Anushasanika Parva — The means of happiness. The source of wellbeing

Vaishampayana said Desirous of acquiring the merit which destroys sins that perpetuator of Kuru's race, viz., Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, questioned Bhishma who was lying on a bed of arrows saying.

Yudhishthira said What, indeed, is beneficial for a person in this world? What is that by doing which one may acquire happiness? By what may one be purged of all his sins? Indeed, what is that which destroys sins?

Vaishampayana said On this subject, the royal son of Shantanu, ( foremost of men, duly recited the names of the celestials to Yudhishthira who was desirous of hearing.

Bhishma said O son, the following names of the celestials with those of the Rishis, if duly recited morning, noon, and evening, destroy all sins.

Acting with the help of his senses, whatever sins one may commit by day or by night or by the two twilight's, willingly or unwillingly, one is sure to be cleansed therefrom and become thoroughly pure by reciting these names. One, man never that takes those names, has never to become blind or deaf indeed, by taking those names, one always succeeds in getting what is beneficial.

Such a never takes birth in the intermediate order of being never goes to hell and never becomes a human being of any of the mixed castes. He has never to fear any calamity. When death comes, he becomes stupefied.

The master of all the celestials and Apsaras, resplendent with effulgence, adored of all creatures, inconceivable, indescribable, the life of all living beings, and unborn is the Grandfather Brahman, that Lord of the universe. His chaste wife is Savittri. Then comes that origin of the Vedas, the creator Vishnu, otherwise called Narayana of immeasurable power.

Then comes the three-eye Lord of Uma; then Scanda the commander in-chief of the celestial army, then Vishoka; then Agni the eater of sacrificial libations; then Vayu the god of wind; then Chandramas; then the sungod, gifted with effulgence; then the illustrious Shankra the husband of Sachi, and Yama with his wife Dhumorna; and Varuna with Gauri; Kubera the lord of riches, with his wife Riddhi; the amiable and illustrious cow Surabhi, the great Rishi Vishravas; Sankalpa, Ocean, Ganga; the other sacred Rivers, the Maruts; the Valakhilyas crowned with success of penances; the island-born Krishna, Narada, Parvata; Vishvavasu; the Hahas; the Huhus; Tumburu; Chitrasena; the celestial messenger; the highly blessed celestial maidens; the celestial Apsaras; Urvashi, Menaka, Ramba, Mishrakeshi, Almbusha, Vishvachi, Ghritachi, Panchchada, Tilottama, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Pitris; Dharma, (Righteousness); Vedic learning, Penances, Diksha, Perseverance (in religious acts) the Grandfather, Day and Night, Kashyapa, the the son of Marichi, Shukra, Brihaspati, Mangala the son of Earth, Vudha, Rahu, Shanaishchara, the Constellations, the Seasons, the Months, the fortnights, the Year, Garuda the son of Vinata, the several Oceans, the sons of Kadru, viz., the Snakes, Shatarudra, Vipasha, Chandrabhaga, Sarasvati, Sindhu, Devika, Prabhasa, the lakes of Pushkara, Ganga, Mahanadi, Vena, Kaveri, Narmada, Kaulampuna, Vishalya, Karatoya, Ambuvahini, Saryu, Gandaki, the great river Lohita, Tamra, Aruna, Vetravati, Parnasa, Gautami, Godavari, Vena, Krisnnavena, Dvije, Drishdvati, Kaveri, Vankhu, Mandakini, Prayaga, Prabhasa, the sacred Naimisha, the spot sacred to Vishvaswera or Mahadeva, viz., Kashi, that lake of crystal water, Kurukshetra, full of many sacred waters, the foremost of oceans (viz., the ocean of milk), Penances, Gifts, Jambamarga, Hiranwati, Vitasta the river Plakshavati, Vadasmriti, Vedamati, Malava, on Ashvavati, all sacred spots Earth, Gangadvars, the sacred Rishikulya, the river Chitravaha, the Charmanwati, the sacred river Kaushiki, the Yamuna, the river Bhimarathi, the great river Vahuda, Mahendravani, Tridiva, Milika, Sarasvati, Nanda the other Nanda, the large sacred lake Gaya, Phalgutirtha, Dharmaranya (the sacred forest) inhabited by the celestials, the sacred celestial river, the lake created by the Grandfather Brahinan, which is sacred and celebrated over the three worlds and auspicious and capable of purifying all sins, the Himavat mountain having excellent herbs, the Vindhya mountain variegated with various kinds of metals, containing many Tirhas and evergrown with medicinal herbs, Meru, Mahendrs, Malays, Shveta gifted with silver, Shringavat, Mandara, Nila, Nishadha, Dardura, Chitrakuta, Anjanabha, the Gandhamadana mountains, the sacred Somagiri, the various other mountains, the cardinal points of the compass, the subsidiary points, the Earth, all the trees, the Vishvedevas, the Firmament, the Constellations, the Planets, and the Deities, let these all, named and unnamed, rescue and purify us.

