to Shivakancl. The intelligent one did not leave this charming (holy place). Later he died in its water. There only the attendants of Mahadeva (i.e. Shiva) took the best brahmana and proceeded to the Kailasa mountain by his (i.e. Shiva's) order. In the middle came the attendants of Vishnu from Vaikuntha. They forcibly set out to take that best brahmana from them. There was a great battle between the attendants of Vishnu and Shiva.

49-56. In that battle none got victory or defeat. Vishnu, seated on Garuda, came there from Vaikuntha. Shiva, the supporter of the three worlds, seated on his bull, also (came) there from Kailasa. Then the two looking at each other's face, laughed (i.e. smiled) and only watched the great battle waged by their attendants in the sky. Then Vishnu warded his own attendants and those of Shiva off the battle in the sky, and putting the brahmana on Garuda, Vishnu went to Shiva's abode, surrounded by Shiva, Shiva's attendants and his own attendants. The glorious one while going along the way was saluted by gods. Led by Shiva he entered his abode, showing the brahmana the beauty of it. Then from that Kailasa, Vishnu, saluted by Shiva with great devotion went to Vaikuntha. The glorious brahmana also obtained the sight of Vishnu due to the grace of this holy place and enjoyed in the vicinity of Vishnu. O king, I have told you this grandeur of Shivakanci.

57-64. Listen very attentively to (the holy place) named TIrthasaptaka. O great king, this holy place gives the fruit of the four goals of human life (to one who) visits it, comes in its contact, thinks about it or even (merely) remembers it. O king, great sages like Vasishtha stayed there and practised severe penance for the creation. The religious Marici also bathed here for (getting) a son; and the glorious one obtained an excellent son, viz. Kasyapa. Atri also pleased here the best gods by his penance, and obtained three sons from them — Soma, Durvasas and Datta. The pious Aiigiras also obtained, due to the favour of this holy place, sons. They, the brahmanas, viz. the Aiigirasas, were born in his family. Pulaha also got a son, Dambholi, of excellent virtues, who was, O king, Agastya in olden times. By bathing in this holy place Pulastya, practising penance, got a son, the glorious Kubera, Shiva's friend. Kratu too had thousands of sons (called) Valakhilyas.

65-67. Due to the favour of this holy place they were perpetual celibates. Vasishtha too, practising severe penance, got seven sons, Raja and others. O best king, I have described its greatness. O king, there are many other holy places also, like Kapilashrama, Kedara, Prabhasa. O king, their greatness cannot be described even by Ananta even during a million years; then how (can it be described) by (persons) like me? Saubhari said:

68-71. Having spoken like this, Narada, the best sage, extolling Vishnu's virtues went to Shiva from the sky. O king, Auslnara Sibi, having heard about the grandeur of Indraprastha from the sage's mouth, regarded himself blessed. The king, having duly bathed there at Indraprastha, and having performed all auspicious rites, went to his city. O lord, I have described to you the greatness of Indraprastha, the holy place purifying people and situated on the bank of Yamuna.

72-77. O best king, in Kali (age), people, void of faith, will not have regard for this Indraprastha, the crest-jewel of all holy places. That fruit which is obtained by listening to the eighteen Puranas and Bharata is produced by (listening to) the greatness of Indraprastha. That fruit which is obtained by means of a lakh of baths at dawn in the month of Magha would be had by devoutly listening to (the description of) the greatness of this (holy place). O king, he who devoutly listens to (the description of its greatness, would gratify his dead ancestors, gods and sages. That fruit which is had by means of the vows like Krcchra, Atikrcchra, Paraka, and Candrayana, would be had by devoutly listening to (the description of) its greatness. O king, that fruit which is due to all sacrifices like the horse-sacrifice would be had by devoutly listening to (the description of) its greatness. Suta said:

78-80. King Yudhisthira having thus heard the greatness of Indraprastha from Shaunaka Saubhari, went to Hastinapura. Then having instructed his brothers led by Duryodhana, he went to the auspicious Indraprastha with a desire to perform a Rajasuya sacrifice. Having brought from Dvaraka, Krishna, his familydeity, the king performed the Rajasuya sacrifice.

81-85. Thinking that this holy place could give salvation even to the abusive (Sisupala), Krishna killed Sisupala there. Sisupala too, due to dying at that holy place only, got absorbed into Krishna, giving all (desired) objects. Bhima fashioned a very extensive pool at the place where Sisupala was killed, and the (Rajasuya) sacrifice was performed. Bhirna fashioned there a very extensive pool with his mace. It is known as Bhimakunda, and has become purifying on. the earth. There is no doubt that that fruit which is had by bathing in Yamuna at Indraprastha is had (by bathing) in that pool. Suta said:

86-90. That holy place will forgive the faults of a living being who stays there by practices like going round it for a year. The man who goes round it every year, would not be tinged with the evils (committed) at the holy place and sins. He who does not go round (it) does not get sanctification at the holy place. Therefore, those who desire a fruit should go round it. He who reciting Vishnu's names goes round it, obtains at every step the fruit of presenting a brown cow. The man who goes round Indraprastha on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Caitra, is blessed, and is freed from all sins.

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