Anushasanika Parva — The merits of ablution in sacred water

Yudhishthira said It has been said that sojourns to sacred waters is full of merit; that ablutions in such waters is meritorious; and that listening to the excellence of such waters is also meritorious. I wish to hear you expatiate on this subject, O grandfather.

You should, O chief of Bharata's race, mention to me the sacred waters existing on this Earth. I wish you of great power to hear you describe to me this subject.

Bhishma said O you of great splendour, Angiras thus enumerated the sacred waters on the Earth. Blessed be you, you should listen to it, for you will then acquire great merit.

Once on a time approaching the great and learned Rishi Angiras gifted with tranquillity of soul, while he was living in a forest, Gautama of rigid vows questioned him, saying O illustrious one, I have some doubts regarding the merits of sacred waters and shrines. I wish to hear you describe that subject. Do you therefore, O ascetic describe it to me.

What merits are acquired by a person regarding the next world, by bathing in the sacred waters on the Earth, O you of great wisdom? Do you explain to me this truly and according to the ordinance.

Angiras said A person by bathing for seven days successively in the Chandrabhaga or the Vitasta whose waters are always seen to dance in waves, fasting all the while, is sure to become purged of all his sins and endued with the merit of an ascetic.

There ere many rivers in the country called Kashmira. All these fall into the great river called Sindhu (Indus). By bathing in these rivers one is sure to become gifted with good character and to ascend to heaven after leaving this world.

By bathing in Pushkara, Prabhasa and Naimisha, and the ocean and Devika, and Indramarga and Svarnabindu, one is sure to ascend where, seated on a celestial car, one is sure be filled with joy on being worshipped by the Apsaras

By bathing in the waters of Hiranyabindu with a concentrated mind and respecting that sacred river, and bathing next at Kusheshaya and Devanta, one becomes purged of all one's sins.

Going to Indratoya near the Mountains of Gandhamadana and next to Karatoyas in the country called Kuranga, one should fast for three days and then bathe in those sacred waters with a concentrated heart and pure body. By doing this, one is sure to acquire the merit of a Horse-sacrifice.

Bathing in Gangadvara and Kushavarta and Vilvaka in the Blue mountains, as also in Kanakhala, one is sure to become purged of all one's sins and then ascend to heaven.

If one becomes a Brahmacharin and control his anger, devotes oneself to truth and practises mercy towards all creatures, and then bathes in the Lake of Waters, one is sure to acquire the merit of a Horse-sacrifice.

That part where Bhagirathi-Ganga flows northwards is known as the union of heaven, Earth, and the nether regions. Fasting for one month and bathing in that sacred Tirtha which is acceptable to Maheshvara, one can see the deities.

One who gives oblations of water to his departed manes at Saptaganga and Triganga and Indramarga, obtains ambrosia for food if one has still to go through rebirth.

The man who in a pure state of body and mind performs his daily Agnihotra and fasts for one month and then bathes in Mahashrama, is sure to acquire success in one month.

By bathing after a fast of three days and purifying the mind of all evil propensities, in the large lake situate in Bhrigutunga, one becomes purged of even the sin of Brahmanicide.

By bathing in Kanyakupa and performing one's ablutions in Valaka, one wins great fame among even the celestials and shines in glory.

Bathing in Devika and the lake known by the name of Sundarika as also in the Tirtha called Aslivini, one acquires, in next life, great personal beauty.

By fasting for a fortnight and bathing in Mahaganga and Krittikangaraka, one becomes purged of all his sins and ascends to heaven.

Bathing in Vaimanika and Kinkinika, one acquires the power of going everywhere at will and becomes an object of great respect in the celestial region of the Apsaras.

If a person, controlling his anger, and observing the vow of Brahmacharya for three days, bathes in the river Vipasa at the hermitage called Kalika, he is sure to get over rebirth.

Bathing in the asylum that is sacred to the Krittikas and offering oblations of water to the departed manes, and then pleasing Mahadeva, one becomes pure in body and mind and ascends to heaven.

If one, fasting for three days with a purified body and mind, bathes in Mahapura, one becomes freed from the fear of all mobile and immobile animals as also of all two feeted animals.

By bathing in the Devadaru forest and offering oblations of water to the departed manes and living there for seven nights with a pure body and mind, one acquires the region of the celestials on departing from this world.

Bathing in the waterfalls at Sharastamva and Kushustamva and Dronasharmapada, one is sure to acquire the region of the Apsaras where one is dutifully served by those superhuman beings.

If one, fasting bathes at Chitrakuta and Janasthana and the waters of Mandakini, one is sure to be gifted with real prosperity.

By going to the retreat of Shyama and living there for a fortnight and bathing in the sacred water that lies there, one acquires the power of disappearing at will.

Going to the tirtha Kaushiki and living there with a pure heart and abstaining from all food and drink for three days, one acquires the power of living in the happy region of the Gandharvas.

He who bathes in the lake Matanga is sure to acquire success in one night. He who bathes in Analamva or the eternal, Andhaka, or in Naimisha, or the tirtha called Svarga, and offers oblations of water to the departed manes, controlling his senses all the while, acquires the merit of a human sacrifice.

Bathing in Gangahrada and the tirtha Utplavana and daily offering oblations of water there for a full month to the departed manes, one acquires the merit of a Horse-sacrifice.

Bathing in the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna as also at the tirtha in the Kalanjara mountains and offering every day oblations of water to the departed manes for a full month, one acquires the merit of ten Horsesacrifices.

Bathing in the Shashthi lake one acquires merit much greater than what appertains to the gift of food. Ten thousand tirthas and thirty millions of other tirthas come to Prayaga, O chief of Bharata's race, in the month of Magha. He who bathes in Prayaga, with a controlled mind and observing rigid vows all the while the month of Magha, becomes purged of all his sins, O chief of Bharata's race, and attains to heaven.

