King Kuru and Kurukshetra
The Śalya Parva (Chapter 53) tells how King Kuru ploughed the field of Kurukshetra at Samantapañcaka. The ṛshis told it to Balarāma when they explained why this land is holy. Kuru was a rājarshi (royal ṛshi) and the ancestor of the Kuru line. He ploughed the field with unbroken effort because he wanted all who die on this ground to go straight to the highest worlds.
Indra asked him again and again why he was doing this. In the end Indra was moved by Kuru’s steady effort. The devas also urged him, and he granted the vara (boon). Brahmā, Vishṇu and Maheśvara then confirmed and widened it.
King Kuru’s ploughing
The rājarshi Kuru was wise (dhīmān) and great-souled (mahātman). He was the ancestor from whom the Kuru line came. He took up the work of ploughing this one stretch of land with great care. He ploughed it without a break and kept watch over it at all times (nitya jāgarūkata). His reason was this. He wished that anyone who died on this piece of earth would be freed from all pāpa (sin) and would reach the highest, imperishable worlds of the righteous.
Indra saw this strange sight from svarga: a great king bent over the earth, ploughing with enormous effort. He came down to ask the reason. “O king! With this great effort, what do you intend in ploughing this earth?”
Kuru replied: “O Śatakratu! I wish that those who die in this field will reach the pure worlds of the righteous, free of pāpa.”
Indra laughed and went away.
Indra’s repeated visits
Kuru did not stop. He went on ploughing. Indra came again, and Kuru gave the same answer. Indra teased him gently and left. Kuru kept ploughing. This happened again and again.
At last Indra went to the devas in their assembly and asked their advice. The devas said: “O Deva! If he is able, grant him the vara. Men who die here would come straight to us without performing yajñas for our sake, and we would lose our share of the yajñas.” So the devas were thinking of their own share.
Their advice also showed that they knew the strength of Kuru’s wish and that it could not be stopped. Indra went back to Kuru and granted the vara: “O rājarshi! Do not labour any more. I will grant your wish. Those who die here by any means, in battle, by fasting, or even the birds and animals of this place, shall reach the higher worlds.” Kuru was satisfied and agreed. Indra went joyfully back to svarga.
Brahmā, Vishṇu and Maheśvara all confirmed and approved this vara. The place became known as Kurukshetra, Kuru’s field, in honour of the king who won this holy status for it. He won it through steady tapas (austerity) in the form of ploughing.
The holiness of Samantapañcaka
The ṛshis explained to Balarāma that Samantapañcaka, the five-sided holy field, is the sanātana uttaravedi (the eternal northern altar) of Prajāpati. It is called Samantapañcaka because it is marked on all five sides by sacred boundaries. These include Taurantuka, Ārantuka, Rāmapradama, Bhacakruka and others.
The dust of Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, purifies even those most full of pāpa. Kings, brāhmaṇas and great rājarshis such as Nṛga performed their great yajñas here and went to the highest worlds. To die here, even in ordinary life and even as an animal, gives svarga. Fasting here for three nights gives puṇya (merit) beyond compare. A great yajña performed here gives fruits that last as long as the earth lasts.
Indra himself made a gāthā (verse) about the power of Kurukshetra:
“Even the dust of Kurukshetra, carried on the wind, delivers the one most full of pāpa to the highest destination.”
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 53