The man, who takes the names of these, becomes purged of all his sins. By singing their praises and pleasing them, one becomes freed from every fear.

Indeed, the man, who delights in singing the hymns in laudation of the deities, becomes purged of all such sins as lead to birth in impure orders.

After this recital of the deities, I shall name those learned Brahmanas crowned with ascetic merit and success and capable of purifying one of every sin. They are Yavakrita and Raibhya and Kakshivat and Aushija, and Bhrigu and Angirasa and Kanva and the powerful Medhatithi, and Varhi endued with every accomplishment. These all belong to the Eastern region.

Others, viz., Unmuchu, Pramuchu, Mumuchu, all highly blessed, the highly energetic Svastyatreya, the highly powerful Agastya, the son of Mitra and Varuna; Dridhayu and Urdhavahu, those two foremost and celebrated of Rishis, these live in the Southern quarter.

Listen now to me as I name those Rishis who live in the Western quarter. They are Ushangu with his uterine brothers, greatly energetic, Dirghatamas, Gautama, Kashyapa, Ekata, Dvita, Trita, the righteous-souled son of Atri (viz., Durvasa). and and the powerful Sarasvati, Listen now to me as I name those Rishis who adore the celestial in sacrifices, living in the Northern region.

They are Atri, Vasishtha, Shakti, Parashara's son Vyasa of Great energy; Vishvamitra, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, the son of Richika, Rama, Auddalaka, Shvetaketu, Kohala, Vipula, Devala Devasharian, Dhaumya, Hastikashyapa, Lomasha, Nachiketa, Lomaharshana, Ugrashravas, and Bhrigu's son Chyavana. This is the number of Rishis gifted with Vedic learning.

They are primeval Rishis, O king, whose names, if taken, are capable of purifying one of every sin. After this I shall recite the names of the principle kings.

They are Nriga, Yayati, Nahusha, Yadu, highly energetic Puru, Sagara, Dhundhumara, Dilpa of great prowess, Krisashva, Yauvanashva, Chitrashva, Satyavat, Dushmanta, Bharata who became an illustrious Emperor over many kings, Dasharatha, the heroic Rama, that destroyer of Rakshas, Shashabindu, Bhagiratha, Harishchandra, Maruta, Dridharatha, the highly fortunate Alarka, Aila, Karandhama, that foremost of men, Kashmira, Daksha, Ambarisha, Kukura, highly illustrious Raivata, Kuru, Samvarana, Mandhatri of Unmitigated prowess, the royal sage Muchukunda, Jahnu who was much favoured by Janhavi (Ganga), the first (in point of time) of all kings, viz., Prithu the son of Vena, Mitrabhanu, Priyankara, Trasadasyu, Shveta that foremost of royal sages, the celebrated Mahabhisha, Nimi. Ashtaka, Ayu, the royal sage Kshupa, Kaksheyu, Pratarddana, Divodasa, Sudasa, Koshaleshvara, Aila, Nala, the royal sage Manu, that lord of all creatures, Havidhra, Prishadhra, Pratipa, Shantanu, Aja, the Senior Varhi, Ikshvaku of great fame, Anaranya, Janujangha the royal sage Kakshasena, and inany others not named (in history).

That man, who rising carly in the morning, takes the names of these kings at the two twilight's, viz., at sunset and sunrise, with a pure body and mind and without distracted attention, wins great religious merit.

One should sing the praises of the celestial Rishis, and the royal sages and say, These lord of the creation will ordain my growth, longevity and fame.

Let no calamity visit me, let no sin define me, and let there be no opponents or enemies of mine. Forsooth, I will always have victory and an auspicious end hereafter.

Let no calamity visit me, let no sin define me, and let there be no opponents or enemies of mine. Forsooth, I will always have victory and an auspicious end hereafter.