Bathing in the tirtha that is sacred to the Maruts, as also in that which is situate in the retreat of the departed manes, in and also in that which is known by the name of Vaivasvata, one becomes purged of all one's sins and as pure and sanctified as tirtha.

Going to Brahmasaras as to the Bhagirathi and bathing there and offering oblations to the departed manes every day for a full month, abstaining from food all the while, one is sure to go to the region of Soma.

Bathing in Utpataka and then in Ashtavakra and offering oblations of water to the departed manes every day for twlve days successively, abstaining all the while from food, one acquires the merits of a Naramedha sacrifice.

Bathing in Ashmaprishtha and Niravinda mountains and Kraunchapadi all three in Gayaone becomes purged of the sin of Brahmanicide. A bath in the first place purifies one of a single Brahmanicidele; bath in the second cleanness one of two similar offences; and a bath in the third cleanses one of three such offences.

Bathing in Kalavinga, one gets a large quantity of water. A man, by bathing in the city of Agni, acquires such merit as entitles him to live at his next birth in the city of Agni's daughter. manes

Bathing in Vishala in Karavirapura and offering oblations of water to his departed and performing his ablutions in Devahrada too, one becomes at one with Brahma and shines in glory as such.

Bathing in Punaravarta Nanda, as also Mahananda, a man of controlled senses and universal mercy goes to the celestial garden of Nandana and served there by the various tribes of Apsaras.

Bathing with concentrated soul in the tirtha of Urvashi which is situated in the river Lohitya, on the day of full moon of the month of Kartika, one acquires the merits of Pundarika sacrifice.

Bathing in Ramahrada and offering oblations of water to the departed manes in the river Vipasha (Beas), and fasting for twelve days, one becomes purged of all sins.

Bathing in the tirtha called Mahahrada with a purified heart and after fasting for one month, one is sure to acquire the status of the sage Jamadagni.

By exposing oneself to heat in the tirtha called Vindhya, a person given to truth and endued with compassion for all creatures should then practise austere penances, actuated by humility. By so doing, he is sure to acquire ascetic success in course of single month.

Bathing in the Narmada as also the tirtha named Surparaka, fasting for a full fortnight, one is sure to become in one's next birth a prince of royal blood.

If one proceeds with controlled senses and a concentrated soul to the tirtha known as Jamvumarga, one is sure to acquire success in the course of a single day and night.

By going to Chandalikashrama and bathing in the tirtha called Kokamukha, having lived for sometime on potherbs alone and worm rags for raiments one is sure to get ten beautiful maidens as his wives.

One who lives by the side of the tirtha known by the name of Kanvahrada has never to visit the regions of Yama. Such a person is sure to ascend to the regions of happiness belonging to the celestials.

One who bathes with controlled senses on the day of the new moon in the tirtha known by the name of Prabhasa, is sure, you of mighty arins, of acquiring success and immortality simultaneously.

Bathing in the tirtha known by the name of Ujjanaka which is situate in the retreat of Arshtisena's son, and next in the tirtha which is situate in the retreat of Pinga, one is sure to be purged of all his sins.

Fasting for three days and bathing in the tirtha known as kulya and reciting the sacred Mantras of Aghamarshana, one acquires the merit of a Horse-sacrifice.

Fasting for one night and bathing in Pindaraka, one becomes purified on the next day and acquires the merit of an agnishtoma sacrifice.

One who goes to Brahmasara which is adorned by the woods called Dharmaranya one becomes purged of all one's sins in and acquires the merit of the Pundarika sacrifice.

Bathing in the waters of the Mainaka mountain and reciting morning and evening prayers there and living at the spot for a month controlling desires, one acquires the merit of all the sacrifices.

Starting for Kalodaka and Nandikunda and Uttaramanasa, and reaching a spot that is hundred Yojanas remote from any of them, one becomes purged of the sin of foeticide.

One who succeeds in seeing the image of Nandishvara, becomes purged of all sins. Bathing in the tirtha called svargamarga one is sure to proceed to the regions of Brahman.

The celebrated Himayat is sacred. That king of mountains is the father-in-law of Shankara, He is a mine of all jewels and gems and is the resort of the Siddhas and Charanas.

That twice born person who is as master of the vedas and who, considering this life to be exceedingly unstable, renounces his body on those mountains, abstaining from all food and drink according to the rites laid down in the scriptures, after having worshipped the gods and bent his head in worship of the ascetics is sure to acquire success and proceed to the eternal regions of Brahman.

There is nothing which one cannot get who lives in a tirtha, restraining lust and controlling anger on account of such residence.

For the purpose of going to all the tirthas in the world, one should mentally think of those amongst them which are almost inaccessible or sojourns to which are attended with great difficulties.

Sojourns to tirthas yields the merits of Sacrifices. They are competent to purify everybody of sin. Fraught-with great good, they are capable of leading in heaven. The subject is truly a great mystery. The very gods should bathe in tirthas. To them also they are sin-purifying.

This discourse on tirthas should be delivered to Brahmanas, and to such honest or pious persons as are bent upon gaining what is for their own behoof. It should also be recited in the hearing of one's well-wishers and friends and of one's obedient and devoted disciples.

Angiras endued with great ascetic merit, had delivered this discourse to Gautama. Angiras himself had got it from the highly intelligent Kashyapa.

The great Rishis consider this discourse as deserving of constant repetition. It is the foremost of all purifying things. If one recites it regularly every day, he is sure to become purged of every sin and after this life 10 proceed to heaven.

One who listens to this discourse recited in his hearing this discourse, viz., of Angiras, which is regarded as a mystery is sure to attain in one's next life to birth in a good family and, what is more, one would have the memory of the pristine existence.